PCOS And Thyroid: Symptoms, Connections, and Solutions

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) isn’t just about irregular menstrual cycles it’s a complex endocrine condition that impacts the body in lots of different ways. Because of this, there are quite a few related or overlapping disorders of PCOS that Cysters are diagnosed with as they dive deeper into their condition. 

Prediabetes, metabolic syndrome, obstructive sleep apnea, depression, anxiety, celiac disease, lupus, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), and thyroid disorders are all linked to PCOS! Today, I want to use this post to talk about thyroid problems like hypothyroidism and Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. I’ll explain the relationship between PCOS and thyroid problems and give you some tips to reverse both issues at once!

PCOS And Thyroid: Symptoms, Connections, and Solutions

PCOS and hypothyroidism deal with the same core problems. People with thyroid disorders often also experience similar symptoms of PCOS including:

• Irregular or missed periods
• Fatigue and low energy
• Weight gain or difficulty losing weight
• Thinning hair or hair loss
• Cold intolerance
• Depression, anxiety, or mood swings
• Blood sugar instability or sugar cravings
• Brain fog and poor concentration
• Infertility or trouble getting pregnant
• Constipation
• Weakened immune system

With a list that long, you’re probably not surprised to hear women with a diagnosis of PCOS are at a significantly higher risk of developing thyroid disorders over the general population . . . but, why? Here’s the connection:

Are Thyroid Problems and PCOS Related?

Yes! There are actually three different ways that PCOS and thyroid disorders like hypothyroidism, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, and autoimmune thyroid disease (ATD) are related. 

• Disrupted hypothalamic-pituitary axis: Both PCOS and thyroid disorders impact the hypothalamic-pituitary axis, which is the command center of hormone management! Basically, this is the mechanism that allows your brain to talk to your endocrine glands. So, when it’s disrupted, your brain can’t tell your body what hormones to produce. This leads to imbalances of sex hormones and cortisol (what we know as PCOS), plus the imbalances of thyroid hormones (there’s thyroid disease). 
• Insulin resistance: Insulin resistance is when your body can’t correctly process glucose, and instead of converting the sugar to energy, it’s absorbed into the bloodstream and stored as fat. This prompts your body to produce an excess of insulin to counteract the error, and all this extra insulin and the high blood sugar actually trigger imbalances of sex and thyroid hormone levels while slowing down the metabolism. 
• Autoimmunity and inflammation: Another thing women with PCOS and women with thyroid disease deal with is autoimmunity. This is where an overactive immune system attacks healthy cells. It even targets the thyroid gland, ovaries, insulin receptors, and gut barrier, impairing their functioning, prompting inflammation, and contributing to the symptoms of PCOS and thyroid disease. 

Can PCOS Affect Thyroid Functions?

Yes, PCOS can affect thyroid function, and the connection actually goes both ways! Chronic inflammation, insulin resistance, and hormonal imbalances common in PCOS can disrupt how the thyroid functions, potentially slowing metabolism and affecting energy, mood, and weight. This is what’s going on in “Thyroid PCOS” (one of the four types of PCOS). 

On the flip side, thyroid dysfunction can worsen PCOS symptoms. Low thyroid hormone levels can reduce sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG), which increases androgen levels (male sex hormones). This can impact PCOS acne, hair loss, hirsutism, menstrual irregularity, and infertility even more. 

How To Reverse Thyroid and PCOS Symptoms 

Get your hormone levels checked. 

Because PCOS and thyroid issues often go hand-in-hand, it’s a good idea to have your hormones checked regularly—especially if your symptoms aren’t improving. While a basic blood test might give you a snapshot, functional lab testing goes a step further, offering a more in-depth look at key hormones like free testosterone, thyroid panels, and even your insulin resistance index. This type of testing can help you get a clearer picture of what’s really going on so you can personalize your treatment plan and feel more confident managing your symptoms. Ask your doctor if functional lab testing is something they offer! At-home lab testing kits are also available.

Try a gluten- and dairy-free anti-inflammatory diet. 

Nutrition plays a huge role in supporting hormone balance, reducing inflammation, and improving insulin sensitivity—three key areas to focus on when you’re managing both PCOS and thyroid conditions. Many Cysters find relief by trying a gluten- and dairy-free anti-inflammatory approach. Why? Gluten has been shown to trigger immune responses in people with autoimmune thyroid disease, and dairy can contribute to inflammation and digestive issues. While every body is different, removing these triggers for at least 30 days can be a helpful way to see how your body responds and reduce the symptoms at the root—like fatigue, bloating, brain fog, and hormonal imbalances.

Here’s more on my recommended PCOS-friendly diet, and to get all of my favorite PCOS-friendly recipes and meal plans, download The Cysterhood app.

Practice better stress management. 

