Center for Gynecology & Women’s Health

Thyroid conditions are common and can occur in men and women of all ages.   However, women are particularly affected by these conditions for several reasons:

• Due to causes not fully known, a number of thyroid conditions are many times more prevalent among women.   This includes thyroid nodules (the most common reason for thyroid surgery) and hypothyroidism.   The latter is the most common thyroid condition – and, among examples of its effects, doctors now known that even a small resulting decrease in thyroid hormones can cause a significant rise in cholesterol levels.    

• Many thyroid disorders in women are inter-related with the complex hormonal functions of development, reproduction, and stage of life in females.

• Some thyroid conditions are specific to women, such as hypothyroidism during pregnancy and postpartum thyroiditis.

Because thyroid problems are widely underdiagnosed, millions of women in the U.S. are unaware that they have these conditions.   Our staff can screen patients for thyroid conditions.   This evaluation includes a physical examination and a history of symptoms and other medical conditions.   Patients with a thyroid abnormality or suspected thyroid abnormality will undergo thyroid function tests, including blood tests and, normally, an ultrasound study.   A needle biopsyto remove cells in the thyroid, for evaluation in the pathology lab, can also add to the diagnostic information.

Full evaluation for the sometimes-complex conditions and actions of the thyroid and its hormones, can take special expertise.   Our staff knows when to refer you to Frankford’s experienced Division of Endocrinology for a more exhaustive diagnosis, for a second opinion, and for definitive recommendations on care.   Working with these specialists, we can also refer patients who may need surgical intervention to experts in Frankford’s Division of General Surgery for subspecialty knowledge and capabilities in thyroid surgery.