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Symptoms of Hypothyroidism in Menopausal Women

Hypothyroidism, also called slow or sluggish thyroid, is a condition in which the thyroid gland does not produce enough thyroid hormone. During menopause, women also have fluctuations in other hormone levels, primarily progesterone and estrogen. Sometimes the two problems can co-exist and cause challenges in getting the proper treatment.

  1. Understanding Hypothyroidism

    • The thyroid gland is a small, butterfly-shaped gland in the neck that is part of the endocrine system. When there is an imbalance in this system, it can sometimes be challenging to find the exact cause. In hypothyroidism, the thyroid doesn't make enough of the main thyroid hormone, called T4 (also called thyroxine). The T4 hormone also has to be changed into another form called T3, by the liver, before it is used by the body. During any disruption in this delicate process, a breakdown can lead to hypothyroid symptoms, according to Womentowomen.com.

    Symptoms

    • Common signs of a slow thyroid can be fatigue, weight gain, dry hair and skin, hair loss, constipation, depression, irritability, memory problems, intolerance to cold temperatures, abnormal menstrual cycles and muscle cramps, according to Endocrineweb.com. Many of these same symptoms are part of menopause.

    Significance

    • Low thyroid is often ignored as a potential problem in women who are going through menopause. Because the symptoms of both hypothyroid and menopause are similar, and sometimes both problems exist at the same time, many women are simply treated with estrogen and/or progesterone for menopause, even though the underlying cause of their problem may be thyroid-related, according to Dr. Richard Shames, MD, on Thyroid-info.com.

    Identification

    • Testing thyroid function is usually done in the form of blood tests called TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone), T3 and T4 tests. Some doctors prefer to test T3 and T4 with a test called a Free T3 and Free T4, which more accurately measures the amount of circulating thyroid hormone. A thyroid antibody test can also determine autoimmune problems that might be causing a sluggish thyroid.

    Treatment

    • Treatment for hypothyroidism during menopause is similar to treating thyroid problems during any time in a woman's life. Replacing thyroid hormone with medication can help restore metabolic function of the thyroid. The most common synthetic form of thyroid is levothyroxine sodium and is sold by the name Synthroid, Levothroid and Levoxyl. Natural forms of thyroid can be prescribed and are called Armour or Natural Thyroid 1 or Natural Thyroid 2 (NT1 or NT2).

      Both the synthetic and natural forms work to restore function and offer relief from hypothyroid symptoms within a few weeks. Many women must take thyroid replacement therapy beyond menopause and for the rest of their lives.

    Considerations

    • In addition to menopause and hypothyroidism, similar symptoms exist and are common for women in the form of adrenal fatigue, where the adrenal glands are over-stressed, and in insulin resistance, which pertains to glucose processing in the body.

      Both of these situations should be considered as potential sources of the symptoms when being treated for menopause and hypothyroidism.

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