Thyroid Balance is Paramount to Fertility with Richard Shames, MD – #36

The FertilityHour

Dr. Shames became very invested in learning about the thyroid after his wife Karilee developed thyroid disease. Karilee, a nurse practitioner, went to some of the top endocrinologists and yet felt her care was very inadequate. Dr Shames along with his wife and daughter (an acupuncturist) dedicate their lives to help thyroid sufferers around the globe. It is a bigger epidemic then diabetes and yet many health care systems largely sweep it under the rug. “It can’t kill you though you may wish you were dead.” Thyroid disease can rob you of a quality of life and has a large laundry list of symptoms. For fertility, thyroid health is paramount and must be treated in orchestra with the hormones and adrenal system. In this interview we discuss testing, treatment, proper rangers and the causative factor. I am a big fan of Dr. Shames and have recommended his book, Feeling Fat, Fuzzy and Frazzled to many of my patients who have all raved about it. Dr. Shames understands the complexity of thyroid disease but also acknowledges that because it is a complex condition everyone must be treated as an individual.

Interview with Richard Shames

About Episode Guest

Dr. Richard Shames graduated from Harvard and University of Pennsylvania Medical School. After research at NIH and an internship at San Francisco Public Health Hospital, he created one of the first integrative medical centers in the US in 1974. He served as Marin County Health Department physician for several years, as well as preceptor for medical students from UCSF, where he also lectured on integrative medicine. The author is well known for his prominence and pioneering work in the field of holistic healing.

Dr. Shames, co-author of “Healing with Mind Power” and “Thyroid Power”, has lectured and written extensively to health professionals and the lay public on a variety of topics related to health promotion and integrative medicine. In addition, he is a popular speaker and local media personality, and has created his own audio and video tape series.

Dr. Shames has been in private practice for 25 years, presently at the Preventive Medicine Center of Marin. He currently consults with health consumers nationally and internationally, promoting a new model of medical care that empowers both patients and practitioners.

You can find out more about Dr. Shames through his website and by following him on Facebook, LinkedIn, and, Twitter.