Thyroid Disease
  1. Home
  2. Health
  3. Thyroid Disease

What is a Normal TSH?

By Mary Shomon, About.com

Created: April 14, 2006

About.com Health's Disease and Condition content is reviewed by our Medical Review Board

See More About:

3 of 8

The "Old" Normal Range

While the majority of traditional doctors in the U.S. agree that the TSH test is their preferred way to diagnose and manage hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism, they do not agree on how to interpret the TSH test results.

Until 2002, the official TSH "normal range" that laboratories and most doctors used throughout the U.S. was a range of 0.5 to 5.0.

On that range, a TSH under 0.5 (a low TSH) indicated hyperthyroidism (an overactive thyroid), and a TSH over 5.0 (a high TSH) indicated hypothyroidism (an underactive thyroid.)

Explore Thyroid Disease
About.com Special Features
Conquering High Cholesterol

Learn how you can reduce your your numbers with these nutrition and exercise tips. More >

Healthy Bodies, Healthy Minds

Keep yourself, and your family, happy and healthy this fall with these tips. More >

We comply with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information: verify here.
Thyroid Disease
  1. Home
  2. Health
  3. Thyroid Disease
  4. Get Tested and Diagnosed
  5. Normal TSH: The "Old" Normal Range

©2009 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company.

All rights reserved.