Are you experiencing light/no periods? If yes, then maybe you’ve developed hyperthyroidism which affects your menstrual cycle. Many people are not aware that any imbalance in thyroid hormones can impact their menstrual cycle. Hyperthyroidism is linked with the menstrual cycle and if you don’t notice the changes it causes in your menstrual cycle you may experience fertility problems in the future which means you may not be able to become pregnant.
Learn how hyperthyroidism affects the menstrual cycle and what treatment options are available to treat your menstrual problems in this article.
Changes in your periods with a hyperactive thyroid
Hyperthyroidism can cause various changes in the menstrual cycle including:
- Irregular periods: You can experience irregular periods when there are less than 24 days (about 3 and a half weeks) or more than 38 days (about 1 month and 1 week) between periods. However, these can vary, a 2021 review classifies an irregular period in less than 21 days (about 3 weeks) or longer than 35 days (about 1 month 4 and a half days) category. Other information suggests that a period is irregular if the length of menstrual cycles varies between more than 20 days (about two and a half weeks) from month to month. An irregular menstrual cycle is one of the common complications of hyperthyroidism.
- Lighter or fewer periods: People are more likely to experience abnormal low bleeding during periods, which is called hypomenorrhea. Hyperthyroidism can cause these changes in your periods.
- Stopped periods: Some people experience an absence of periods which is called amenorrhea. This happens when hyperthyroidism elevates the levels of prolactin hormone in the blood which leads to impaired ovulation, this causes irregularities and stops menstruation. This also causes fertility problems.
- Fertility problems: When hyperthyroidism disrupts ovulation, it also affects the release of an egg from the ovary and causes fertility problems. This makes it difficult for a person to become pregnant.
- Early menopause: If your hyperthyroidism is caused by an autoimmune disease like Grave’s disease, then it may affect other glands as well which include the ovaries. When this happens, it can lead to premature menopause before the age of 40.
Hyperthyroidism can affect your menstrual cycle by increasing the prolactin levels in the blood which interferes with the production of hormones like estrogen, progesterone, and GnRH (gonadotropin-releasing hormone) which cause menstrual and fertility problems. The good news is this menstrual problem is treatable by treating the cause that increases the production of thyroid hormones (hyperthyroidism). Usually, treatment is given by medication, surgery, or radiation therapy. Your healthcare provider tells you which treatment is best for you to cure your menstrual changes.
If you are concerned about hormonal imbalances, you can talk to or visit our endocrinologist. Register here and get a consultation. And if you need help from the best endocrinologists in NYC to get your condition treated, call us on +1-347-384-5690 and get answers to all your queries. Visit us at 1797 Pitkin Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11212 to book an appointment with our endocrinologist to get the best treatment. We have the best endocrinologists who treat these kinds of diseases and helpful staff to aid you during your treatment.