Symptoms of an underactive thyroid and menopause
It can sometimes be difficult to tell apart the symptoms of an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism) and menopause because they are very similar. Menopause occurs when a woman has not had her menstrual period for a year. This occurrence is the result of a natural decline in hormones that a woman will experience usually in her 40s or 50s.
Symptoms of menopause include:
- hot flashes
- night sweats
- frequent urination
- changes in menstruation or libido
- vaginal dryness
- difficulty sleeping
- moodiness
- forgetfulness
- weight changes
Symptoms of hypothyroidism include:
- 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 can begin at any age. Women of menopausal age are also more to develop an overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism); however, this is less common than an underactive thyroid.
As with an underactive hyperthyroid, it can produce similar symptoms to menopause, including: hot flashes، heat intolerance، palpitations and insomnia.
Method of diagnosis between symptoms of hypothyroidism and menopause
A blood test can diagnose both an underactive thyroid and menopause. A woman experiencing any of these symptoms should check in with her doctor and not just assume that they are due to menopause or perimenopause. The doctor 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 about the symptoms, such as when they began, how severe they are, and how long they have lasted. The doctor will likely perform a physical exam and may suggest diagnostic testing. Both menopause and an underactive thyroid can be diagnosed with a simple blood test 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 woman ages, her body needs more FSH to do this. Persistently raised levels of FSH — usually over 30 milli-international units per milliliter (mIU/mL) — can indicate menopause.
Luteinizing hormone (LH):
Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH): Checking the levels of TSH is often the first test that doctors will do to see how the thyroid gland is working. When the thyroid is not working correctly, the body produces TSH to stimulate the thyroid into producing thyroid hormones. A high TSH level can indicate an underactive thyroid.
T3 and T4: These are the two main hormones that the thyroid gland produces. Levels do not change significantly with an underactive thyroid, but doctors carry out the test 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, then a doctor may diagnose Hashimoto’s thyroiditis.
The relationship between menopause and thyroid disorder
The 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 two interact in a way that can increase their severity.
- Estrogen levels significantly decrease during menopause. This causes many of the symptoms associated with menopause. Estrogen levels may also affect thyroid function.
- Thyroid disorders may also increase your risk for long-term complications of menopause.
- Osteoporosis: One of the most common complications of menopause is osteoporosis, or loss of bone density. Research indicates that hypothyroidism can also reduce bone density. Caucasian women with low body fat are the highest risk group for osteoporosis.
- cardiovascular diseases :Another common complication of menopause is increased risk of cardiovascular diseases. Low levels of thyroid hormones also increases risk Trusted Source of heart disorders.
- Weight gain: Women experiencing menopause and have an underactive thyroid may find that they gain weight.
- Some women who experience severe menopausal symptoms due to oestrogen deficiency may be prescribed HRT. Women who have no pre-existing thyroid disorder and have normal thyroid function usually adapt well to the effects of the HRT and their thyroid function remains normal. However, women with pre-existing hypothyroidism treated with thyroxine, may require an increase in their thyroxine dose after starting HRT.
Reference
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/320130#outlook
https://www.btf-thyroid.org/thyroid-and-menopause
https://www.healthline.com/health/menopause/thyroid-and-menopause#outlook
https://www.healthline.com/health/postmenopausal-bleeding#prevention
