The thyroid gland is a minor, butterfly-shaped gland that lies in the front of the throat. The hormones produced by the thyroid take an impact on nearly every single tissue and organ in the body.

Menopause is the time in a woman's life when her periods stop, and she is no longer able to have children. When people talk about menopause symptoms, they oft refer to symptoms associated with perimenopause, the fourth dimension of transition to menopause.

When the thyroid gland produces too much or also trivial thyroid hormone, information technology can crusade many different symptoms, some of which are very like to the symptoms experienced past a adult female in or entering menopause.

In this article, we look at the link betwixt these 2 conditions, including how ane might touch the other, and what the outlook is.

sad woman looking out of a window Share on Pinterest
Some perimenopause symptoms are like to those for an underactive thyroid.

Thyroid issues are significantly more mutual in women, especially when they are of childbearing age.

This may be considering of the human relationship between thyroid function and estrogen, the principal sex activity hormone of women.

A 2011 study published in the Journal of Thyroid Research reported that at that place is "evidence that estrogen may accept direct actions in human being thyroid cells."

In the time leading upwards to menopause, estrogen levels fall significantly, which would undoubtedly affect thyroid levels. More than research is needed to determine the human relationship, however.

Information technology can sometimes be difficult to tell apart the symptoms of an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism) and menopause because they are very like.

The table below compares the symptoms of both menopause and an underactive thyroid.

Menopause Underactive thyroid
  • hot flashes
  • dark sweats
  • frequent urination
  • changes in menstruation or libido
  • vaginal dryness
  • difficulty sleeping
  • moodiness
  • forgetfulness
  • weight changes
  • cold intolerance
  • dry skin
  • constipation
  • changes in menstrual cycle or libido
  • moodiness
  • forgetfulness or depression
  • weight changes

The transition to menopause often begins when a woman reaches 45 to 55 years old. Thyroid disease tin begin at whatever age.

Women of menopausal age are also more than to develop an overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism); however, this is less mutual than an underactive thyroid.

As with an underactive hyperthyroid, information technology can produce similar symptoms to menopause, including:

  • hot flashes
  • heat intolerance
  • palpitations
  • tachycardia
  • indisposition

Other mutual symptoms of hyperthyroidism include weight loss, an enlarged thyroid, and bulging eyes. Common treatments include antithyroid drugs, radioactive thyroid therapy, and surgery.

Thyroid bug can increase the chance of complications that are associated with menopause. For case, during menopause, women are more likely to develop osteoporosis — a condition where bone density is reduced. An overactive thyroid can besides increase the risk of the condition.

Similarly, during menopause, the adventure of cardiovascular illness increases; thyroid atmospheric condition also increment the risk. In this way, thyroid problems may collaborate to increase the likelihood of complications developing during menopause.

Share on Pinterest
A blood test tin diagnose both an underactive thyroid and menopause.

A woman experiencing any of these symptoms should check in with her doctor and non just assume that they are due to menopause or perimenopause.

The physician can perform tests to definitively diagnose whether a woman is experiencing menopausal symptoms, or whether she has an underactive thyroid.

The doctor will ask questions nearly the symptoms, such every bit when they began, how astringent they are, and how long they accept lasted. The doctor will probable perform a concrete examination and may propose diagnostic testing.

Both menopause and an underactive thyroid tin can be diagnosed with a simple blood exam that checks levels of the following things:

Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH)

FSH is the hormone responsible for inducing maturation and ovulation of an egg in the ovary.

As a adult female ages, her body needs more FSH to do this.

Persistently raised levels of FSH — usually over thirty milli-international units per milliliter (mIU/mL) — can indicate menopause.

Luteinizing hormone (LH)

LH is also persistently raised after menopause.

A woman volition accept more LH in the middle office of her menstrual bike — the release of LH is what triggers ovulation — and then a single elevated value volition not definitively diagnose menopause.

Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH)

Checking the levels of TSH is frequently the first test that doctors will do to meet how the thyroid gland is working.

When the thyroid is non working correctly, the body produces TSH to stimulate the thyroid into producing thyroid hormones. A high TSH level can point an underactive thyroid.

T3 and T4

These are the two chief hormones that the thyroid gland produces.

Levels do not change significantly with an underactive thyroid, but doctors carry out the exam to rule out other thyroid conditions.

Thyroid antibody testing

The thyroid gland contains cell proteins, and sometimes the body produces antibodies against these proteins. If this happens, it can cause both underactive and overactive thyroid disease.

If these antibodies are present in someone with an underactive thyroid, so a physician may diagnose Hashimoto'south thyroiditis.

Some women have hormone replacement therapy (HRT) to help reduce the symptoms associated with perimenopause.

Virtually women do non take any outcome with their thyroid after starting HRT. Notwithstanding, some women who are already taking medication for an underactive thyroid may find that they need to adjust the dose of their thyroid medication.

It is of import to take thyroid hormone levels rechecked from time to time, especially if a woman is experiencing any of the symptoms associated with an underactive thyroid or menopause.

Soy supplements

There is too some business about the use of soy supplements by women transitioning to menopause because of their agin impact on thyroid function. The British Thyroid Foundation suggest that information technology is unlikely that soy affects women with normal thyroid function.

However, women who accept borderline thyroid function and exercise non take in enough iodine — the thyroid gland converts iodine into T3 and T4 — may have an increased risk for an underactive thyroid if they eat a lot of soy.

Women who cull to take a soy supplement and have low thyroid part should be sure that they are eating plenty iodine, which tin can be institute in ordinary common salt.

The dose of thyroid medication may also need to be adjusted, equally in that location is some prove that soy can block thyroid medication from being absorbed.

Some health concerns associated with menopause and underactive thyroid include:

Osteoporosis

Share on Pinterest
The loss of estrogen tin can increase the risk of osteoporosis and os fractures.

Osteoporosis is a condition where a person'southward basic are weaker and more prone to damage.

Both estrogen and the thyroid hormones can help bones to stay potent and good for you. Both menopause and an underactive thyroid result in a loss of estrogen, which increases the risk for fracture.

Seeing the doc for regular os density screening tests and hormone testing tin help with early on detection of osteoporosis.

Also, eating a diet rich in calcium and taking calcium supplements if needed can help to promote os wellness.

Weight gain

Women experiencing menopause and accept an underactive thyroid may find that they gain weight. Weight gain is also very common with increasing age.

It is of import to increase activity and subtract nutrient intake to help reduce the hazard of putting on extra weight.

Untreated underactive thyroid

If left untreated, an underactive thyroid tin cause serious health complications, including high cholesterol, centre illness, and depression.

Anyone experiencing these symptoms should run into a doctor for an evaluation.

With treatment and regulation of thyroid hormones, the outlook for someone with an underactive thyroid is excellent. This condition is widespread and is readily controlled with medication.

Menopausal symptoms may crusade some discomfort for several years, but it is a natural transition, and nearly women take no problems one time information technology is complete.

The human relationship between an underactive thyroid and menopause is quite complicated, and there are a lot of factors involved. The symptoms of each of these conditions can be quite similar and sometimes the 2 interact in a style that can increase their severity.

It is important to find a md who listens and can provide the guidance necessary to become an accurate diagnosis and effective handling programme.