Why women are more affected
Women are 5–8x more likely than men to develop thyroid conditions. Hashimoto's, the most common cause of hypothyroidism, is autoimmune and tends to flare around hormonal transitions.
The pattern to watch for
- Fatigue that doesn't improve with rest
- Cold intolerance
- Hair thinning, especially on the outer eyebrow
- Stubborn weight gain
- Brain fog and slowed thinking
- Heavy or irregular periods
What to test
A full thyroid panel includes TSH, Free T4, Free T3, and (if Hashimoto's is suspected) TPO antibodies. TSH alone misses many cases.
If you've been told your TSH is "normal" but symptoms persist, it's reasonable to ask for the full panel.
