Does Hyperthyroidism Cause Amenorrhea?

In hyperthyroidism, amenorrhea was described as early as 1840 by von Basedow

Basedow
The first description of thyroid diseases as they are known today was that of Graves disease by Caleb Parry in 1786, but the pathogenesis of thyroid disease was not discovered until 1882-86.
. The most common manifestation is simple oligomenorrhea
oligomenorrhea
Introduction. Oligomenorrhea is defined as irregular and inconsistent menstrual blood flow in a woman. Some change in menstrual flow is normal at menarche, postpartum, or in the perimenopausal period.
(decreased menstrual flow
menstrual flow
The uterine cycle governs the preparation and maintenance of the lining of the uterus (womb) to receive a fertilized egg. These cycles are concurrent and coordinated, normally last between 21 and 35 days in adult women, with a median length of 28 days, and continue for about 30–45 years.
› wiki › Menstrual_cycle
). Anovulatory cycles are very common. Increased bleeding may occur, but is rare in hyperthyroidism.

How does hyperthyroidism affect menstrual cycle?

Absent or infrequent menses are the most common abnormalities seen with severe hyperthyroidism. This is because an increase in thyroid hormone indirectly causes an increase in sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), which can prevent ovulation.

Can overactive thyroid cause amenorrhea?

If you have an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism) or an overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism) your periods may stop. Obesity. If you are overweight, you may have amenorrhea as a result of excess fat cells getting in the way of the process of ovulation.

Sarah Jenkins

Sarah Jenkins

Senior Technology Editor & AI Specialist

Sarah Jenkins is a veteran tech journalist with over 12 years of experience covering artificial intelligence, mobile innovations, and digital ethics. Her insights have appeared in leading technology publications worldwide.