Thyroid Issues and Menstruation

Painful cycles, abnormal bleeding, and threatened miscarriage may all be signs that a patient has thyroid dysfunction.

Thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) is produced by the hypothalamus to regulate thyroid function through the anterior pituitary gland. It has a direct effect on ovarian function. This means that thyroid problems may start in the thyroid or they may actually start in the brain causing a cascade of hormonal imbalances.

Changes in thyroid function may also negatively affect other important hormones that help to regulate the menstrual cycle:

sex hormone-binding globulin

gonadotrophin-releasing hormone

prolactin

gonadotropin-releasing hormone

Signs of thyroid dysfunction:

weight gain/loss

dry skin

brittle hair or hair loss

feeling cold

elevated cholesterol

depressed feeling or anxious

shaky

If you are experiencing difficulty with regulating your menstrual cycle then it’s important to investigate the cause of the problem. If a doctor simply puts a patient on the birth control pill, without exploring the cause of the problem, then they are only treating the symptom which is a negligent approach at best.

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