POI and an underactive thyroid

 

Approximately 25% of women with POI also suffer from hypothyroidism (an under active thyroid). Both conditions can be caused due to an autoimmune response (where the body produces antibodies which attack health tissues). Auto-immune disorders such as thyroid disorders and diabetes are more common in women with POI than in the general population.

Guidelines recommend that a blood test to check for thyroid (TPO-Ab) antibodies should be performed in women with POI. In patients with a positive TPO-Ab test, thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) should be measured every year to check thyroid function.