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BENGALURU / May 21, 2026: A growing number of urban women facing infertility, irregular menstrual cycles, failed conception attempts, and recurrent miscarriages may be unknowingly battling an underlying thyroid disorder a condition experts say is increasingly becoming a silent yet highly treatable contributor to reproductive health complications.
According to Dr. Vidya V Bhat, noted gynaecologist and IVF specialist and Medical Director of Radhakrishna Multispeciality Hospital in Bengaluru thyroid dysfunction is emerging as a significant but often overlooked factor affecting women’s fertility particularly in urban India.
With over 35 years of experience in women’s health and fertility care Dr. Bhat has observed a sharp rise in thyroid-related reproductive issues among women in their late 20s and 30s especially in metro cities such as Bengaluru. She attributes this trend to increasingly stressful lifestyles, poor sleep cycles, sedentary habits, unhealthy diets and rising obesity levels.
“Many women come to us after years of struggling to conceive or after experiencing repeated miscarriages without realising that a simple thyroid imbalance could be the underlying cause,” says Dr. Vidya V Bhat. “Though small in size the thyroid gland plays a crucial role in regulating hormones, ovulation, menstrual cycles, pregnancy health and even fetal development.”
According to Dr. Bhat, both hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism can significantly interfere with fertility. Thyroid dysfunction can disrupt ovulation, affect egg quality, delay implantation, alter menstrual regularity and increase the risk of pregnancy complications if left untreated. In many cases, the symptoms remain subtle and are often dismissed or ignored.
“Symptoms such as fatigue, unexplained weight gain or weight loss, hair fall, anxiety, mood swings, irregular periods, poor sleep and low energy levels are frequently mistaken for stress-related issues among working women. Unfortunately, this often delays diagnosis and treatment,” she adds.
Dr. Bhat further notes that thyroid disorders are increasingly being seen alongside conditions such as PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome) making fertility management even more complex. Despite the high prevalence of thyroid disorders among Indian women the awareness around the link between thyroid health and reproductive health remains alarmingly low.
“One of the biggest misconceptions I encounter is that women with thyroid disorders cannot conceive naturally. This is simply not true. With timely diagnosis, appropriate treatment, regular monitoring and lifestyle modifications, many women go on to have healthy pregnancies and healthy babies,” says Dr. Bhat.
She cautions that untreated thyroid disorders during pregnancy can increase the risk of recurrent miscarriages, preterm delivery, pregnancy-induced hypertension and developmental concerns in babies particularly during the first trimester when the fetus depends heavily on maternal thyroid hormones for brain and nervous system development.
Dr. Bhat strongly advocates routine thyroid screening as part of preconception planning and fertility evaluations. “In today’s urban healthcare landscape, thyroid testing should become a routine component of pre-pregnancy counselling and antenatal care especially for women with irregular periods, PCOS, infertility, previous miscarriages or a family history of thyroid disorders,” she says.
She also emphasises the importance of preventive lifestyle measures among younger women.
Women in their 20s and 30s must prioritise hormonal health much earlier than before. Regular exercise, balanced nutrition, healthy sleep, stress management, maintaining an ideal body weight and not ignoring menstrual irregularities can go a long way in protecting reproductive health,” Dr. Bhat adds.
As infertility rates continue to rise across urban India experts believe that greater awareness around thyroid health could help thousands of couples identify treatable causes early and significantly improve fertility outcomes.
