absent period, hypothyroid symptoms

Questionsabsent period, hypothyroid symptoms
Anonymous asked 7 years ago
my 17 year old daughter is experiencing constipation, low blood pressure, feeling cold a lot, weight gain and absent period.  could she be low in progesterone or do you think it is mainly her thyroid?  her thyroid blood tests are in the normal range.
1 Answers
Ward Dean, MD answered 7 years ago
It certainly sounds as if she may be functionally hypothyroid. As I often have said, thyroid blood tests are usually a waste of blood, especially when only TSH and T4 are measured. The test I usually use also includes T3, free T3, reverse T3, and the antibodies to insure Hashimoto’s is not present.
She also might benefit from Metformin, as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is often a cause of weight gain and irregular or missing periods. Most women with PCOS are also usually hypothyroid.
Ward Dean, MD