Everything is connected!
Here’s how it works. The hypothalamus releases thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH) when it senses low levels of T3 and T4. What TRH does is that it then stimulates the pituitary to produce thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) to tell the thyroid to make more T3 and T4.
Rooting on back up to the hypothalamus, we also have the adrenals. When stressed, the hypothalamus releases corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) which knocks at the pituitary gland to make adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), then going to the adrenals to produce glucocorticoid hormones (mainly cortisol). This creates a negative feedback loop, and when the body is no longer undergoing stress, this signaling subsides. Conversely,
As for the third circuit we have, which rarely is mentioned, is the hypothalamic pituitary gonadal axis. This is in reference to how our brain is responsible to helping produce our main sex hormones in the gonads. How this occurs is that our hypothalamus makes gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH), which tells our pituitary to make luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), directly signaling to the ovaries to make sex hormones.
Question now, is the thyroid, adrenals and ovaries connected? Yes, yes and yes! This is also recognized as the OAT axis (ovaries, adrenals, thyroid). All three endocrine systems begin in the hypothalamus, yet despite exerting their own hormones, depend on each other to work systematically and properly. For instance, if our adrenals are overworked due to producing too much cortisol, our thyroid may slow down the production of T3 to preserve energy, which in turn can lead to our ovaries producing less hormones as a protective mechanism. Conversely, sex hormones are not only produce din the ovaries, but also in the adrenals and other systems in the body. Whether the adrenals or ovaries are struggling, it will directly affect the entire system regardless. Furthermore, out thyroid is what controls our cells, and without adequate production of T3, our bodies won’t produce hormones, store nutrients, be able to metabolize much, etc.
All of this to say if you have ONE issue, know that it stems into many parts of the body and it NEVER comes from just ONE area but multiple places! Your body doesn’t come in parts, it comes as a whole.