Researchers reporting in the Journal of Nuclear Medicine looked at the impact of higher-dose radioactive iodine (RAI) treatment for thyroid cancer -- which is typically used as a followup to destroy any residual thyroid tissue after thyroid surgery. (Lower doses are typically used to treat Graves' disease.) Of particular interest to the researchers was the effect of cancer-eradicating doses of RAI on women's ovaries.The miscarriage rate before the RAI treatment -- which was 10% -- approximately doubled during the first year after surgery/RAI therapy. Otherwise, the RAI did not appear to have an effect on subsequent pregnancies and offspring over a 10-year follow-up period after RAI. The researchers also concluded that the risk of miscarriage was not correlated with the dose of RAI received.
Source: Garsi, JP et. al. “Therapeutic Administration of 131I for Differentiated thyroid cancer: radiation dose to ovaries and outcome of pregnancies” Journal of Nuclear Medicine (Volume 18, Issue 59, pages 854-52, May 2008
Photo: clipart.com
Yes it does effect the ovaries. Over dosage results in ovarian funciton ceasing. I should know I developed POF at the age of 23 follwing RAI treatment. FYI the ovaries have receptor sites for iodine just the thyriod glad (which have more numerous receptor sites for iodone.