Not treating hypothyroidism is simply not an option. Left untreated, hypothyroidism can cause serious complications such as high cholesterol — which can lead to heart disease — and infertility. In extreme cases, it can lead to coma or death.

Thyroid hormone is essential to your health, and if you've become hypothyroid for any reason, it is critical that you replace the missing hormone. Most people who develop hypothyroidism will have it for the rest of their life and will require thyroid hormone replacement. Chances are, you will be on your medication for life to compensate for your natural deficiency in thyroid hormone.

You will also need to monitor the effect of your medication on a regular basis. Luckily, treatment is often quite successful at eliminating your symptoms and restoring your health. And once you've established the right dose for your body, the amount of monitoring will go down. Taking your pill will simply become a part of your daily routine.