Hypothyroid and amenorrhea

Hi, 8 weeks ago I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism.  July 2008, I went off birth control pills because my husband and I were trying to have another baby.  I have a 4 year old son now.  October 2008 I had a miscarriage.  After that, I never really started my cycle again.  My dr. said it may take a while to become normal and he was not concerned.  In June I was given prometrium to start my periods again and it worked.  I started 12 days later, but I never ovulated and it never came again.  In August I went back to see my ob/gyn and he wanted to do a thyroid panal and also check for PCOS.  The test came back and my TSH was 121, funny thing is, I felt pretty good.  He immedicatly started me on 150 mcg of Synthroid.  2 weeks ago I had my blood work drawn again and my TSH was 0.34.  I have actually not felt this good in a long time.  My problem is though, I still have not had my period.  Is there a time frame when I may expect this.  I am starting to get a little nervous.  I am 30 years old and desperatly want to grow my family.  Any help?

[TamraW]

You should be seeing an endocrinologist who specializes in thyroid. TSH is a pituitary hormone and should be secondary concern. Primary concern should be FT4/FT3 levels, which are direct thyroid hormone.

Without those levels, I can't really tell what's happening with your thyroid. Your period should come back, so a doctor who specializes in thyroid and maybe hormones should be your next step.

The hypothyroid disease, Hashimoto's, commonly causes miscarriage and infertility. With proper treatment, many Hashi women have successful pregnancies.

You will need the TGab and TPOab tests plus a thyroid ultrasound to determine if you have Hashi.

:) Tamra

[stella5349]

You may have a receptor blocking some of your progestrone. You could be estrogen dominant still and need to have some progestrone to help you release that receptor. When taking birth control pills - for a long period - (Over a year) the body shuts down the other female hormone panels to some degree. You keep pumping in that estrogen with synthetic medicine and than other things start to fail. Estrogen dominance is linked to hypothyroidism and adrenal ( cortisol) issues. The more you take in ( estrogen) the more the thyroid will slow down it's receptors to pump out what you need to stabilize the body. This is probably why you had the miscarriage and had a TSH level so high. If you were on a product like YAZ - then this TSH level does not suprised me at all.

The TSH is the pitutiary telling the thyroid to pump thyroid hormone. It isn't a really good tool to really diagnois/treat thyroid disease, but in your case with your history - it was a blessing you had this test and the doctor saw the issue. The pitutiary talks to the estrogen levels in your body too. and when you had too much fake estrogen floating around it shuts down the thyroid from producing your right thyroid levels. and tells your adrenals to pump out cortisol

You need to have a COMPLETE panel of these hormones

Progesterone
Testosterone
Estrogen and Estradiol
FSH/LH
Free T3
Free T4


You cannot go by ranges either. You need a specific doctor that knows the EXACT level you need to be at to repair your system. You may find that if this is repaired - you may find your thyroid will also get back to speed and not require meds anymore either. Your very young and depending on you - things should even out with proper hormone replacement.

Many Intergrative Medical doctors are well versed in understanding the hormone panels as I am saying. They have the skill to really dig into the tests and test and trial natural hormones that could help you get back on track. I strongly feel your progesterone is probably out of serious whack and that is why you are not getting your period.

There is a danger to being estrogen domaniant at your age, Having too much estrogen ( not enough estrodiol) in the system can link you to precancerous cells and fibroids. These develop mostly in the uterus - but if the problem is ignored for a very long time, fibriods and these cells can be found in breast tissue and the rest of the reproductive system. I feel a mamogram (mammogram) might be wise for you too - just to make sure you don't have this happening. You haven't gotten your period - there's something going on.

[dawnangela]

This is exactly what happened to me, tho im older, my TSH was 144, my period stopped for five months, just back now after 3 months on thyroid meds..so yes it will come back, but have all checked out like Stella suggests..

[shanesmom0209]

Thanks for all the information, Here are the labs that I had drawn
August 2009
TSH 121
Free T4 0.3
FSH 2.9
Testosterone 31
LH 3.8
Prolactin 13.8

October 2009
Free T4 1.5
Free T3 5.1
TSH 0.34