Thyroid Health: The connection between thyroid hormones and your monthly
Your Monthly club community understands that our menstrual cycle can be a window into your overall health.
What many women don’t realise, is that although your thyroid hormone isn’t a sex hormone, it plays a vital role in your monthly cycle.
Your Monthly Dietitian, Kate, takes us through the thyroid gland, the role of thyroid health has in our cycle health and signs of thyroid hormone issues to watch for.
The thyroid gland: in a nutshell
The thyroid gland is a small butterfly-shaped gland at the base of your neck. It plays a vital part in metabolism and the regulation of many bodily functions, with, you guessed it, hormones. It therefore plays an essential role in your reproductive health. Thyroid dysfunction can be due to an underactive or overactive thyroid. How symptoms present themselves will depend on what type of thyroid disorder you may have.
What symptoms would I expect?
Hypothyroidism is when we do not produce enough thyroid hormones. This can present as heavy period, irregular cycles, brain fog, tiredness, weight gain and dry skin.
Hyperthyroidism is when our bodies are producing too much thyroid hormone. Common symptoms include irregular periods, light and short periods, anxiety, irritability and weight loss.
In clinic, we see women presenting with symptoms of hypo- and hyperthyroidism which are assumed to be the stress of daily life- “I had a big year and it’s catching up on me- I am so tired all the time!”, “The brain fog must be perimenopause”, “My friends always talk about how their periods are heavy, so mine must be normal”. Of course, these statements could be true, but we would encourage a blood test at your GP to rule these disorders out.
As you would imagine, if we leave these disorders unnoticed, menstrual irregularities can play a nasty part of the puzzle of our overall health. Of course, it can affect fertility and pregnancy, but also lead to other complications such as anaemia, immune changes and heart disease.
What if you have a thyroid disorder?
Thyroid disorders are treated with medication, alongside diet and lifestyle changes. If you suspect you may have a thyroid disorder, it can be helpful to track your symptoms, and to reach out to your doctor.
As you can see, periods are not a separate function that is disconnected from our body. They are an expression of our health. A healthy period can mean healthy thyroid function. Is your period trying to tell you something gorgeous?
Kate - Your Monthly Club Dietitian