Thyroid Health in Perimenopause and Menopause: What Every Woman Needs to Know

Thyroid Health in Perimenopause and Menopause: What Every Woman Needs to Know

For years, the narrative around menopause has been consistent: it’s a challenging but natural phase in a woman’s life that brings with it a host of symptoms like fatigue, weight gain, brain fog, and mood swings. And while menopause undoubtedly has a significant impact on our bodies, it’s not always the sole culprit behind these symptoms.

Sometimes, it’s not just menopause.

According to the British Thyroid Foundation, women are 5-10 times more likely than men to develop thyroid problems, with risks increasing during perimenopause and menopause. The thyroid gland, a small, butterfly-shaped organ at the base of your neck plays a vital role in regulating metabolism, energy, and overall hormonal balance. When it’s not functioning optimally, symptoms can overlap with those of menopause, making it easy to overlook or misdiagnose thyroid conditions.

The Overlap Between Thyroid Dysfunction and Menopause

The symptoms of menopause and thyroid dysfunction often mimic each other, which can complicate diagnosis. Common signs include:

• Fatigue: A shared hallmark of menopause and hypothyroidism. While hormonal shifts in menopause can leave you feeling drained, an underactive thyroid can exacerbate this.

• Weight Gain: The slowing of metabolism during menopause is often compounded by hypothyroidism, which further reduces calorie burn and can lead to stubborn weight gain.

• Brain Fog: Struggling with memory and focus? While declining oestrogen during menopause plays a role, thyroid dysfunction can also affect cognitive function.

• Hair Loss and Dry Skin: Both menopause and thyroid problems can result in thinning hair and skin changes, making it essential to determine the root cause.

• Mood Changes: Depression, anxiety, and irritability can stem from both hormonal shifts in menopause and thyroid imbalances.

Why Thyroid Health Matters During Perimenopause and Menopause

During perimenopause, the natural decline in oestrogen and progesterone can affect the way the thyroid functions. Oestrogen helps the thyroid gland utilise iodine—an essential mineral for producing thyroid hormones. As oestrogen levels drop, the thyroid may struggle to maintain optimal hormone production.

Additionally, autoimmune thyroid diseases such as Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (hypothyroidism) and Graves’ disease (hyperthyroidism) are more common in women during midlife. If left untreated, these conditions can worsen menopause symptoms and impact your overall health.

Key Tests to Discuss with Your GP

If you’re experiencing symptoms that feel more intense or persistent than expected during menopause, it’s worth having a conversation with your GP about thyroid testing. Essential tests include:

1. TSH (Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone): Measures how much your thyroid is being stimulated to produce hormones.

2. Free T4 and Free T3: These tests measure the active thyroid hormones in your blood.

3. Thyroid Antibodies: Check for autoimmune conditions like Hashimoto’s or Graves’ disease.

Make sure to advocate for comprehensive testing, as relying solely on TSH levels can sometimes miss underlying issues.

How to Support Your Thyroid Health Naturally

While thyroid medication may be necessary for some, lifestyle changes can also help support thyroid function and alleviate symptoms:

1. Optimise Your Diet:

   • Include iodine-rich foods like seaweed, eggs, and fish.

   • Increase selenium intake through Brazil nuts, sunflower seeds and mushrooms.

   • Add zinc sources such as chickpeas, lentils, and cashews to your meals.

   • Avoid excess soy and gluten, which can interfere with thyroid function in some individuals.

2. Stay Active: Regular exercise can help maintain a healthy metabolism and improve energy levels. Low-impact activities such as yoga or walking are particularly beneficial.

3. Prioritise Stress Management: Chronic stress affects both the thyroid and adrenal glands. Techniques like mindfulness, meditation, or EFT tapping can help reduce stress levels.

4. Get Enough Sleep: Sleep disruptions are common in menopause but can also exacerbate thyroid dysfunction. Aim for a consistent sleep schedule and a relaxing bedtime routine.

5. Consider Supplements: Speak with a healthcare professional about adding selenium, zinc, or vitamin D if your diet is lacking these essential nutrients.

When to Seek Help

If you’ve been chalking up your symptoms to menopause but aren’t seeing improvements with lifestyle changes or hormone therapy, it might be time to explore thyroid health. A holistic approach that considers both menopause and thyroid function can help you feel like yourself again.

Final Thoughts

Menopause and thyroid dysfunction can feel overwhelming when experienced together, but you don’t have to navigate this alone. By understanding the connection between these two phases of life and advocating for proper testing and care, you can take back control of your health.

Don’t accept fatigue, weight gain and brain fog as inevitable. With the right support, you can feel energised, focused and in control again.

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References

1. British Thyroid Foundation, 2023. Thyroid Disorders. Available at: https://www.btf-thyroid.org [Accessed 25 Nov. 2024].

2. Chaker, L., Bianco, A.C., Jonklaas, J. and Peeters, R.P., 2017. Hypothyroidism. The Lancet, 390(10101), pp.1550–1562. Available at: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(17)30703-1/abstract [Accessed 25 Nov. 2024].

3. EMAS, 2024. EMAS position statement: Thyroid disease and menopause. Maturitas, [online] Available at: https://www.maturitas.org/article/S0378-5122%2824%2900086-0/fulltext [Accessed 25 Nov. 2024].

4. Mishra, S. and Agarwal, R., 2023. Clinical observation of menopause hormone therapy in postmenopausal women with euthyroid and mild subclinical hypothyroidism. BMC Endocrine Disorders, 23(112). Available at: https://bmcendocrdisord.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12902-023-01269-7 [Accessed 25 Nov. 2024].

5. Spencer, C.A., et al., 2010. Thyroid Dysfunction in Midlife Women. Clinical Endocrinology, 72(5), pp.633–638. Available at: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/j.1365-2265.2010.03747.x [Accessed 25 Nov. 2024].

6. Uygur, M. M., Yoldemir, T., & Yavuz, D. G. (2018). Thyroid disease in the perimenopause and postmenopause period. Climacteric, 21(6), 542-548. Avilable at: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/13697137.2018.1514004 [Accessed 25 Nov. 2024].

7. Vanderpump, M.P.J., 2011. The Epidemiology of Thyroid Disease. British Medical Bulletin, 99(1), pp.39–51. Available at: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21893493/ [Accessed 25 Nov. 2024].