LowSex Drive

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-03-2004
LowSex Drive
3
Wed, 10-06-2004 - 7:25pm
okay so i have been lurking at the LSD board and they are just not helpful...

i tried at another site and got some info...

and then i read the info and it stated thyroid problems.

me, ? Thyroid problems.

i have read on the website here about hyper and hypo and based on the criteria... i would have to say i fall into the hypo category...

so, this is my first Q.... can hypothyroidism cause lowSex drive?

and when i go to the doctor what do i say, that i read some stuff on the internet and i have now Cyber Diagnosed myself as hypothyroid~al.?

and what is good to eat for hypothyroidism people? do i need to change my diet?

TIA, 38yrs

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-12-2004
In reply to: thirty8yrs
Wed, 10-06-2004 - 8:06pm
yes low sex drive is a symptom of hypothroism go to your doctor and get tested tsh t3 and t4 and testorone level normal testone level is 20 to 70 i am 29 cathy our cl will help you more and please keep coming back will all are searching for answers...thanks frankied
iVillage Member
Registered: 10-05-2004
In reply to: thirty8yrs
Thu, 10-07-2004 - 6:36pm
I too suffer from the low sex drive, with hypo.... you are just too tired, swollen and have no enthusiasm for any normal daily activities if your levels are off due to not enough meds or just not diagnosed yet. I also go into the doctor and tell him, I've researched on the internet to figure out what is wrong and demand to be tested to rule out possible causes for my symptoms, I even print a copy and highlight what is needed for quick reference. Some docs will blow you off but there are a few if you are persistant enough that will take you seriously. Hopefully low sex drive is not the only qualifing symptom you have otherwise the dr will probably brush it off because so many things can cause low sex drive... relationship is not good, low self esteem, depression, stress just to name a few. I don't know about anyone else but the main symptoms that were hard to miss with my hypo was swelling in the foot/ankle region, hair loss/shedding in the extreme form, mood swings and total lack of drive for anything including sex. I hope this helps, it's your body... you know what you feel not the doctor so don't give up!
iVillage Member
Registered: 11-09-2001
In reply to: thirty8yrs
Thu, 10-07-2004 - 10:23pm
Hi and welcome! So by now, you know that a low sex drive is a symptom of hypothyroidism! :) Why don't you try going through the list of symptoms and making a list of the ones that you have? Then when you talk with your doctor about being tested, you'll have a good list of symptoms to go on. Do you have other symptoms? Because a low sex drive can also be a sign of other hormonal issues.

If you are hypothyroid, your doctor will prescribe a thyroid replacement medication that will replace the thyroid hormone that your body has stopped making enough of. So it isn't really a matter of diet but a matter of taking the medication consistently for the rest of your life. But your diet can help, especially once you're diagnosised. Many people recommend a low carb diet of hypothroidism because of the insulin factor in eating too many carbs. But .... I think any healthy, well balanced eating plan that you can stay with for life - as a lifestyle change and not a "diet" - is the best one for you!! Or anybody. If you try to give up carbs and yu're miserable, how long will you be able to sustain that? But you might find that you feel great when you restrict your carbs. It's such an individual thing. I would say that eating as few processed foods as possible is best for anyone. Whole foods, complex carbs, veggies and fruits, lean protein and good fats are all part of a healthy diet for anyone and that's the place that I've come to after trying so many different things. The fact that my thyroid level is finally normal helps a lot. So diet is something that you need to keep "tweaking" throughout the process of being diagnosed and coming to a normal tsh level. That's just my opinion!! I'm sure many people would differ with me. But I'll tell you something without boasting about but just to prove a point: I'm 48 and look about 35. I've lost 10 pounds over the past year without stepping on the scale once. I workout 6 days a week and feel great! :) So I found what works for me. You need to find what works for you!

I hope this helps a bit. Let us know what happens when you're tested. Make sure you get the actual numbers of your test results when the doctor's office calls you. if they tell you your tsh was "normal", get the results andcome back here and let us know what there are!! Then we can take it from there. And here's an article on low sex drive. I haven't read it myself but bookmarked it in case anyone ever asked. It should be a good one. http://www.thyroid-info.com/articles/sex-drive.htm Cathy :)