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Menorrhagia and hypothyroidism

BMJ 2000; 320 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.320.7235.649 (Published 04 March 2000) Cite this as: BMJ 2000;320:649

Evidence supports association between hypothyroidism and menorrhagia

  1. Andrew D Weeks (aweeks@doctors.org.uk), specialist registrar in obstetrics and gynaecology.
  1. Jessop Hospital for Women, Sheffield S3 7RE
  2. Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Box 233, Rosie Hospital, Cambridge CB2 2SW

    EDITOR—Prentice in his review of menorrhagia states that there is little evidence to link hypothyroidism with excessive menstrual loss.1 He supports this with reference to a retrospective analysis of the records of 50 patients with myxoedema.2 In this cohort 28 women (56%) complained of menstrual disturbance, with the most common complaint being menorrhagia (occurring in 18 (36%) of the women). The acid test of causation is, however, whether treatment of the condition corrects the menstrual dysfunction. In this study (which reported the women's perceived loss) and more recent studies in which the menstrual loss was measured3 treatment of hypothyroidism with thyroxine decreased menstrual blood loss.

    Hypothyroidism may be greatly underdiagnosed as a cause …

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