Ovarian Cysts and the Thyroid???

[Hypo32]

I am about to have investigations to see I have Ovarian cysts following pelvic pain and bloating between my periods. I have read somewhere that there can be a link with Hypothyroidism and I wondered if anyone had any experience/knowlege of this.

I am on 75mcg Thyroxine daily but I don't feel right. I had a recent blood test and TSH was 0.96 (0.5-5.5). Also tested B12 and Folates which were OK. I have other symptoms (fatigue, hair loss, poor memory, constipation, ulcers etc).

I have never been referred to an Endo and never had Vit D or Adrenals tested and not sure about other things.

If I do get Ovarian Cysts confirmed and there is a link I em hoping it will give me reason to push for a referral (I can go through BUPA if GP refers me). Anything to support my case would help. Thanks

[Moggie]

When I asked my Gyna regarding link with thyroid illness (I have a 10cm x 10cm cyst on my right ovary which I am due to have operated on in the not to distant future) she looked at me as though I had two heads and totally denied any link.

I did a lot of research on this and although other sufferers, and some doctors, say there is a link I dont think the medical profession take any notice.

Have you had any scans yet to ascertain if you actually have a cyst and how big it is? and who do you want a referal to a gyna or an endo?.

I found all my infomation out by googling "ovarian cyst and under active thyroid" so maybe see what you can find out that way. Certain doctors do say there is a link, Dr.Lowe being one of them, but to get anyone in the main stream NHS to admit it is another matter. You might have better luck than me but, as I said, my gyna was having none of it.

Will your GP not do you a vitD test? and have you have Iron test done?

Moggie x

[Hidden]

Hello Hypo,

My daughter had an large ovarian cyst removed when she was 15 (by a gynae surgeon). She had been having severe pain (thought to have been appendicitis which is what prompted investigation).

She was put on the pill to regulate her periods. This was tried on two separate occasions with different pills, but she had bad reactions to both.

When she was 21 her hypothyroidism was confirmed (privately) and we investigated her numerous teenage symptoms. We learned from a book in the hospital library that ovarian cysts can definitely be a clue to adolescent hypothyroidism.

I think you should definitely press for a referral from your GP if ovarian cysts are confirmed. It would be best if you could get a holistic approach so that your hypothyroidism and cysts are dealt with together, but it may be considered that the two things fall under two separate disciplines. You may need a change of thyroid replacement and perhaps adrenal supplements, and if you press for an appointment with an endo you may be lucky enough to see someone who is knowledgeable regarding ovarian cysts as well.

Best of luck, Jane x

[Hidden]

Hi sorry to but in I use to have pains in my hip and bloating which I think was due to mirena coil and kept getting cysts.was getting same symptoms as hypo my gp said it wasn't related, had coil removed bloating gone so think she was wrong

[shaws Administrator]

Lack of thyroid gland hormones throws everything out. I cannot find the link at the moment but below I have copied and pasted an article which was on Dr Lowe's (RIP) website.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Multiple Ovarian Cysts as

a Major Symptom of Hypothyroidism

The case I describe below is of importance to women with polycystic ovaries. If

they have evidence, such as a high TSH, that conventional clinicians accept as evidence

of hypothyroidism, they may fair well. But the TSH is not a valid gauge of a woman's

tissue thyroid status. Because of this, she may fair best by adopting self-directed

care. At any rate, for women with ovarian cysts, this case is one of extreme importance.

In 2008, doctors at the gynecology department in Gunma, Japan reported the case

of a 21-year-old women with primary hypothyroidism. Her doctor referred her to the

gynecology department because she had abdominal pain and her abdomen was distended

up to the level of her navel.

At the gynecology clinic she underwent an abdominal ultrasound and CT scan. These

imaging procedures showed multiple cysts on both her right and her left ovary.

The woman's cholesterol level and liver function were increased. She also had a

high level of the muscle enzyme (creatine phosphokinase) that's often high in hypothyroidism.

Blood testing also showed that the woman had primary hypothyroidism from autoimmune

thyroiditis.

It is noteworthy that the young woman's ovarian cysts completely disappeared soon

after she began thyroid hormone therapy. Other researchers have reported girls with

primary hypothyroidism whose main health problems were ovarian cysts or precocious

puberty. But this appears to be the first case in which a young adult female had

ovarian cysts that resulted from autoimmune-induced hypothyroidism.

The researchers cautioned clinicians: "To avoid inadvertent surgery to remove an

ovarian tumor, it is essential that a patient with multiple ovarian cysts and hypothyroidism

be properly managed, as the simple replacement of a thyroid hormone could resolve

the ovarian cysts."[1]

Reference:

1. Kubota, K., Itho, M., Kishi, H., et al.: Primary hypothyroidism presenting as

multiple ovarian cysts in an adult woman: a case report. Gynecol. Endocrinol.,

24(10):586-589, 2008.

[penny]

I had a very large ovarian cyst removed nearly 20 years' ago. It had been undiagnosed for many years and I was put on painkillers for the pain which would have me on my knees. The cyst was so large they had to remove the ovary and the fallopian tube - I have a scar from hip to hip. At the time I had no knowledge of hypothyroidism or that I was starting to shows signs of this condition. It was many years before I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism. I am convinced that because of these events I have been unable to have children.

If you have any operation do have treatment for the scar afterwards. (See my blog on Body Realignment.) Any damage to the body, such as a cut, particularly a deep abdominal one, causes adhesions. The fascia is very strong and when it is damaged it sticks and can pull the skeleton out of shape.