Thyroid problems can affect your period by causingmenstrual irregularities.
SHBG is a protein that “sticks” to reproductive hormones so they can be carried throughout your body.
If you are experiencing unusual menstrual symptoms, it’s worth asking your healthcare provider to evaluate your thyroid.
Verywell / Brianna Gilmartin
How symptoms present could depend on which punch in of thyroid disorder you have.
This medication has been shown to improve menstrual irregularities even in people with normal thyroid function.
That said, some people who use thyroid medication continue to experience abnormal periods.
Hyperthyroidism
Hyperthyroidismis an overactive thyroid gland.
That means your body produces too much thyroid hormone.
Another option isradioactive iodine(RAI) therapy, which shrinks the thyroid.
However, this treatment is not safe during pregnancy.
Absent or infrequent cycles can occur from high levels of thyroid-releasing hormone (TRH) in people with hypothyroidism.
Hyperthyroidism may also cause early menopause, or menopause that occurs before or around the age of 40.
Moreover, people with hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism who are pregnant have an increased risk of miscarrying.
For people with hypothyroidism, treatment withlevothyroxinemay improve fertility and lower the risk of pregnancy loss.
People with hyperthyroidism are often treated with antithyroid medication during the second half of pregnancy.
Summary
Thyroid conditions can affect your periods and also fertility.
Symptoms may range from heavy and frequent periods to irregular and absent cycles.
These symptoms are due to how thyroid hormones impact reproductive hormone production.
It’s always best to contact your healthcare provider for an evaluation so the underlying cause can be confirmed.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office on Women’s Health.Thyroid disease.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Thyroid disorders in women.
2017;20(4):317-25.
2016 Jan-Feb; 20(1):108-13. doi:10.4103/2230-8210.172245
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.
Gynecologic problems.Heavy menstrual bleeding.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About heavy menstrual bleeding.
Andersen SL, Laurberg P.Managing hyperthyroidism in pregnancy: current perspectives.Int J Womens Health.
2016;8:497-504. doi:10.2147/IJWH.S100987 doi:10.2147%2FIJWH.S100987
