Image zoom“The symptoms of an underactive thyroid are very non-specific, meaning they can present with many different conditions,” says Dr. Fink. “I always tell patients I’m looking at them as a whole person, not as just their thyroid gland, even though they may come to me saying they have a thyroid problem."
For female patients, Dr. Fink first looks at the menstrual cycle, which often causes symptoms similar to those found in thyroid disease patients. “Symptoms like fatigue and weight gain can come up with a thyroid condition or with a menstrual cycle,” says Dr. Fink. “One good trick is to find a good app to track your period and that can help us sometimes understand their bodies better and the daily fluctuation of hormones.” If your period isn’t to blame for tiredness or a few extra pounds, Dr.