Thyroid Menopause

While irregular menstruation, hot flashes and fatigue arent unusual for women in their 40s, one in three women who have these menopausal-like symptoms might be actually suffering from thyroid problems, or thyroid menopause. Compared to men, women are five to eight times more likely to suffer from thyroid disease between the ages of 35 and 60, often accidentally mistaking these symptoms for the onset of menopause.

The thyroid is a small, butterfly-shaped gland thats located beneath the voice box (or larynx) in your throat. It plays an important role for overall wellness as it balances several hormones and regulates body temperature and bone growth. According to the ATA (American Thyroid Association), women who have a family history of thyroid disease, or who themselves have had thyroid problems or other autoimmune disorders such as lupus, type I diabetes or rheumatoid arthritis are at high risk of developing thyroid disease.

The functions of the thyroid gland influence a womans reproductive system - especially when the thyroid is overactive (hyperthyroidism) or underactive (hypothyroidism). This imbalance can cause the early onset of menopause before age 40, or sometimes earlier. Symptoms of hyperthyroidism include those all too familiar to menopausal women, including insomnia, lack of menstruation and moody behavior, and may be mistaken for perimenopause. Many women treat thyroid menopause with estrogen, progesterone or hormone replacement therapy, which in this case dont provide complete relief, leaving the underlying problem unaddressed.

To find out to what extent menopause is playing havoc with your thyroid, you can purchase an FSH test (or a follicle stimulating hormone test). A home kit will determine your FSH level immediately and confirm whether you are indeed experiencing the onset of menopause. For severely symptomatic women, thyroid testing is highly recommended.

Research has shown recently that untreated thyroid problems can lead to osteoporosis. Taking proper doses of thyroid medication can lessen the risk of bone fractures; which is good news for millions of middle-aged women.