WHEN TO GET TESTED, WHICH EXPERTS TO SPEAK TO

⬤ If you suspect you might have a thyroid problem... Remember one symptom alone does not necessarily mean you have a thyroid disease, but it is worth discussing your symptoms with your GP and asking for a blood test. Thyroid conditions are more common in people with Down’s syndrome, type 1 diabetes, Turner’s syndrome, Addison’s disease and other autoimmune diseases so if you have one of these, make sure you are having your thyroid tested regularly.

⬤ If you’ve been diagnosed with a thyroid condition... Remember to ask to have your thyroid function tested regularly, usually every three months, as advised by your GP.

⬤ If you have a thyroid condition and are pregnant or trying to conceive... It’s worth asking to have your thyroid closely monitored as thyroid conditions can make it harder to conceive and cause problems during pregnancy.

⬤ If you have a thyroid condition and are going through the menopause... It’s worth asking to have your thyroid function tested annually as declining levels of oestrogen can affect women’s levothyroxine dose requirements. Menopause symptoms and thyroid disorder symptoms often overlap, so if menopause symptoms have been ruled out, doctors should consider doing a thyroid function test.

⬤ If you’d like to know more about your thyroid condition... Read NICE’s guidance on managing a thyroid disease and consider booking an appointment with an endocrinologist, a specialist in hormonerelated problems.

Dr Mark Vanderpump, a consultant endocrinologist at OneWelbeck and the former president of the British Thyroid Association, Dr Malcolm Prentice and Dr Paul Jenkins all come highly recommended and run private practices in London.

The British Thyroid Foundation also has a volunteer helpline service for anyone with questions about their thyroid condition.

Visit btf-thyroid.org