Hypothyroidism and Early Menopause

[FrancesThyroid]

Hi everyone,

It's my first time here and wondered if anyone might be able to offer any help.

I was 19 when diagnosed with hypothyroidism and I've been taking Levothyroxine ever since. Now 36, I take 125mcg daily.

Almost 2 years ago, my monthly cycles began to become very irregular, often 8 to 9 weeks between, and sometimes just 2 or 3 weeks. Not the usual 28/29 day pattern I had always been used to.

I live a very busy lifestyle; married with three children, owning my own business, studying (now for my final year of a degree). Although I didn't feel stressed, I began to experience longer breaks between periods, 4 to 5 months along with hot flushes.

I saw my GP and had some blood tests, revealing suspected early menopause. I was 34 at the time. A second blood test 4 weeks later revealed the same. Unhappy to simply be put onto HRT, I asked if I could see a specialist to rule out anything else, wondering if it could be linked to hypothyroidism also.

To cut a long story short, I had several appointments with a Gyneocologist, examinations, scan, more bloods etc., which revealed my FSH leave was raised but eustrogen good. He didn't put me on HRT because of this, and over the year I had been seeing him, my periods had returned; a little sporadic but regular enough, 35/40 days between.

He discharged me and transferred me over to an Endocrinologist. Upon visiting him, periods were still happening and around 36 days apart. Again, he said this was regular enough for him to think there wasn't too much of a problem, but would see me again in 4 months if the FSH level from the bloods taken were still high.

FSH was still high. I saw the Endocrinologist last November and have still not yet received a second appointment, my monthly cycle has been erratic again and I haven't seen anything again for 9 weeks, only having had a few fairly regular months since almost a year ago. I have chased this up after having another priority to deal with for most of this year. I should have an appointment in the next couple of weeks.

Hot flushes hadn't occurred for a long time, but they've returned with a vengence this last couple days. I must have had about 10 of them today alone!

I wonder if anyone has experienced this type of scenario and if you might have any advice?

Thanks in advance 😊

[Saggyuk]

Yes, just going through it myself lol - I'm 37 and have also been hypo since teens. My periods had become every two weeks for over six months and fsh also raised and oestrogen okay but they also suspected early menopause or similar. I think raised TSH and the above can indicate premature ovarian failure or poor ovarian reserve which is slightly different to menopause from what I read about it - seems to be more about lack of viable eggs or running out etc. I did read that this is not unusual for people with thyroid disorders that started that young unfortunately.

However, I was having other health issues which are now currently being resolved particularly in regards to messed up thyroid levels and my periods have gone right back to every three weeks and 1 or two day (always been every three weeks anyway) so am hoping maybe these other issues were maybe at fault rather than what was suspected - keeping every body part crossed anyway as don't want to have to deal with that just yet on the logic that if your health is not able to sustain pregnancy, maybe it would make it more difficult to get pregnant on purpose - you never know lol.

Have you had your thyroid blood tests recently including T3 - 125 levo is a little less than most after that amount of years as you normally need more the longer it's been? Many docs also don't medicate many at an optimal level. Have you had your Vit D, B12, iron and folate checked - it's worth getting these all checked out if not and you can post the results here for a second opinion. There are many other bodily functions and organs that are affected with hypo that the docs just don't normally deal with but thyroid labs are a good place to start

[FrancesThyroid in reply to Saggyuk]

Thanks for your reply, sorry for the delay in responding!

Thyroid and hormone levels were all being checked regularly until recently, but thyroid remained normal. I'm still convinced however, that all this early menopause derived from this though. I know a common thyroid blood result tells us how much levothyroxine we do or don't need, but I'm feeling there is more to it than that. While I've had the other thyroid test a few times before now, I'll make a point of asking for this again, just to check it remains normal.

No period for me yet, and hot flushes still rife! Will try and get an appointment with my GP to arrange blood tests this week. Hopefully the endocrinology appointment will come through soon too. Your comment about thyroid labs, can I just go direct?

Pleased to hear your cycle has returned to what is normal for you. Are you planning to have children?

Thanks again 😊

[Saggyuk in reply to FrancesThyroid]

I also became pregnant with one attempt seven years ago but haven't been feeling great recently and also not in particularly in a position to get pregnant lol - plus you'd need to actually want to do the business in the first place but I lost all interest - likely something still wrong with one of the hormones somewhere lol!

