Last year my primary care doc did a TSH test, routine, I didn't ask for it, of course it came back in normal range.

I don't have any idea whether I have any thyroid problems or not. Don't like to think about it. I've browsed the thyroid threads, it's horribly complicated and I know it's like climbing Everest with an elephant on your back to get docs to take you seriously or treat you right if you do have anything wrong with it. (Is it because they - the docs - think us women are just looking for an easy way to lose weight?)

Anyway, I don't have the dry skin, cold feelings, (in fact sometimes I feel too hot), hair falling out, etc. I do have low motivation, fatigue (mixed in with bouts of very high energy - ?) no lack of eyebrows I know of, although I have fine hair anyway.
My temperatures, however,have been running in the 96 and 97 ranges.

I had a gyno appt lately for something else and he sent me to have a test done and it includes a thyroid test. Don't know why and can't remember if they took a temp in the office. Of course it's probably just a TSH and it will be normal range.

And you know what? There's a good chance there might be something wrong, but all this thyroid stuff is too complicated to pursue on a suspicion.

So, I'm just wondering - does anyone have an idea if there is another reason a gynecologist might have ordered a thyroid test?

The TSH is a standard test and it's not even a thyroid test but a pituitary test. TSH=thyroid stimulating hormone. You can get your own thyroid testing done at healthcheckusa.com and the discount code is 12345.

Right, I know the TSH is useless. But the whole subject is just too overwhelming. Quantum physics is simpler to grasp, and I have a Master's. Until I'm flat on my back (if there's a problem at all), I'll manage. I'm still active, working out and lean. Just wondering about the gynecologists' possible reasons.

OAT - Ovarian Adrenal Thyroid axis
I got this description from Dr Lam's site:


you are right, thyroid is complicated first because it is so closely connected to repro hormones and cortisol, there are autoimmune versions and because you will have ancillary symptoms long before you test positive : high cholesterol, low progesterone, low vitamin D, low or high cortisol, low B12, low ferritin, low stomach acid, depression, mood swings, fluctuating periods....the list goes on....this is the other problem, most of those symptoms will be identified as something else, aging, hysteria, depression...and medicated by statins, anti-depressants etc

you may not have a thyroid problem but it is interesting that your gyno tested for it. TSH as lisabinil said is a pituitary test and can fluctuate up to 3 points in any given day. Normal for a healthy adult is to have a TSH at 1 or less unfortunately the range for "normal" tSH runs from .40-4.40 (or somewhere in that range, depends on lab) and anything above 2 is suspect for thyroid problems. btw, a consistently low TSH (below .80 for women) is also suspect for pituitary problems.

if you want to learn more check out stopthethyroidmadness.com, it's reader friendly and a fabulous source of knowledge.