The Interrelationships Between Thyroid Dysfunction and Hypogonadism in Men and Boys.

[pmgamer18]

I came across this today and I feel this answers a lot of questions.
Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. - Thyroid - 14(supplement 1):17
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Thyroid
The Interrelationships Between Thyroid Dysfunction and Hypogonadism in Men and Boys

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To cite this paper:
A. Wayne Meikle. Thyroid. 2004, 14(supplement 1): 17-25. doi:10.1089/105072504323024552.

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A. Wayne Meikle
Division of Endocrinology, University of Utah School of Medicine, Endocrine Testing Laboratory ARUP, Salt Lake City, Utah
Thyroid hormone deficiency affects all tissues of the body, including multiple endocrine changes that alter growth hormone, corticotrophin, glucocorticoids, and gonadal function. Primary hypothyroidism is associated with hypogonadotropic hypogonadism, which is reversible with thyroid hormone replacement therapy. In male children follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) is elevated and associated with testicular enlargement without virilization. Men with primary hypothyroidism have subnormal responses of luteinizing hormone (LH) to gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) administration and normal response to human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). Free testosterone concentrations are reduced in men with primary hypothyroidism and thyroid hormone replacement normalizes free testosterone concentrations. In men with primary hypothyroidism, prolactin is not consistently elevated (except in men and children with longstanding severe primary hypothyroidism), but prolactin declines following thyroid hormone replacement therapy. Thyroid hormone is known to affect sex hormone-binding hormonal globulin (SHBG) concentrations. Men with hyperthyroidism have elevated concentrations of testosterone and SHBG. Thyroid hormone therapy in normal men may also duplicate this elevation. In addition estradiol elevations are observed in men with hyperthyroidism, and gynecomastia is common in them as well. In contrast to patients with primary hypothyroidism, men with hyperthyroidism exhibit hyperresponsiveness of LH to GnRH administration and subnormal responses to hCG. Radioactive iodine therapy (RAI) of men treated for thyroid cancer produces a dose-dependent impairment of spermatogenesis and elevation of FSH up to approximately 2 years. Permanent testicular germ cell damage may occur in men treated with high doses of RAI. RAI commonly increases serum concentrations of FSH and LH while reducing inhibin B levels without affecting serum concentrations of testosterone. Thus, radioiodine therapy transiently impairs both germinal and Leydig cell function that usually recover by 18 months posttherapy.

This paper was cited by:
The role of sex steroids in controlling pubertal growth
R. J. Perry, C. Farquharson, S. F. Ahmed
Clinical Endocrinology. 2007, Vol. 0, No. 0: 070720190300002
CrossRef
Hypoandrogenaemia is associated with subclinical hypothyroidism in men
Anand Kumar, P. K. Chaturvedi, Bidut P. Mohanty
International Journal of Andrology. 2007, Vol. 30, No. 1: 14
CrossRef

[Naturdoc]

This article also infers that thyroid may increase estradiol and SHBG.

[pmgamer18]

Originally Posted by Naturdoc

This article also infers that thyroid may increase estradiol and SHBG.

I wish I knew what came first the thyroid problems or the High SHBG and Estradiol but I can tell that for me when my E2 levels are high it mess with my Thyroid and the Armour I take for it. My treatment works much better with my E2 at about 20 pg/ml.

[Megazoid]

Great find Phil but this dosen't match up for everyone. For example, cjones (also on this forum) has HIGH testosterone (800/900+ range) and Hypothyroidism (TSH at about 10 and Free T3 low). Also a few people that took thyroid medication (armour to be exact) developed lowered testosterone levels but still felt a little better in themselfs.

However i feel confident that thyroid/adrenals WILL help in most cases when addressed.

[cjones]

This is true and I have reason to believe I have primary adrenal insufficiency because I failed a stim test that basically shows the adrenals are not putting out. The cause of all this, I think in my case T has compensated for low adrenals but ask me about libido.. What libido! I have only started Isocort 2 days low dose and my mind feels a lot better though at this stage but am working up to 8 pellets, currently 2 lol. Also take 2 nutri glandulars first thing each day for thyroid/adrenals

I don't know if the endocrine clinic is more sensitive on the nhs for tsh because I am back down to 3 that is still high and obviously my body is having trouble using the thyroid hormones as a result of all this

I would go private or see a different GP just for the stim test Dave based on your saliva we are very similar and this is the "missing link" for many.

[eeso]

This is great news for me as it confirms some suspicions I have.

I have a TSH of about 2.6 and a total testosterone level of around 11 (10-33), and a free testosterone level of 33 (60-130). If I take TRT I lose my mojo completely - I'm better off without it. I'm hoping that if I go on armour before any TRT, it may boost how I feel and my testosterone level to the point where i don't need TRT, or if I do go on TRT it will work a lot better.

My SHBG is also below range, but the article says only hyperthyroid people can have high SHBG, so perhaps hypothyroid people will often have low SHBG such as myself.

[love_en]

Originally Posted by eeso

This is great news for me as it confirms some suspicions I have.

I have a TSH of about 2.6 and a total testosterone level of around 11 (10-33), and a free testosterone level of 33 (60-130). If I take TRT I lose my mojo completely - I'm better off without it. I'm hoping that if I go on armour before any TRT, it may boost how I feel and my testosterone level to the point where i don't need TRT, or if I do go on TRT it will work a lot better.

My SHBG is also below range, but the article says only hyperthyroid people can have high SHBG, so perhaps hypothyroid people will often have low SHBG such as myself.

I think Marianco mentioned that a low SHBG will occur with hypothyroidism. Also, T will decrease adrenal output, especially if high blood levels are achieved.