Thyroid Dysfunction & Irregular Periods: Delayed Puberty, Shorter Periods, Scanty Periods, Absent Periods
Did you know that 12 percent of people suffer from abnormal thyroid function during their lifetime? Did you also know that women are eight times more likely than men to have abnormal thyroid function?
And the most common symptom by which abnormal thyroid function is diagnosed in women is by having abnormal periods. We will talk about how thyroid or thyroid dysfunction can affect your periods.
Thyroid Gland
The thyroid is a small gland that is located in the front of your neck and wrapped around your windpipe called the Trachea. It is shaped like a butterfly: smaller in the middle and has two broad wings. the thyroid gland produces three important hormones
· Thyroxine which is t4
· Triiodothyronine which is t3 and
· Calcitonin
Hormones
All these three hormones control the vital functions of the body, your metabolism, and your reproductive hormones. There is another important hormone called TSH — Thyroid Stimulating Hormone, which is secreted by the Anterior Pituitary gland. It actually controls the production of thyroid hormones. It tells the thyroid how much T3 and T4 to make.
Hypothyroidism & Hyperthyroidism
So if your thyroid is producing less amount of thyroid hormones, the pituitary increases the amount of TSH to stimulate the thyroid gland and produce more hormones. So high TSH means underactive thyroid or hypothyroidism while your thyroid is producing excessive hormones.
Now the pituitary reduces the amount of TSH trying to downplay the thyroid gland. So low TSH means overactive thyroid or hyperthyroidism.
Hypothyroidism & Problems
Another important thing to know is Iodine. Now, this comes from seafood or foods like iodized salt. This is something that is required for making T3 and T4 hormones. So let’s first talk about hypothyroidism which means the thyroid gland is not functioning well and not producing an adequate amount of thyroid hormones. Now this causes
· fatigue,
· tiredness,
· depression,
· constipation,
· dry and flaky skin,
· brittle nails,
· falling hair,
· muscle pain
· joint pains and weight gain
Hypothyroidism is also associated with early puberty, heavy periods, frequent periods & painful periods. It can also cause infertility and abortions too.
What causes the hypothyroidism
1. Autoimmune
The most common cause of hyperthyroidism is autoimmune, which means certain antibodies or certain immune cells form in the body which actually work against the thyroid gland and prevent it from doing its job of producing the thyroid hormones.
For example Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis
2. Genetics and family history
Genetics and family history also play a role in environmental toxins and pollution that may cause hypothyroidism too.
3. Others
· little iodine in the diet also may cause hypothyroidism
· Surgery and radiation on the thyroid gland
· Cancer of thyroid glands
· Certain medications like Myoderon and Lithium also may cause hypothyroidism
Hyperthyroidism & Problems
Then let’s talk about hyperthyroidism which means that the thyroid gland produces more hormones than what the body needs.
· The person may feel shaky
· She may have tremors, anxiety, palpitations
· She may actually feel very warm
· The appetite is more
· There is an increased tendency toward diarrhea and
· Despite eating more the person tends to lose weight
Hyperthyroidism patients typically have delayed puberty. They have shorter periods, scanty periods, and sometimes absent periods.
Causes of Hyperthyroidism
It’s very important to know hypothyroidism is much more common than hyperthyroidism. So the causes of hyperthyroidism could be
· Once again autoimmune infections of the thyroid gland which are thyroiditis tumors of the thyroid gland
· Too much iodine in the diet
How Thyroid Dysfunction can Affect your Periods
· Both hypo and hyperthyroidism can cause disturbed ovulation progesterone deficiency and hence irregular periods
· Both hypo and hyperthyroidism are known to affect pituitary hormones like Prolactin, FSH, and LH
· Hypothyroidism is known to impair insulin sensitivity which is why as high as 30 to 40 percent of PCOD patients have associated.
· Hypothyroidism also causes weight gain which further increases the chances of PCOD. Also, PCOD patients have a higher chance of autoimmune. Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis
· Hypothyroidism also decreases the coagulation factors in the body leading to heavy periods and hyperthyroidism increases the coagulation factors in the body leading to scanty periods.
So it’s very interesting to note how hypothyroidism causes heavy periods and hyperthyroidism causes scanty periods.
There is also an early stage of hypothyroidism which is known as subclinical hypothyroidism. Here only the TSH is elevated and the thyroid gland is still able to produce enough thyroid hormones without treatment, this would ultimately progress to overt hypothyroidism and it is very important to treat this also, especially if you have any menstrual problems if you are planning for a baby.
Treatment of Hypothyroidism
Treatment of hypothyroidism is by taking a medication called levothyroxine. This replaces the thyroid hormone which your thyroid gland is not able to make. So remember, it is a replacement medicine — it is not a curative medicine. Most of the patients actually ask:
For how long do I have to take this medicine before I can be cured of this?
Ans: You have to take this medicine regularly and keep monitoring your TSH levels. The dose of levothyroxine actually is dependent on your TSH level and may have to be titrated based on your age, weight and if you are pregnant then the treatment for hyperthyroidism actually includes the use of drugs like Methamphol, Propyl Thiosul, Radioactive Iodine, and sometimes even Surgery on the thyroid gland.
What are Goitrogens? You MUST AVOID?
They are naturally occurring substances found in certain plant-based foods. These interfere with the iodine uptake in the thyroid gland. So people who have hypothyroidism should ideally AVOID cozy ferrous vegetables. These are
· broccoli
· cauliflower
· cabbage
· turnip
· kale
· mustard
They usually block the uptake of iodine into the thyroid gland. You should reduce their intake. You can either steam or boil them before taking them. Even raw onions contain GOITROGENS. So if you’re fond of having onions, it’s not a good idea to have them in a raw form, you can have them boiled. Soy foods contain isoflavones like genistein and isoflavones also in some studies are known to increase hypothyroidism.
What are the Natural Ways to Fix Your Thyroid?
· Avoid packaged fastest and refined foods
· Avoid trans fats alcohol
· Take a healthy homemade diet
· If you are having hypothyroidism avoid goitrogens we spoke about them a while back
· Make sure that you are exercising reasonably. But remember over-exercising is not good for the health
· Following a sedentary lifestyle is also bad
· Try to reduce weight if you have hypothyroidism
· Make sure that you are taking that me or self-care time to work on your stress levels
· Make sure that you’re having adequate hours of good-quality sleep
· Yoga & Meditation are also known to help in thyroid disorders
· There are certain asanas that can help in fixing your thyroid so Salvanasana, Halasana, etc.
Thyroid disorders are actually hormonal disorders but are most of the time diagnosed by a gynecologist. When a woman comes to doctors with irregular heavy or scanty periods and you are diagnosed with a thyroid disorder, please DON’T take it lightly, take your medications regularly.
