How to Treat Hyperthyroidism in Men

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methods

1Using Radioactive Iodine Therapy

2Managing Symptoms with Other Medications

3Exploring Surgical Options

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Tips and Warnings

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Hyperthyroidism is a condition where the body’s thyroid gland produces and releases too many thyroid hormones. Because hyperthyroidism is more common in females, it’s often misdiagnosed as an autoimmune disease in males. If you have hyperthyroidism, you may experience weight loss, a faster resting heart rate, anxiousness, and trouble sleeping. You may also experience a lower sex drive, trouble maintaining an erection, and tenderness in the chest as a result of thyroid hormones repressing and diminishing testosterone absorption. However, the treatments are identical regardless of sex. In most cases, hyperthyroidism is treated using radioactive iodine, medications, beta-blockers, ethanol injections, or even surgery. In most cases, hyperthyroidism is quite treatable and the treatment options are extremely safe.

Steps

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Using Radioactive Iodine Therapy

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   Get an iodine uptake test to determine your dosage levels. Before you can start a radioactive iodine treatment, your doctor will need to determine how much iodine builds up in your thyroid to determine the necessary dosage to shrink your thyroid or if there are any risks for complication. You will consume a trace amount of iodine and your doctor will monitor how the iodine travels through your body and interacts with your thyroid. This process is quite safe, and an important first step in iodine therapy for hyperthyroidism.

   • Radioactive iodine therapy is the most common treatment path for hyperthyroidism. It involves consuming a large amount of iodine in pill or liquid form to shrink or cripple your thyroid. This treatment path is a lot scarier sounding than it really is—you’ll just be taking medication and getting regular screenings.
   • Your doctor may talk about radioactive iodine ablation. This refers to a treatment path where the radioactive iodine is consumed with the intent purpose of killing the thyroid gland.
   • Don’t use radioiodine treatment if you’re pregnant or breastfeeding.
   • Radioiodine could cause you to develop thyroid eye diseases, or Graves’ orbitopathy, or make its symptoms worsen.
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   Take a single radioactive iodine pill and drink lots of fluid. For roughly 90% of patients, one carefully-weighed dose of iodine is all it takes to return your thyroid to its normal functioning by shrinking it. Take your iodine pill and drink a lot of fluids for the next week. Consume at least 1 cup (240 mL) of water an hour to flush the trace amounts of radiation out of your body through your urine.

   • You may be given 1-4 pills depending on how your doctor has weighed your iodine treatment. They may also give it to you in liquid form and ask you to drink it in increments over the course of a few hours.
   • You’ll probably be admitted to the hospital for monitoring over the course of the first 24 hours to ensure that your body is handling the treatment appropriately.
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   Eat a low-iodine diet for at least 2 weeks after taking your pill. To avoid adding to the amount of iodine in your body, avoid commercially-produced bread, rolls, or bagels made with iodate conditioners. Instead, eat 4-6 servings of cereal, oats, or quinoa a day. For proteins, avoid egg yolks and all seafood so you don't consume trace amounts of iodine. Eat 2-3 servings of beef, veal, lamb, or chicken a day to ensure that you’re getting your protein from iodine-free sources.

   • You will pass the radioactive iodine through your urine over the course of a few weeks after it is filtered through your thyroid.

   Warning: The amount of iodine in your body is carefully measured to kill or shrink your thyroid gland. If you consume more iodine and you’re only trying to shrink it, you may kill it completely. If you are trying to kill the thyroid and you consume more iodine than necessary, you could get sick.
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   Get screened after 6 months to see how your thyroid is doing. After 6 months, your doctor will perform a body imaging scan to see how the thyroid has responded to the iodine treatment. Show up for your appointment and allow your doctor to perform the necessary tests to check your thyroid. Your doctor will either consider your hyperthyroidism treated or prescribe an additional course of treatment.

   • You will also be given a blood test to check the iodine levels in your blood and to see how your other glands have responded to changes in your thyroid gland.
   • Your doctor may offer an additional dose of radioactive iodine treatment to shrink the thyroid further if your symptoms persist.
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   Repeat the treatment if necessary after your thyroid fights back. In some cases, the thyroid will grow back after shrinking from the iodine treatment and continue to cause problems. In these cases, you may be offered a longer-term radioactive iodine treatment. This is a good option if you want to avoid surgical options and can handle the iodine treatment process and after-care.

   • If you have Graves’ disease, you may need to take low-dose radioactive iodine for an extended period of time to manage your symptoms.
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Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Managing Symptoms with Other Medications

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   Take nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to manage mild cases. If your hyperthyroidism is acute and minor, your doctor may suggest you take nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for a few weeks to manage the symptoms and monitor them. Take the recommended daily dose of Ibuprofen, Asprin, or Ketoprofen per your doctor’s instructions for a few weeks before taking any further steps.

