oday 25th May is the World Thyroid Day. Thyroid disorders are one of the most common disorders of hormones in our body. Thyroid is a small gland situated in front of the neck and secretes hormones like thyroxine (T4) and tri-iodo-thyronine (T3). These hormones control various functions of our body like heart, blood pressure, digestion, metabolism, growth, blood formation, brain function etc. But one of the most important function is its association with reproduction.


In both sexes, T3 and T4 are needed for sexual development during puberty so that full maturation from a child to adult occurs. That means development of hair (pubic and axillary hair), beard and moustache in boys, breast in girls, genital organ development in both sexes and menstrual function are dependent on thyroid gland. Finally production of eggs (rather maturation and release) and sperms are also related to it. In adults, thyroid function is needed to maintain the functions of sex glands particularly ovaries and testes. Desire for sex (libido) and performance of sex are also related to thyroid function.

The thyroid glands in turn is regulated by a hormone secreted from pituitary gland, located inside the brain. That hormone- TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) controls secretion of T3 and T4., Thyroid gland may be affected by various diseases like autoimmune diseases (body itself destroys its organs), deficinecy of iodine, radiation, tumour, congenital causes (cause present from birth) and certain drugs. The result is that thyroid hormone seceretion may be reduced (hypothyroidism) or increased (hyperthyroidism). As a result, blood tests for TSH, T3 and T4 are commonly done to detect abnormalities of thyroid gland. If abnormalities are detected, further tests may be advised, e.g., ultrasound and scanning of thyroid gland.

So what can happen to reproduction if thyroid function is affected? Thyroid disorders are particularly common in females. Menstrual cycle may be irregular (comin every 2 or 3 months ) or may be scanty in amount or more commonly very excessive flow. These respond well to correction of thyroid hormone levels by drugs.

Thyroid diorder is a common cause of anovlation- that is women cannot release eggs in each month. The result is irregular menstruation and infertility- the inability to conceive a child. Often correction of thyroid hormone levels result in pregnancy. Please remember if you are trying for pregnancy, then your TSH value should not be the same like other people. We usually treat such women if TSH is more than 2.5 (this may be normal for labaoratory standrads for other people but not for those who plan for preganncy and who are pregnant).

It can cause low libido, vaginal dryness, reduced orgasm and painful intercourse.

In case of male, the thyroid disease is not very common but is not rare. It can affect sperm production leading to infertility. Apart from that it can afect sexual performance leading to low libido, easy fatigue and erectile dysfucntion (ED). All these resolve after proper treatment.

Never ignore checking thyroid status for adolescent boys and girls. It may be responsible for delayed puberty (delay in appearance of male like features in boys and female like features in girls) or precocious puberty (early onset of menstruation or breast development in girls; or early development of beard and moustache in boys). These may be associated with serious disorders and need proper attention.

Pregnancy is a condition where there is tremenous pressure on thyroid gland and it is needed to help in proper development of baby inside uterus. Women with thyroid disorders can have miscarriage, premature delivery, death of baby inside uterus or poor growth of the baby. She can experience bleeding in pregnancy, high blood pressure (preeclampsia) and even heart failure. In initial periods babies depend on mother's thyroid gland for its development. If baby does not get proper amount of thyroid hormones, its brain and body deveopment hampers. Particularly the brain development can be affected leading to mentally handicapped baby,as it may not be corrected even after treatment. So proper diagnosis and treatment of thyroid diseases in pregnancy are essential. After birth baby should be tested for thyroid disease and appropriate treatment should be started without any delay.

So, if you feel any of the above problems, please do not hesitate to consult your doctor and request testing of thyroid functions. If drug treatment is started, do not stop the drug without consulting doctor. Uncontroled thyroid disease can lead to heart attack, stroke and emergency situations like thyrotoxicosis or myxoedema- which can be potentially life threatening if not treated in time.

