Underactive thyroid

An underactive thyroid gland (hypothyroidism) is where your thyroid gland doesn’t produce enough hormones.

Common signs of an underactive thyroid are tiredness, weight gain and feeling depressed.

An underactive thyroid can often be successfully treated by taking daily hormone tablets to replace the hormones your thyroid isn’t making.

There’s no way of preventing an underactive thyroid. Most cases are caused either by the immune system attacking the thyroid gland and damaging it, or by damage to the thyroid that occurs during some treatments for an overactive thyroid or thyroid cancer.

Read more about the causes of an underactive thyroid

Symptoms

Many symptoms of an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism) are the same as those of other conditions, so it can easily be confused for something else.

Symptoms usually develop slowly and you may not realise you have a medical problem for several years.

Common symptoms include:

tiredness being sensitive to cold weight gain constipation depression slow movements and thoughts muscle aches and weakness muscle cramps dry and scaly skin brittle hair and nails loss of libido (sex drive) pain, numbness and a tingling sensation in the hand and fingers (carpal tunnel syndrome) irregular periods or heavy periods

Elderly people with an underactive thyroid may develop memory problems and depression. Children may experience slower growth and development. Teenagers may start puberty earlier than normal.

If you have any of these symptoms, see your GP and ask to be tested for an underactive thyroid.

Read more about getting tested for an underactive thyroid