Anyway, unfortunately many docs simply don't really know enough about thyroids or the complications so many people left undertreated. GPs have literally no knowledge over and above a tsh and most Endos are diabetic specialists rather than Thyroid. You need to get your tsh to 1 or just under for everything to work properly and certainly no higher than 2 but many docs leave you high above this which can cause a whole heap of problems in many areas. It also causes probs with acid levels in your stomach etc causing issues with vitamin levels - which they also do not treat effectively as not much knowledge in that area either. Your body needs these to all be optimal to be able to process thyroid hormones effectively.

We normally recommend the following blood tests for a better look:

TSH

FT4

FT3

Thyroid Antibodies

Vit D

Vit B12

Folate

Ferritin

And then post your results on here for advice. Most GPs are often stopped from requesting the T3 blood test tbh as they don't want them prescribing liothyronine. If you can't get the docs to do the tests, you can pay for your own. Medichecks, for example do one called "Thyroid Check Ultravit" which does all the above tests and is £99 but is often reduced to £79 on "Thyroid Thursdays" lol. If you don't fancy getting the blood out yourself, you pay a little extra to have done at local hospital or phlebotomy unit.

[Saggyuk]

I should add, there's prob naff all I can do about it but am wishful thinking as didn't want my options limited already but will see where I am when other issues settle now they're being resolved lol. Unfortunately any autoimmune disease especially thyroid can cause primary premature ovarian failure. There are a few other rarer secondary causes such as wonky prolactin if recently finishing breast feeding and I think if you've recently come off birth control too can make it happen temporarily and there are some rares causes to do with pituitary disfunction/tumours and adrenal problems or other endocrine issues. I think the LH level is also important and if this is high too, then likely primary premature ovarian failure but mine was normal so that's why I'm hoping it's something else alongside a few high fsh readings in my teens when thyroid not diagnosed and not medicated. But most importantly, I do hope they've been doing the fsh tests on the 3rd day of your cycle and certainly no further away than your 2nd full day or 4th day of your cycle (the first day of your cycle being the first day of your period) Any other time is irrelevant as will go high at times like ovulation

I'm still reading up on it at the mo tbh and not too clear on it but will let you know when I know more if you'd like

[FrancesThyroid in reply to Saggyuk]

Really appreciate all you've mentioned and advised, thank you. Weirdly, I got pregnant very quickly with each of our babies. I think I'm very lucky compared to many friends and family and it's not something I usually bring up as I feel for those that try to fall a long time, are really not going to want to hear it. Mentioning here though because there's obviously been no problem with ovulation until now.

They've done the blood test by day 4 of a period, but very difficult to then judge when due because of a lack of periods altogether. My last one was in August. I had some reflexology last night, my first time and worth a try. If nothing else, I couldn't have been more relaxed afterwards, which was amazing!

I suppose the thing I don't understand, is if we are medicated and monitored, and our thyroid levels are OK, how cab other things go adrift? I'm going to ask the Endocrinologist this question when I see him!

All the best 😊

[silverfox7]

Thyroid health can often throw periods into chaos. I went through the menopause I think skittle I. The early side and wasput on HRT. i was taking that for 10 years and then my GP stopped it. I was t feeling good Thyroid wise so we tvto have that looked at but my thyroid doctor said to go back to first principles and take daily temperature readings for three months and it shows I was ovulating 2 out of the three months. Not with a period but I was in the phase they still tell you to take contraception! Suggestion being that I was t actually menopausal when put on HRT but possible low Thyroid levels.

[Saggyuk in reply to silverfox7]

Yes, it definitely throws them into chaos - I normally have them much more spaced apart when thyroid low - it was only when had no T4 in system that they went to every two weeks. It's the FSH that's the annoying part and prob not alot I can do. I also appear to be lacking in whatever hormone causes you to have any drive in that area at all but need to do some more tests to figure out what exactly lol!

[FrancesThyroid in reply to silverfox7]

Thanks silverfox7, need to get my act together and head off on school run/to work. Will get back to you later 😊

[silverfox7]

Hope you get it sorted