Menstrual Cycle · Cycle Disorders

Disturbances of menstruation in thyroid disease

Koutras DA

Published June 17, 1997 Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 816(1), 280-284
DOI 10.1111/j.1749-6632.1997.tb52152.x PMID 9238278

Abstract

Both hyperand hypothyroidism may result in menstrual disturbances. In hyperthyroidism, amenorrhea was described as early as 1840 by von Basedow. The most common manifestation is simple oligomenorrhea (decreased menstrual flow). Anovulatory cycles are very common. Increased bleeding may occur, but is rare in hyperthyroidism. Nowadays hyperthyroidism is diagnosed earlier than it once was, and so the clinical picture is generally milder. So, menstrual disorders are less common than in previous series. In a recent paper, 21.5% of 214 patients had disturbances in their cycle, compared to 50% in some older series. In hypothyroidism, on the contrary, polymenorrhea (increased menstrual bleeding) is more common. Defects in hemostasis may contribute to this. Anovulation may be represent. Fertility is reduced in both hyperand hypothyroidism, and the outcome of pregnancy is more often abnormal than in euthyroid women. It is of interest that in juvenile hypothyroidism precocious puberty has been described. This is probably due to a "spillover" effect of the glucoprotein hormones: TSH,

Topics

Related research

Menstrual Cycle › Cycle Disorders › Ovulatory Disturbances · Reproductive Endocrinology › Thyroid and Metabolic Function › Thyroid Disorders
PMID 9238278 9238278 DOI 10.1111/j.1749-6632.1997.tb52152.x 10.1111/j.1749-6632.1997.tb52152.x Koutras et al. 1997, Koutras 1997

Cite this article

Koutras, D. A. (1997). Disturbances of menstruation in thyroid disease. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 816(1), 280-284. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1749-6632.1997.tb52152.x