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Thyroid disorders can lead to changes in menstruation. Women who suffer from hypothyroidism may have a more heavy menstrual period and more cramps, while in hyperthyroidism, a reduction in bleeding is more common, which may even be absent.
These menstrual changes can happen because thyroid hormones directly influence the ovaries, causing menstrual irregularities.
How Thyroid Affects Menstruation
The possible changes that can happen in the menstrual cycle can be:
Changes in case of hypothyroidism
When the thyroid produces less hormones than it should, it can occur:
- Onset of menstruation before age 10, which can happen because the increased TSH has a small effect similar to the hormones FSH and LH, which are responsible for regulating menstruation .;
- Early menstruation, that is, the woman who had a 30-day cycle, may have 24 days, for example, or menstruation may come out of hours;
- Increased menstrual flow, called menorrhagia, making it necessary to change the pad more often throughout the day and, in addition, the number of days of menstruation may increase;
- More intense menstrual cramps, called dysmenorrhea, which causes pelvic pain, headache and malaise, and it may be necessary to take analgesics for pain relief.
Another change that can happen is the difficulty to get pregnant, because there is a decrease in the luteal phase. In addition, galactorrhea can also occur, which consists of the exit of 'milk' through the nipples, even if the woman is not pregnant. Find out how galactorrhea is treated.
Changes in case of hyperthyroidism
When the thyroid produces more hormones than it should, there may be:
- Delay of the 1st menstruation, when the girl has not yet had her menarche and already has hyperthyroidism in childhood;
- Delayed menstruation, due to changes in the menstrual cycle, which may become more spaced, with a greater interval between cycles;
- Decreased menstrual flow, which can be seen in the pads, because there is less bleeding per day;
- Absence of menstruation, which can last for several months.
After surgery to remove a part of the thyroid, changes in menstruation may also appear. Shortly after surgery, while still in the hospital, heavy bleeding can occur even if the woman is taking the pill for continuous use normally. This bleeding can last for 2 or 3 days, and after 2 to 3 weeks there may be a new menstruation, which can come by surprise, and this indicates that the half of the thyroid that remained is still adapting to the new reality, and still needs adjust to the amount of hormones you need to produce.
When the thyroid is completely removed by surgery, it causes hypothyroidism, and the doctor can indicate hormone replacement within the first 20 days to regulate menstruation. Find out what thyroid surgery consists of and how recovery is performed.
When to go to the doctor
An appointment with a gynecologist should be made if the woman has the following changes:
- You are over 12 years old and have not yet menstruated;
- Stay more than 90 days without menstruation, and if you are not taking the pill for continuous use, nor are you pregnant;
- Suffer an increase in menstrual cramps, which prevent you from working or studying;
- Bleeding appears for more than 2 days, completely outside the menstrual period;
- Menstruation becomes more abundant than usual;
- Menstruation lasts more than 8 days.
The doctor may order TSH, T3 and T4 tests, to assess thyroid hormones, in order to check if there is a need to take medications to regulate the thyroid, because this way the menstruation will normalize. The use of the contraceptive pill should be discussed with the gynecologist.