इलाज बेचैनीचा: डॉ. श्रीनिवास कशाळीकर

मुले दूर परदेशी राहत असली, आई-वडील लांब मायदेशी राहत असले, तर आपल्या मनांत एक सल असतो. हुर हूर असते. अगदी जवळच्या व्यक्तीच्या आजारीपणात आपण डॉक्टरचे उपचार करतो हे खरे, पण ते देखील कसलीच खात्री देऊ शकत नाहीत, त्यामुळे आपण असहाय्यच असतो! अगदी आपल छोटं बाळ कळवळून रडू लागल, तर देखील आपण हतबल होतो. एवढच नव्हे तर, आपल्या स्वर्गवासी आईवडिलांची आठवण आली तर देखील आपण कासावीस होतो! वाटत, आपण काहीच करू शकत नाही त्यांच्यासाठी!

अश्या सर्व वेळी काय करायचं?

सद्गुरू म्हणतात, अश्या असहाय्य वेळी फक्त नामस्मरणच आपल्याला आधार, सामर्थ्य, स्थैर्य, आणि स्वास्थ्य देते. सदा सर्व काळी, सर्व परिस्थितीत फक्त नामस्मरणच आपल्याला संजीवनी देते!
कितीही कठीण वेळ आली तरी न डगमगता; नामस्मरण करावेच करावे; हेच खरे!
श्रीराम समर्थ!

जग सुधारणे म्हणजे काय? डॉ. श्रीनिवास कशाळीकर

आपल्या अंतर्मनात पुष्कळदा एक प्रकारची हुरहूर असते. आहे त्यापेक्षा काही तरी भव्य-दिव्य आणि रोमांचक असू शकेल आणि असावे असे वाटत असते.

पण आपण जर हे लक्षात घेतले की हे जे आपल्याला वाटत असते, ते ईश्वरेच्छेने (म्हणजेच गुरुच्या इच्छेने) “वाटत” असते, तर मग जगाला काय “वाटावे” हे देखील ईश्वरेच्छेनेच नाही का ठरणार?
तसेच आज आपल्याला जे जग दिसते ते क्षणभंगुर असून, आपल्या कल्पनेच्या पलिकडे, आपल्या मनाच्या वेगाहून अधिक वेगाने आणि आपल्या बुद्धीपेक्षा अधिक अचूकपणे ईश्वरेच्छेने “सुधारत” असते हे खरे नाही का?

म्हणूनच; “जग सुधारणे” म्हणजे “आपले आकलन, आपली मते, आपल्या कल्पना, आपली आवड आणि आपली बुद्धी बाजूला ठेवून ईश्वरेच्छेशी तद्रूप होणे” होय.

ईश्वरेच्छेनेच आपण नामस्मरण करीत असल्यामुळे आणि त्याचा प्रसार करीत असल्यामुळे; कुणी काय करावे, कसे करावे आणि केव्हा करावे हे ईश्वरेच्छेनेच ठरते; आणि हे नामस्मरण करता करता समजते आणि आपण अधिकाधिक स्वस्थ आणि समाधानी होतो!

श्रीराम समर्थ!

How to make your menstrual cycles regular- 8 simple ways
How to make your menstrual cycles regular?

In our clinics everyday some patients at different ages will come with complaint of irregular menstrual cycles. But there are other patients who feel embarrassed to seek doctor's help for this problem. While it seems to be a simple problem related to reproduction only, often it is associated with diseases that are matter s of concern.

First, you should know what is meant by the word "irregular"? In most women period movvurs at interval of 28 to 30 days. But it is said to be normal if it happens every 21-35 days. That means you should have periods not more frequently than every 3 weeks or not less frequently than every 5 weeks. But if you had previous cycles at interval of every 4 weeks but now you are having periods every 5 weeks, that is ABNORMAL, although it is occurring every 35 days. In other words change in interval upto 7 days is normal, nit beyond that. For example, if you had periods every 30 days previously and for ladt 2 months it is happening every 33 days or every 25 days, then it's normal. But if it happens at interval of more than 37 days (30 + 7) or les than 23 days (30- 7) then it's of course abnormal.

