Graves’ Disease and Women’s Health

source: United States Department of Health and Human Services

Women are more likely to get Graves’ disease than men. Graves’ disease also affects women differently than men. In addition to causing heart problems and osteoporosis, Graves’ disease in women can cause:

– Problems with your menstrual period. Your thyroid hormone can affect your menstrual cycle. Too much thyroid hormone can cause irregular menstrual periods and make your periods lighter than normal.

– Problems getting pregnant. Irregular menstrual cycles can make it harder for women with Graves’ disease to get pregnant. About half of women with Graves’ disease have problems getting pregnant.

– Problems during pregnancy. Graves’ disease can cause problems for you during pregnancy and for your unborn baby’s development.

– Problems after pregnancy. Graves’ disease often gets better during the last three months of pregnancy, but it may get worse after delivery.