Remember, the hypothalamic-pituitary (HPT) axis we talked about earlier? The key to communication between the endocrine glands and the brain? Well, chronic stress actually interferes with the function of the HPT axis, suppressing thyroid function and lowering thyroid hormones over time. This makes symptoms of thyroid disease way worse, but it also impacts PCOS!

Since the HPT axis is where all hormones are regulated, it sends sex hormones associated with PCOS out of balance, too. Beyond that, high cortisol levels worsen insulin resistance as part of your body’s natural fight-or-flight response. The poor hormone balance and insulin resistance, of course, contribute big time to PCOS symptoms. 

So, that means to manage both conditions, stress management is key! Try getting in nature, lowering screen time, slow weighted workouts, meditating, acupuncture, journaling, or anything else that helps you unwind! (Oh, also consider cutting caffeine. It’s like liquid stress!) 

Do daily slow-weighted workouts. 

Exercise is good for your body. Everyone knows that! However, not all exercises are equal for someone with PCOS or thyroid disease. High intensity exercises that raise your heart rate and pump your body full of adrenaline and stress hormones are not going to help you ease symptoms. In fact, they’ll probably make them worse. 

Instead, you need to try slow-weighted workouts! Not only will they keep stress levels in check, but these types of exercises can also help increase insulin sensitivity and promote hormone balance! For PCOS-friendly workout plans, download The Cysterhood app. 

Get 7-9 hours of quality sleep.

While we sleep, our bodies go through essential processes that help regulate hormone production—including stress hormones like cortisol, thyroid hormones like T3 and T4, and even sex hormones like estrogen and progesterone. Quality sleep also helps support insulin sensitivity and reduce inflammation, both of which are key when managing PCOS and thyroid conditions.

But when we don’t sleep well, it can throw our whole hormonal system off balance. You might wake up feeling more tired, anxious, foggy, or even hungrier than usual—which are all signs your hormones are struggling to keep up. That’s why prioritizing 7–9 hours of restorative sleep every night isn’t just about rest—it’s one of the most powerful things you can do to support your thyroid, metabolism, and mood.

If you’re not sure how to do that, read this post on How to Get Better Sleep with PCOS! It’s all about simple sleep hygiene tactics that can make a big impact on the quality of our rest. 

Remove endocrine disruptors. 

There are chemicals in everyday products that can interfere with our body’s endocrine system by mimicking, blocking, and altering hormone signalling. Even with other tips on this list, getting thyroid and PCOS-related hormones balanced will be hard if the cosmetics, cleaners, and other household products you use are working against you. 

Here’s my podcast episode on how to remove PCOS endocrine disruptors, so you can get started eliminating toxic products. You’ll find endocrine disruptors in all sorts of surprising places, like in shopping receipts, sunscreen, shampoo, candles, hair dye, and so much more!  

Support your body with the right supplements. 

Even with a balanced diet, getting all the essential vitamins and minerals in your diet can be super hard. However, for all of our bodily functions and processes to carry-out as planned, you NEED all the recommended daily nutrients. A lot of supplements can directly help with hormone balance, inflammation, and insulin resistance to improve thyroid and PCOS symptoms! Here’s what I recommend:

• Multivitamin: A high-quality multivitamin will have lots of essential vitamins and nutrients to support hormone health and relieve symptoms. 
• Curcumin: Curcumin is anti-inflammatory and has antioxidant properties to reduce inflammation, improve insulin sensitivity, and promote hormone balance. 
• Omega-3: Omega-3 fatty acids help reduce inflammation and insulin resistance, supporting hormone balance and calming autoimmune activity in PCOS and thyroid disorders.
• Ovasitol or Berberine: Ovasitol and berberine supports both PCOS and thyroid health by improving insulin sensitivity, helping to balance sex hormones, and reducing autoimmune antibodies! Ovasitol supports insulin signaling and hormone balance through inositol, while Berberine Advanced improves insulin sensitivity through a different mechanism. Many women feel they work even better together, but some prefer the ease of Berberine Advanced—with just two easy capsules a day—compared to mixing a powder in water. It’s a simple, convenient option that fits easily into your routine. However, always talk with your healthcare provider before switching or combining supplements.

You can find most of these in my NSF-certified supplement line, Ovafit! They’re supplements curated specifically with PCOS in mind, using only the best ingredients and advanced technology to support symptom reversal and PCOS healing. 

PCOS and thyroid disorders go hand-in-hand, but you can improve symptoms using the same intentional lifestyle changes! 

Getting diagnosed with multiple overlapping conditions can be overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be! Yes, there’s a link between thyroid disorders and PCOS, but that’s because they have the same root issues. Getting to the bottom of those core problems will help you see relief from the symptoms of both conditions to finally live symptom-free with PCOS and thyroid disease!

For more information on healing your PCOS, be sure to keep up with the PCOS Weight Loss blog and listen to A Cyster and Her Mister podcast!