Being intimate with a partner is one of the joys of being in a relationship - but if your sex life isn't what it once was, it could well be an issue that you'd never even considered.
A new UK survey has suggested that thyroid conditions can have a devastating impact on sexual and mental health, with almost three-quarters (71%) of those surveyed saying having the health condition has negatively impacted their sexual function.
Commissioned by at-home healthcare testing provider Medichecks, 70% of participants - both male and female - said they had experienced low libido, with 44% of male respondents highlighting erectile dysfunction as an issue.
Other issues included reduced sexual satisfaction (26%) and difficulty reaching orgasm (21%).
A whopping 88% of people said they experienced problems with their mental health as a result of the condition, including low mood, (76%), an inability to think clearly or concentrate (71%), a lack of motivation (70%), feeling misunderstood (55%) and insomnia (52%).
It's estimated that as many as one in 20 people may have a thyroid condition.
And whilst targeted treatment can alleviate many of the symptoms, if there's a delay in diagnosis, it can leave people struggling for a long time with debilitating health problems. 32% of those surveyed said they'd waited over a year between the onset of symptoms and diagnosis.
Dr Natasha Fernando, a GP and head of clinical excellence at Medichecks said: "Thyroid disorders are notoriously difficult to recognise because so many of the symptoms, like extreme fatigue, weight gain, muscle aches, depression, and slow movement and thoughts, can also be linked to so many other conditions.
"The road to securing a diagnosis isn't straightforward, and some people can be very reticent about talking about some of their symptoms, especially if they involve their sex lives and mental health.
"They might simply link a low libido, for example, to feeling tired or stressed at work and just try to struggle on.
"But if someone's sex drive has dropped significantly, or they are experiencing erectile dysfunction, they should not suffer in silence.
"Always mention it to your GP - especially if some of the other more well-recognised symptoms of thyroid dysfunction mentioned here sound familiar too.
"Taking a comprehensive blood test can also be a useful and discreet first step in helping to discover whether your symptoms are thyroid related, or if there is something else amiss."
Have you got a health story to share? Email: danielle.wroe@reachplc.com