So what are the things you can do for regular periods.

1. Normal weight
Ideal weight varies according to the height. We express it in terms of BMI (Body Mass Index) that is the weight in Kg divided by square of the height in centimeters. Ideal BMI should be between 19 to 25. If it's more than 25, reduce weight by diet and exercise. IT can resume normal menstruation without any drugs. IF despite your sincere efforts, you are unable to lose weight or even after normalization of weight menstruation remains irregular, you must consult your gynaecologist for treatment.
On the other hand very low BMI can also cause irregular menses. Treatment is weight gain. Tjis is often seen in athletes and they are even at risk of losing bone calcium because if excessive exercise and strict diet control. If gaining weight does not help, you must consult your doctor for having regular periods.

2. Stress, Anxiety, Tension, Depression
These are inevitable part of modern lifestyle. These may noy only cause mental problems but will also cause physical problems by altering the hormone levels. The result is abnormal menstrual cycle. Try to avoid them by relaxation, counseling and if necessary by taking help of doctors.

3. Thyroid disorders
Problem of thyroid gland is common in females and causes abnormal weight and changes action of many hormone s. The result is irregular menstruation. So if you feel lethargy, extreme cold, weakness ir ibcreased weight, do not forget to check thyroid status after consulting doctor.

4. Pituitary disorders
Pituitary gland is a gland situated inside the brain that controls hormone of other gland s of the body. If there is soMe tumour or soNe abnormalities in its function, there will be high lebel of prolactin hormone secretion or there will be deficiency of hormones like FSH and LH. As a result ivaries cannot produce enough hormones and you will have irregular menstruation. So in case of abnormal menstruation, pkease Check your prolactin level.

5. PCOS
Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome is common nowadays. Apart from causing abno menstruation, it increases risk of infertility, high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease and even cancer. It is diagnosed byclinical feature s, hor tests and ultrasonography. It may also xause weight gain, male like growth of hairs in body and oily skin. The treatment is weight control and drugs to regularize menses. This is particular ly important in young women an teenagers, in whom timiely treatment xan prevent many serious consequences.

6. Premature Ovarian Failure
In some women menopause can come earlier and irregular menstruation may be the early indication of this. This may be followed by permanent cessation if periods. So if you are planning for family expansion but have irregular menses, do not delay pregnancy.

7. Problems in uterus
Excessive trauma to uterus by repeated surgical abortion or infections lije STD r tuberculosis xan damage the lining of uterus. The result is irregular menses folliwed by total cessation of menses. But this problem can be easily treated if you consult your gynecologist in time.

8. Systemic diseases and drugs
Irregular menSes should never be ignored. Sometimes it may be because if so e undiagnosed diseases like diabetes, diseases if heart, liver, kidney, chest etc. Often it may be the side effect if the drugs you are taking- like antacids containing domperidone, psychiatric drugs, Steroid s or chemotherapy.

In conclusion, irregular menstruation may sometimes warn you about serious disease s and may be associated with infertility and early menopause. Stay health y, have health y diet and lifestyle, maintain normal weight, get rid of tension and attend your doctor's clinics in time.

श्रीराम समर्थ! डॉ. श्रीनिवास कशाळीकर
केवळ प्रारब्धजन्य- देहाबुद्धीजन्य - भ्रमजन्य भोगामुळेच मी नामेतर बाबींमध्ये गुरफटत व खितपत असतो.

वास्तविक मला; तीव्र कामना नामाचीच असते, चित्ताचा क्षोभ नामवियोगानेच होतो, हवेपणा नामात न रंगल्यामुळेच असतो, असुरक्षितता आणि चिंता नामाचे "घर" नसल्यामुळेच वाटत असते आणि नामाच्या परम वैभवाच्या अज्ञानामुळेच क्षणिक व क्षुद्र हानि-लाभामध्ये मद व मस्ती;वाटत असते!

गुरुकृपेनेच नाम घेत राहता येते आणि समाधान वाढत जाते!
श्रीराम समर्थ!