Exploring the Relationship Between Thyroid Dysfunction and Menstrual Irregularities in Women
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.70749/ijbr.v3i10.2563Keywords:
Thyroid dysfunction, Menstrual irregularities, Hypothyroidism, Hyperthyroidism, Reproductive health, Hormonal imbalance, Punjab Pakistan, Women’s health.Abstract
The present study investigates the relationship between thyroid dysfunction and menstrual irregularities among women in Punjab, Pakistan, providing comprehensive quantitative and clinical evidence of their interconnection. Among 230 women studied, over half (51.3%) exhibited some form of thyroid dysfunction, with hypothyroid conditions (both overt and subclinical) representing the majority and strongly associated with menorrhagia and oligomenorrhea, while hyperthyroid states correlated with hypomenorrhea and amenorrhea. Hormonal analysis revealed that elevated thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels, characteristic of hypothyroidism, were linked to prolonged or heavy menstrual cycles, whereas suppressed TSH with elevated triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4) levels in hyperthyroidism were associated with shorter or absent cycles. The severity and persistence of menstrual disturbances increased proportionally with the degree of thyroid imbalance, with overt thyroid disorders producing the most pronounced symptoms and longest durations of irregularity. These findings confirm a strong inverse relationship between thyroid function and menstrual regularity, emphasizing the physiological influence of thyroid hormones on the hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal axis and reproductive health. The study underscores the clinical importance of routine thyroid screening in women presenting with menstrual disorders, particularly in resource-limited settings like Punjab where subclinical cases often go undiagnosed. Integrating thyroid evaluation into gynecological practice can facilitate early detection, prevent infertility and hormonal complications, and improve overall reproductive outcomes. This region-specific evidence contributes to global understanding of endocrine–reproductive interrelations, highlighting thyroid dysfunction as a prevalent yet modifiable determinant of menstrual health in Pakistani women.
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