Periods are a reflection of overall health of a woman’s reproductive system and are impacted by a number of factors, including insulin sensitivity, digestion, immunological system, digestion and the thyroid hormone imbalance. The thyroid gland produces thyroid hormones that have many functions in the body, including controlling temperature and energy levels. When your thyroid hormone production is inadequate, numerous body processes slow down and you may have constipation, weariness, depression, dry skin, thinning hair, cold intolerance, muscular cramps, joint pain, unexplained weight gain and irregular menstruation.
How are Thyroid levels related
to periods?
Dr Amit Gupta, Senior Consultant Paediatrician & Neonatologist, Motherhood Hospital, Noida, says “Your thyroid impacts your ovaries directly and indirectly interacts with sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG). Though the thyroid gland is technically a member of the endocrine system, not the female reproductive system, the thyroid gland's hormones contribute to the proper functioning of the female reproductive system. When the thyroid gland produces either too little or too much thyroid hormone, it could result in thyroid related issues like your menstrual cycles could be erratic, too light, or too heavy. It could also lead to amenorrhea, which is defined as the absence of a period for 90 days or longer, and early menopause can also be brought on by thyroid dysfunction i.e menopause before 40 years of age.”
Here’s what your periods is
trying to tell you
If you experience heavy menstrual bleeding, i.e if you need to change your pad or tampon less than 2 hours or pass clots very often it could be due to hypothyroidism i.e. your thyroid gland doesn’t produce enough thyroid hormones.
If you experience frequent menstrual bleeding or have menstrual periods that last longer, it could be due to hypothyroidism.
If you experience premenstrual spotting i.e period stains days before your actual menstrual cycle begins it could be a sign of an underactive thyroid gland i.e hypothyroidism.
If you have irregular menstrual cycles or often miss your periods, it could be due to hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism i.e. it could be due to either the thyroid gland is producing too little or too much thyroid hormone.
If you do not get your periods
at all i.e. the menstrual cycles are absent it could also be due to
hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism
If you experience very little bleeding during your menstrual cycle or the bleeding is too light and for a shorter duration than the typical cycle, it could be due to hyperthyroidism, i.e. due to an overactive thyroid gland.
What makes treatment of thyroid
issues so crucial?
Dr. Gupta says “It is better to start treatment for hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism to avoid a range of health issues. The symptoms of hypothyroidism might be mild and hard to identify or severe and damaging to your quality of life.”
If untreated hypothyroidism can
result in serious problems like:
Infertility
Heart diseases
Nerve Damage
Goiter
Birth flaws
Could affect your mental health
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