Polycystic ovaries in women with hyperthyroidism
(March 2003)
The background of the study.
Some women with hyperthyroidism have irregular menstrual cycles,
and they may not ovulate regularly. In this study, menstrual cycle
characteristics, ovarian structure, and serum androgens were determined
in women with hyperthyroidism.
How the study was done.
The study subjects were 18 women with newly diagnosed hyperthyroidism,
most of whom had Graves' disease. The women were studied by ovarian
ultrasonography and measurements of serum total and free testosterone
and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) before and after treatment
with methimazole for one and three months. The results of ultrasonography
were analyzed according to the phase of the woman's menstrual cycle
and were compared with the results at the same phase in normal women.
The results of the study.
All 18 women with hyperthyroidism had had regular menstrual cycles
in the past. Before treatment, 8 women had regular cycles and 10
had irregular cycles, 7 of whom had normal cycles during treatment.
Fifteen women had abnormal findings on ovarian ultrasonography;
the abnormalities included the presence of multiple or single large
ovarian follicles at inappropriate times of the cycle and ovarian
cysts. The results of ultrasonography were abnormal in 9 of the
11 women who were studied after treatment for one month, but were
normal in all 7 women studied after treatment for three months.
As compared with the normal women, the women with hyperthyroidism
had higher serum total testosterone and SHBG concentrations, but
their serum free (not bound to protein) testosterone concentrations
were normal.
The conclusions of the study.
Some women with hyperthyroidism have polycystic ovaries, as determined
by ultrasonography, and the changes resolve during antithyroid drug
therapy. They do not, however, have the hormonal abnormalities characteristic
of the polycystic ovarian syndrome.
The original article.
Skjoldebrand Sparre L, Kollind M, Carlstrom K. Ovarian ultrasound
and ovarian and adrenal hormones before and after treatment for
hyperthyroidism. Gynecol Obstet Invest 2002;54:50-5.
|