   • For some people, hyperthyroidism is a temporary reaction to surgery or trauma and will simply go away on its own.
   • This is a common first step for many doctors when they’re trying to diagnose the cause of the hyperthyroidism.
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   Consume an anti-thyroid medication to curb your thyroid hormones. For more severe symptoms that may be temporary, your doctor may prescribe an anti-thyroid medication like propylthiouracil and methimazole. These drugs will block the thyroid receptors and mitigate the release of thyroid hormones in your body. Take your anti-thyroid medication per your doctor’s instructions based on your individual case.

   • Side effects of anti-thyroid medications include rashes, hair loss, fever, and itching. These are common and usually aren’t too dangerous unless you have some other autoimmune issues.
   • Serious side effects that require immediate medical attention include abdominal pain, swelling, joint pain, and nausea.
   • If you’re pregnant, opt for propylthiouracil since methimazole can disturb the development of the fetus or embryo.
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   Take beta-blockers as a long-term treatment for symptoms. If your doctor doesn’t think that radioactive iodine or surgery are necessary yet, they may offer beta-blockers as a means of curbing the symptoms while weighing next steps. Beta-blockers don’t affect the thyroid directly, but they inhibit the effects of the thyroid hormones on the body and can prevent the symptoms from getting worse. Take your beta-blockers orally every day per your doctor’s instructions.

   • Common beta-blockers include propranolol, atenolol, and metoprolol.
   • Beta-blockers can hide the symptoms of an asthma attack if you already have asthma. Let your doctor know if you have a history of asthma while discussing beta-blockers.
   • Your body will still produce thyroid hormones flowing through your blood, so you need to pair beta-blockers with an anti-thyroid medication to decrease the levels and production.
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   Receive sterile ethanol injections to treat thyroid nodules. If you have thyroid nodules, which are benign growths on your thyroids causing the hyperthyroidism, your doctor may suggest ethanol injections in the thyroid to shrink the nodules. This process involves injecting ethanol directly into the thyroid to stunt or kill the thyroid, thus cutting off resources to the nodules and preventing additional growths. It may be uncomfortable to have a needle stuck in your neck, but ethanol injections are a good one-time treatment that can work as an alternative to surgery.

   • Your doctor may suggest ethanol injections to kill the thyroid as a permanent solution to your problem.

   Warning: This is usually offered as an alternative to surgical removal, but in rare cases, the thyroid will fight back and the problems will recur. If given a choice between the two, weigh your options carefully and talk to your doctor about the risks involved in each option.

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Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Exploring Surgical Options

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   Opt for surgery to remove the nodules if they become cancerous. Thyroid nodules, which are growths on the thyroid, often become cancerous. If the growths become cancerous, your doctor may suggest surgical removal of the growths. Consult an endocrinologist to see if surgery is for you. If you require surgery, be aware that the procedure is highly effective and usually safe.

   • Post-care for nodule surgery typically involves bed rest, taking pain medications, and eating liquid food for a few weeks after the procedure.
   • You will need to have a biopsy done to determine if the nodules are malignant or not.
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   Get surgery to remove the thyroid completely if necessary. If the thyroid is cancerous or other medical treatments haven’t been effective, your doctor may suggest surgery to remove the thyroid completely. Consult an endocrinologist to walk through the surgical procedure and understand the risks involved. After surgery, follow your doctor’s directions regarding post-care to ensure that you don’t have issues with recovery.

   • You may experience a sore throat after surgery. Don’t worry, this is normal. Take throat lozenges to soothe your throat.
   • You’ll probably need to take a hormone replacement medication for the rest of your life due to surgically-caused hypothyroidism, meaning that you lack thyroid hormones in your body.
   • Hyperthyroidism is more likely to require a permanent solution in men since they’re less likely to have temporary symptoms.
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   Follow the after-care instructions and slowly work back to a regular diet. When you wake up from surgery, you may be asked to walk around and stretch in an effort to avoid blood clots. Your thyroids are located in your neck, so you’ll find it hard to speak or eat. Your nurse may walk you through some jaw stretching exercises. Start consuming liquids when you’re comfortable swallowing and slowly work your way up to solid foods after 2-3 days.

   • You may be prescribed antibiotics and pain medication following your surgery. Follow the instructions and take your pills as directed by your doctor to prevent further complications.
   • Smoking and drinking alcohol while taking prescription pain medication is dangerous. Avoid doing this and call your doctor if you have trouble managing your pain.
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Warnings

• If your hyperthyroidism goes untreated, it could lead to heart problems, infertility, or permanent nerve damage. It could prove fatal if the complications are extreme enough. Be very wary of refusing treatment or not following your doctor’s instructions.
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• If you don’t follow your doctor’s advice regarding thyroid removal or ablation, the problem could get worse and your symptoms could become debilitating.
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