How can hypothyroidism affect your period

It also balances the estrogen levels, as too much estrogen or not enough progesterone can lead to heavy bleeding. Thus, while we usually assume that periods are a sign that we are ovulating, we can still have periods without ovulation, and these periods tend to be heavier. The term "regular" really isn't applicable, as every woman has a different version of what is "normal" for her. However, most women have the following characteristics associated with their period:.

A regular period should be one that is consistent. Whether your periods last four days or seven days, it should be about the same each time. Suppose your period is not consistent or does not have the characteristics mentioned above. In that case, it is worth consulting your doctor to see if something is amiss with your endocrine system. Changes in the length, flow, and color of your periods indicate that you have some form of a disturbance that is interfering with your normal menstrual cycle.

Some women may even not have periods unrelated to pregnancy or may experience spotting in between periods. Moderate to severe symptoms of pre-menstrual syndrome PMS can also be a sign that your hormones are out of balance. As we have discussed, hypothyroidism can cause irregular periods. Other causes of irregular periods include:. While the cause may not be apparent, an irregular period is your body trying to send you a blatant message that something is disrupting your system.

Meet with your doctor to get to the bottom of what is causing irregularity in your menstrual cycle. Suppose hypothyroidism is the suspected culprit behind irregular periods.

If you have menstrual irregularities, you should seek medical attention if your flow is heavy for more than 24 hours, your periods are more frequent than 21 days, or your periods stopped for more than three months and you are not pregnant , says McConnell. Your medical provider can perform blood tests to check your levels of various hormones. In hypothyroidism, your TSH level will be elevated and your free thyroid hormone levels will be low.

In some cases, your doctor might recommend a pelvic ultrasound to check for uterine fibroids, polyps, and ovarian cysts, says Spencer. If you already know you have hypothyroidism and have noticed a change in your cycle, see your doctor to make sure your TSH is in the normal range with treatment, says Spencer.

If your period does not normalize and your TSH is in the normal range, you should make an appointment with your ob-gyn so they can evaluate you for other causes, she says. Hypothyroidism could disrupt your plans to get pregnant. In a recent paper, In hypothyroidism, on the contrary, polymenorrhea increased menstrual bleeding is more common. Defects in hemostasis may contribute to this.

Anovulation may be represent. Use precise geolocation data. Select personalised content. Create a personalised content profile. Measure ad performance. Select basic ads. Create a personalised ads profile. Select personalised ads. Apply market research to generate audience insights. Measure content performance. Develop and improve products. List of Partners vendors.

The thyroid gland is a small butterfly-shaped gland located at the base of the front of your neck. It plays an essential role in your reproductive health, directly affecting your ovaries and indirectly interacting with sex hormone-binding globulin a protein that binds reproductive hormones.

Given this, thyroid dysfunction can result in menstrual irregularities. However, menstrual problems tend to be more common in those with severe thyroid disease versus those with more mild or moderate conditions. If you are experiencing unusual menstrual symptoms, it's worth asking your healthcare provider to evaluate your thyroid. This article explains some of the most common menstrual symptoms related to thyroid disorders and what you can do about them.

Menstrual problems may be due to an under-active or overactive thyroid. How symptoms present could depend on which type of thyroid disorder you have. Hypothyroidism , or an under-active thyroid gland, occurs when the body produces too little thyroid hormone. There are several menstrual problems associated with hypothyroidism, including:.

Hyperthyroidism is a disorder of an overactive thyroid gland. That means your body produces too much thyroid hormone.