This leads to shrivelling of the ovary, failure to ovulate, premature menopause, and infertility. Top Relationship Between Thyroid Disease and Iodine Treatment for Fibrocystic Disease of the Breast For unknown reasons, the breasts, like the thyroid gland, trap iodine from the blood. Furthermore, it is found that iodine treatment for various breast conditions markedly improves these abnormalities. For example, iodine is frequently given for fibrocystic disease, a lumpy nodularity of the breast common in middle-aged women. In normal amounts, iodine is necessary for thyroid hormone production.
Large amounts can produce goitre and various forms of thyroid disease.
Women taking iodine for breast conditions must, therefore, be aware of the posssibility of goitre and thyroid disease, paticularly if they previously had thyroid disease or have a family history of thyroid abnormalities. Doctors treating breast conditions carry out thyroid blood tests and clinical examination every 6 months Top A printed version of this Health Guide is available to health care professionals and the public. For more information call the National Office or contact your local chapter . Production of the printed version of this Health Guide was made possible through partial funding assistance from Health Canada. The views expressed herein are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official policy of Health Canada.