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.
