Why tsh test is done

A TSH test is a blood test that measures this hormone. The thyroid is a small, butterfly-shaped gland located near your throat. Your thyroid makes hormones that regulate the way your body uses energy. It also plays an important role in regulating your weight, body temperature, muscle strength, and even your mood. TSH is made in a gland in the brain called the pituitary.

When thyroid levels in your body are low, the pituitary gland makes more TSH. When thyroid levels are high, the pituitary gland makes less TSH. TSH levels that are too high or too low can indicate your thyroid isn't working correctly.

You may need a TSH test if you have symptoms of too much thyroid hormone in your blood hyperthyroidism , or too little thyroid hormone hypothyroidism. A health care professional will take a blood sample from a vein in your arm, using a small needle. After the needle is inserted, a small amount of blood will be collected into a test tube or vial.

You may feel a little sting when the needle goes in or out. This usually takes less than five minutes. The scan usually takes 30 minutes or less. Thyroid nodules that make too much thyroid hormone show up clearly in the pictures.

Even though only a small amount of radiation is needed for a thyroid scan and it is thought to be safe, you should not have this test if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. A radioactive iodine uptake test, also called a thyroid uptake test, can help check thyroid function and find the cause of hyperthyroidism.

For this test, you will swallow a small amount of radioactive iodine in liquid or capsule form. During the test, you will sit in a chair while a technician places a device called a gamma probe in front of your neck, near your thyroid gland. The probe measures how much radioactive iodine your thyroid takes up from your blood.

Measurements are often taken 4 to 6 hours after you swallow the radioactive iodine and again at 24 hours. The test takes only a few minutes. You may have this test at the same time as a thyroid scan. Even though the test uses a small amount of radiation and is thought to be safe, you should not have this test if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

If your health care professional finds a nodule or lump in your neck during a physical exam or on thyroid imaging tests, you may have a fine needle aspiration biopsy to see if the lump is cancerous or noncancerous.

For this test, you will lie on an exam table and slightly bend your neck backward. A technician will clean your neck with an antiseptic and may use medicine to numb the area. An endocrinologist who treats people with endocrine gland problems like thyroid disease, or a specially trained radiologist, will place a needle through the skin and use ultrasound to guide the needle to the nodule.

Small samples of tissue from the nodule will be sent to a lab for testing. This procedure usually takes less than 30 minutes.

However, some people may be having other types of blood test at the same time, some of which may require overnight fasting or other preparations.

People using specific medications may need to stop taking them for a time before the TSH test because some drugs can affect the results.

A TSH test helps doctors determine how well the thyroid gland is functioning. People may require TSH testing for several different reasons, which we explore in more detail below.

The TSH test helps doctors diagnose common thyroid disorders, such as hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism. People with hypothyroidism, where the thyroid does not produce enough hormones, may experience signs and symptoms that include:. People who have a known thyroid disorder may have regular TSH testing to monitor their condition and the effectiveness of their treatment. Some doctors will recommend that pregnant women have TSH tests to check their thyroid hormone levels.

According to the ATA , many experts support testing for thyroid disease in women who are pregnant or thinking of becoming pregnant. Newborn babies in the United States will also often get a routine TSH test for congenital hypothyroidism as part of their screening program. The normal range is anywhere between 0. Some research from cites an even wider range of levels as being normal.

Treatment for hypothyroidism involves taking medication daily to return hormone levels to normal. Regular TSH testing can help ensure that people are getting the correct dosage to manage their specific condition. Doctors use a TSH blood test to help diagnose thyroid disorders. An abnormal result typically requires further investigation to determine the exact issue.

If your blood work suggests that your thyroid gland is overactive or underactive, your doctor may order a thyroid uptake test or an ultrasound test. These tests will check for structural problems with the thyroid gland, thyroid gland activity, and any tumors that may be causing problems. Based on these findings, your doctor may want to sample tissue from the thyroid to check for cancer.

If the scan is normal, your doctor will likely prescribe medication to regulate your thyroid activity. They will follow up with additional thyroid function tests to make sure the medication is working. A T3 test is a blood test that helps your doctor determine if you have a thyroid problem. A T4 test is a blood test that measures your levels of the hormone thyroxine. For thyroid tests, radioactive iodine is typically used.

Your thyroid and most types of thyroid cancer absorb iodine naturally. Medicare typically covers thyroid function blood tests. Learn more about thyroid testing, parts of Medicare that may pay for it, and what you can…. If you have symptoms of, or a history with thyroid disorders, it may make sense for you to check your TSH levels with an at-home TSH test.

These are…. Read on to find out what thyroid tests are…. Learn why a thyroid-stimulating hormone test is performed, what to expect during the test, and what the test results may mean. Ayurvedic medicine can be used alongside standard treatments to help you manage your thyroid disorder. Thyroid level tests, including the TSH test, can determine if your thyroid is producing too much or too little thyroid hormone.

Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. Thyroid Function Tests.