29/01/2026
🌿 Understanding Hashimoto’s: Why So Many Women Develop It — and What’s Really Happening in the Body
By Bianca Botha, CLT, RLD, MLDT & CDS
Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis is one of the most common autoimmune conditions in the world — and almost 8 out of 10 people diagnosed are women.
But very few women truly understand what Hashimoto’s is, why it happens, or why it affects their hormones, lymphatic system, mood, metabolism and immune system so deeply.
This article breaks down the full picture so that every woman can finally understand her body, her symptoms, and her healing path.
🌸 1. What Exactly Is Hashimoto’s?
Hashimoto’s Disease is an autoimmune condition, meaning the immune system mistakenly attacks the body’s own tissue.
In this case, it targets the thyroid gland, a butterfly-shaped gland in the neck responsible for:
• energy
• metabolism
• temperature regulation
• hormones
• mood
• digestion
• menstrual cycle balance
• hair, skin and nail health
When the immune system attacks the thyroid:
• the gland becomes inflamed
• hormones become unstable
• metabolism slows
• the lymphatic system becomes burdened
• symptoms appear across multiple systems
It is not a thyroid disease only — it is an immune system imbalance that manifests in the thyroid.
🌸 2. Why Women Are Affected FAR More Than Men
There are 5 major reasons Hashimoto’s is overwhelmingly female:
1. Hormonal Fluctuations Across a Woman’s Life
Women experience continuous hormonal shifts from puberty onward:
• monthly cycle
• pregnancy
• postpartum
• perimenopause
• menopause
These fluctuations affect the thyroid, immune system, and lymphatic system, making the body more vulnerable to autoimmune activation.
Estrogen, especially, increases antibody activity — making autoimmune reactions stronger in women.
2. The Thyroid and Ovaries Communicate Constantly
The “Ovarian-Thyroid Axis” means:
• thyroid hormones influence ovulation and progesterone
• progesterone calms the immune system
• estrogen increases inflammatory activity
When hormones swing:
👉 the thyroid becomes unstable
👉 the immune system becomes reactive
👉 the lymphatic system becomes sluggish
👉 inflammation rises
This is why many women develop Hashimoto’s during:
• postpartum
• chronic stress
• perimenopause
• after hormonal contraceptive changes
3. Women Carry More Emotional and Chronic Stress
Stress elevates cortisol.
Cortisol directly suppresses thyroid hormone and triggers immune dysregulation.
Years of emotional suppression, trauma, overwhelm, caregiving and stress create:
• adrenal fatigue
• inflammatory immune patterns
• gut dysfunction
• hormonal imbalance
• lymphatic stagnation
This creates the perfect internal environment for Hashimoto’s to switch “on”.
4. Women’s Immune Systems Are Naturally More Active
Biologically, women have stronger immune systems (to protect pregnancy).
But a strong immune system is also more likely to overreact, leading to autoimmunity.
5. Gut Health Differences
Women experience more:
• IBS
• bloating
• constipation
• food sensitivities
• microbiome disruption
• stress-related digestion issues
Because 80% of the immune system lives in the gut, gut imbalance directly affects Hashimoto’s risk and severity.
🌸 3. What Triggers Hashimoto’s in Women?
Hashimoto’s is NEVER caused by just one thing.
It’s a perfect storm in the body.
The most common triggers include:
✔ Chronic stress
✔ Viral infections (e.g., Epstein-Barr)
✔ Gut permeability / leaky gut
✔ Estrogen dominance
✔ Pregnancy & postpartum
✔ Toxins & heavy metals
✔ Nutrient deficiencies (selenium, zinc, iron, iodine imbalance, vitamin D)
✔ Insulin resistance
✔ Gluten sensitivity
✔ Family history
✔ Environmental chemicals
✔ Liver overload
✔ Chronic inflammation
✔ Lymphatic stagnation
Hashimoto’s is the intersection of:
immune dysfunction + hormonal imbalance + inflammation + gut disruption + lymph backup.
🌸 4. The 5 Systems Affected by Hashimoto’s (and Why Symptoms Are So Wide)
Women with Hashimoto’s commonly say:
“Everything feels out of order.”
And they’re right — because the thyroid influences almost every organ.
Here’s what’s happening internally:
1. Thyroid System
Slowed metabolism → cold hands/feet, fatigue, weight changes, hair loss.
2. Immune System
The immune system becomes hypersensitive → ongoing inflammation, swollen lymph nodes, joint pain, puffiness.
3. Hormonal System
Irregular cycles, PMS, heavy periods, infertility, mood swings → because thyroid hormones regulate ovaries, progesterone, and estrogen.
4. Digestive System
Slower digestion → bloating, constipation, IBS, reflux.
5. Lymphatic System
Hashimoto’s commonly leads to:
• swollen lymph nodes
• underarm and neck puffiness
• slow waste removal
• heat-related swelling
• water retention
• facial puffiness
Because the lymphatic system depends on thyroid hormone to pump and drain optimally.
🌸 5. Why So Many Women Feel “Unheard” With Hashimoto’s
Hashimoto’s is multi-system, but most medical models only look at:
• TSH
• T4
• sometimes thyroid antibodies
Meanwhile the REAL symptoms live in:
• the gut
• the lymph
• the liver
• the hormones
• the adrenals
• the nervous system
This is why women often say:
“I knew something was wrong, but nobody listened.”
You are not imagining it.
Hashimoto’s affects your entire environment inside the body.
🌸 6. How Women Begin to Feel Better (Without Overpromising)
Hashimoto’s cannot be “cured”, but it can be stabilised, supported, and controlled through a multi-system approach:
✔ Supporting the gut
✔ Reducing inflammation
✔ Balancing estrogen & progesterone
✔ Gentle lymphatic stimulation
✔ Improving liver drainage
✔ Managing stress
✔ Correcting nutrient deficiencies
✔ Regulating blood sugar
✔ Prioritising sleep
✔ Reducing toxin exposure
When the environment improves, the immune system calms.
And when the immune system calms, the thyroid becomes steadier — and symptoms reduce.
This is why your programs, lymphatic care, anti-inflammatory nutrition, and detox pathways work beautifully with Hashimoto’s clients.
🌸 7. The Most Important Thing Women Need to Know
Hashimoto’s does NOT mean your body is broken.
It means your body has been fighting for you — fiercely — for a long time.
And when you finally understand the immune-hormone-lymph connection, everything starts making sense.
You are not crazy.
You are not imagining it.
And you are not alone.
Your body is asking for support, not punishment.
And healing happens when the whole system is cared for — not just the thyroid.
🌿 This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your healthcare provider before making changes to your diet, exercise, or health regimen.
