Changes in the thyroid, such as hypothyroidism, can lead to increased menstruation, whereas in hyperthyroidism, a reduction in bleeding is more common, which may become absent.
These menstrual changes can happen because thyroid hormones directly influence the ovaries, causing menstrual irregularities.
How Thyroid Affects Menstruation
Possible changes that may occur in the menstrual cycle may be:
Changes in hypothyroidism
When the thyroid produces fewer hormones than it should, it can occur:
1. Menstruation before 10 years: it can happen because the TSH increasing has a small effect similar to FSH and LH, which regulate menstruation.
2. Early menstruation: Thus, the woman who had a 30-day cycle may have 24 days, for example, and in addition, menstruation may come completely out of time;
3. Abundant menstruation: This is a condition called menorrhagia, where it is necessary to change the absorbent more intimately throughout the day and, in addition, the number of days of menstruation may increase;
4. Increased menstrual cramps : Colic can become much more intense, characterizing dysmenorrhea, which causes back pain, headache and malaise and painkillers need to be taken for pain relief.
Another change that may occur is the difficulty to get pregnant because there is a decrease in the luteal phase, but there may be gallstones, which is the 'milk' out of the nipples, even though the woman is not pregnant.
Changes in case of hyperthyroidism
When the thyroid produces more hormones than it should, there may be:
5. Delay of the 1st menstruation: when the girl has not yet had her menarche and already presents hyperthyroidism in childhood;
6. Late menstruation : The menstrual cycle may be more spaced, with a longer interval between cycles;
7. Less menstruation: The use of absorbents may be reduced because there is less bleeding per day;
8. Absence of menstruation: In certain cases menstruation can be suppressed for months.
After surgery to remove a part of the thyroid, menstruation changes. Soon after the surgery, still in the hospital, a strong bleeding can occur even if the woman is taking the pill of continuous use normally. This bleeding can last for 2 or 3 days, and after 2 to 3 weeks there may be another menstruation, which may come as a surprise, and this indicates that half of the remaining thyroid is still adapting to the new reality. adjust to the amount of hormones you need to produce.
When the thyroid is completely removed by surgery, this causes a hypothyroidism, and the doctor may indicate hormone replacement within the first 20 days to regulate menstruation.
When to go to the doctor
You should make an appointment with a gynecologist if you make the following changes:
- If you are over 12 years old and have not yet had a period;
- Stay more than 60 days without menstruation, and if you are not taking the pill for continuous use, nor are you pregnant;
- Have an increase in menstrual cramps, which prevent you from working or studying;
- Bleeding for more than 2 days, completely out of menstrual period;
- If menstruation becomes more abundant than usual;
- If the menstruation lasts more than 8 days.
Your doctor may order TSH, T3, and T4 tests to check thyroid hormones to see if there is a need to take thyroid medications because menstruation will normalize. The use of a birth control pill should be discussed with your doctor because not every pill can be indicated in case of thyroid dysfunction.
