Thyroid function in women with premenstrual syndrome.

Abstract

Thirteen women (10.5%) had basal evidence of either grade I or II hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism. Elevated thyroid auto-antibody titers were observed in eight women (13%). Eighteen women (30%) (all with normal basal TSH levels) had abnormal responses to TRH, either blunted (n = 6) or exaggerated (n = 12). L-T4 was not superior to placebo in the treatment of PMS in a double blind placebo controlled cross-over trial. Although it is clear that PMS is not simply masked hypothyroidism, abnormalities of stimulated thyroid function appear with greater than expected frequency in women with PMS and may define a subgroup of women with this disorder. L-T4 supplementation appears to have no place in the routine management of PMS.