Did you know that perimenopause and menopause can affect your thyroid? And your thyroid disease may be a factor in how you respond during perimenopause and menopause?
Anytime hormones fluctuate for whatever reason, other hormones will be affected in some way. Nothing happens in isolation in your body.
Whether you’re in puberty, pregnant, in perimenopause, or in menopause, one hormone affects other hormones and of course, the way you feel.
And during perimenopause and menopause, the hormones estrogen and progesterone fluctuate as well as testosterone (yes, women have testosterone and need it, too) and get out of balance which leads to thyroid hormone fluctuations as well.
One big problem with all this is that the symptoms of perimenopause and menopause can mimic the symptoms of thyroid diseases. Did you know there are about 35 – 40 symptoms of perimenopause and menopause? Here are just a few:
- Trouble losing weight
- Hot flashes
- Brain fog, forgetfulness
- Dry skin or hair loss/changes
- Mood swings
- Aches and pains
- Pounding heart
- Irregular menstrual cycle
Most women going through perimenopause and menopause have some of these.
During perimenopause estrogen rises and falls. During menopause estrogen declines, so many women have low estrogen symptoms. However, you can have estrogen dominance due to the decrease in progesterone and so the ratio between estrogen and progesterone is off (and other factors). So these fluctuations can cause the symptoms you may be experiencing.
But those same symptoms also occur with the thyroid diseases of hypothyroidism (an underactive or sluggish thyroid) and hyperthyroidism (an overactive thyroid).
This makes it so frustrating and confusing, right? You don’t know what’s causing your symptoms! Ughhh!
That’s why I recommend having your doctor run lab tests of estrogen, progesterone, FSH (follicle stimulating hormone), and testosterone and at the same time also get a complete thyroid panel. And if you can get them to do a thyroid ultrasound for a baseline, that’s even better.
You really want to get those lab results because it’s a combination of the labs plus symptoms that helps us figure out what’s going on in your own body.
And if you ask your doctor and he or she refuses and says it’s all “normal,” then find another health practitioner. I’m serious. You are your best health advocate and know if you’re feeling right or not. So don’t just take the doctor’s advice. Do your own research.
Years ago I was having back pain years after an accident. I went to my primary doctor. He didn’t believe me. He said it was all in my head and that I needed an antidepressant. But I wasn’t depressed at the time, only frustrated because this doctor wouldn’t listen to me! I was discouraged because I was in pain and couldn’t get my doctor to find out why. Fast forward six months. I found another doctor who did a CT scan and found two herniated discs!
The point is you don’t want your doctor to simply tell you it’s all a normal part of life and do nothing. Or even indicate it’s just in your head. Yes, perimenopause and menopause are normal phases of a woman’s life. But….
if you’re having unpleasant symptoms, you want to figure out the root cause or causes. And do something about them, right?
What if your symptoms are due not only to your perimenopause or menopause, but also because you have an underactive thyroid? You can do all the things for perimenopause and menopause but if your thyroid hormone levels are not optimal, you won’t feel better.
Do you want to go years and years like that? I don’t think so. None of us do.
If you want a FREE checklist of labs I recommend clients have run by their health practitioner when we start working together, just sign up here and you’ll get it.
If you’d like help in figuring out how to find out the root cause of your health issues, even if you have autoimmune, digestive, thyroid, or hormonal issues, click here to set up a free 20-minute discovery call. We can talk to see if we’d be a good fit to work together. As a National Board Certified Health and Wellness Coach and as a health warrior on my own journey, I have helped clients (and myself) to feel less fatigue, anxiety, and bloating and be able to fit into their favorite jeans again using nutrition and lifestyle modifications. I’d love to help you, too. – Leah Cheshire, NBC-HWC
Disclaimer: This information is for educational purposes only and is not meant to be used as medical advice. Please check with your own medical practitioner before beginning any nutritional or lifestyle modifications.
