Are Your Menopause Symptoms Actually a Thyroid Problem?
The Connection Between Thyroid & Menopause
The thyroid gland, though small and often overlooked, plays a crucial role in regulating nearly every aspect of our body’s functions. The thyroid gland produces hormones that influence metabolism, heart rate, body temperature, digestion, sex drive, and even mood and cognitive function.
A well-functioning thyroid is essential for maintaining energy levels, managing weight, feeling good, and supporting overall health and well-being. However, thyroid problems are often overlooked or misdiagnosed because thyroid symptoms can be subtle or mimic other conditions – including the symptoms most commonly associated with menopause.
Many people – including women in menopause – suffer from undiagnosed thyroid issues, experiencing symptoms like fatigue, weight gain, depression, or cognitive difficulties without realizing the underlying cause. And this oversight is truly a “big deal” as it can lead to prolonged discomfort and very serious potential long-term health complications.
That’s why, as women enter the menopausal transition, thyroid health becomes increasingly important. Dr. Ruthie Harper, a renowned functional medicine doctor and thyroid specialist in Austin, TX, emphasizes the importance of understanding how menopause and thyroid function are interconnected. Recognizing the importance of thyroid health and seeking proper evaluation can be transformative, allowing menopausal women to address the root cause of their symptoms and regain optimal health.
In this article, Austin, TX thyroid specialist and menopause doctor Ruthie Harper, MD educates patients on the key role thyroid hormones play in maintaining overall health during this significant transitional life stage.
Increased Risk of Thyroid Disease During Menopause
As women enter menopause, the incidence of thyroid issues such as hypothyroidism, thyroid cancer, goiters, and autoimmune thyroid conditions (Graves’ disease and Hashimoto’s thyroiditis) increases. The symptoms of menopause and thyroid disease often overlap, making it difficult to distinguish between the two without proper testing.
Symptoms like sleep disturbances, mood changes, weight gain, sluggishness, brain fog, and temperature dysregulation (e.g., feeling chilly) are common in both conditions.
Hypothyroidism is an underactive thyroid that produces too little thyroid hormone. It can present with symptoms such as weight gain, sluggishness, and feeling cold. All of these are symptoms often mistakenly attributed solely to menopause.
Hyperthyroidism refers to an overactive thyroid that produces too much thyroid hormone. It also shares symptoms with menopause, such as night sweats, hot flashes, and mood swings, leading to underdiagnosis.
It’s essential for healthcare providers to recognize the high prevalence of thyroid disease in menopausal women and test for thyroid dysfunction when these symptoms arise.
The Connection Between Thyroid & Menopause
Thyroid function declines with age, affecting metabolism, energy distribution, and brain function. Women are particularly vulnerable to thyroid issues during and after menopause due to the complex interplay between thyroid hormones and sex hormones, especially estrogen.
The thyroid gland has estrogen receptors. When estrogen levels drop during menopause, thyroid function can decline as a direct result. Aging also contributes to reduced thyroid function.
Before menopause, thyroid hormones have receptors on the ovaries and influence reproductive function, including the menstrual cycle and hormone production. Low thyroid hormone levels can even trigger early menopause.
After menopause, reproductive functions stop, but estrogen remains crucial for maintaining optimal thyroid function. Without sufficient estrogen, thyroid hormone production and effectiveness can decline further.
Testing for Thyroid Dysfunction
To accurately diagnose thyroid dysfunction, comprehensive thyroid testing is necessary. Here are the key tests:
1. TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone): A high TSH indicates hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid), while a low TSH indicates hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid).
2. Free T4 and Free T3: These measure the unbound, active forms of thyroid hormones.
3. Thyroid Antibodies: This can help diagnose autoimmune thyroid disease, especially Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, which becomes more common during menopause.
4. Reverse T3: This test measures a form of thyroid hormone that blocks the action of T3.
Micronutrients & Thyroid Function
Proper thyroid function depends on several key micronutrients, which are essential for thyroid hormone production and conversion from T4 to T3. These include:
- Iron
- Zinc
- Selenium
- Iodine
- Copper
Even a deficiency in one of these nutrients can affect thyroid hormone production and conversion, so it’s crucial to assess and optimize micronutrient levels, particularly in women struggling with thyroid issues during menopause.
Menopause, Gut Microbiome & Thyroid Function
The gut microbiome refers to a complex ecosystem of trillions of microorganisms residing in our digestive tract, that plays a crucial role in our overall health and well-being. These bacteria, fungi, viruses, and other microbes aids in digestion, produces essential vitamins, supports our immune system, and even influences our mood and cognitive function through the gut-brain axis.
Menopause causes rapid changes in the gut microbiome, leading to alterations in digestion, micronutrient absorption, and inflammation, which can impact thyroid function. The gut produces vital compounds like vitamins and short-chain fatty acids that influence liver function, brain function, and the autonomic nervous system. Poor gut health and inflammation can directly affect the thyroid, increasing the risk of thyroid dysfunction.
Dr. Ruthie Harper in Austin, TX helps patients nurture a healthy gut microbiome through a balanced diet, lifestyle changes, and supplements as part of her whole-person, functional medicine approach. This can have far-reaching positive effects on thyroid health, menopause management and overall physical and mental health.
Hormone Therapy & Thyroid Function
Natural, biodentical estrogen therapy at Dr. Ruthie Harper in Austin, TX can offer significant benefits for certain women navigating the challenges of menopause. Beyond symptom relief, estrogen therapy also provides long-term health benefits, such as maintaining bone density to reduce the risk of osteoporosis, supporting cardiovascular health, and potentially reducing the risk of certain types of dementia. It can also help maintain skin elasticity and vaginal health.
Estrogen therapy can also be beneficial for menopausal women to support thyroid function by maintaining thyroid hormone receptor activity. However, it’s important to monitor hormone levels carefully, as too much estrogen can suppress thyroid hormone production.
For this reason, estrogen therapy should be personalized and monitored for each woman’s unique individual health profile, blood test results, and risk factors. When properly prescribed and monitored by a healthcare professional, estrogen therapy can be a powerful tool in helping women menopausal maintain their health, vitality, and well-being during and after menopause.
Thyroid Hormone Therapy
As women age, thyroid hormone therapy may be necessary to maintain optimal thyroid function.
However, thyroid hormone replacement is not one-size-fits-all, as many traditional doctors seem to think.
There are many important considerations when personalizing thyroid hormone therapy, especially for menopausal women.
While desiccated thyroid products like Armour Thyroid contain both T3 and T4, Dr. Harper notes that they are generally not recommended because the predetermined amounts of T3 and T4 make it difficult to individually control hormone levels.
Instead, Dr. Harper often recommends bioidentical T4 (Levothyroxine) if the patient’s body converts T4 to T3 as needed. In some cases, T3 supplementation may be necessary for women with hypothyroidism who do not effectively convert T4 to the active hormone T3. Dr. Harper emphasizes that it is crucial to provide T3 directly to support optimal thyroid function in these cases.
Providing T3 as part of hormone replacement therapy can help resolve these symptoms and restore proper metabolic and cellular function, leading to improved overall well-being. It is recommended that T3 be given in a sustained release form to ensure slow constant delivery to patient.
Monitoring Thyroid Therapy
When undergoing thyroid therapy, regular monitoring of TSH, Free T4, and Free T3 levels is crucial to ensure optimal dosing. Overdosing on thyroid hormone can lead to serious complications such as bone loss and heart problems, and under-dosing will leave the patient with all the symptoms of low thyroid function.
Adjustments to any hormone therapy should be made carefully, using blood test monitoring and with close attention to symptoms. Dr. Ruthie Harper in Austin, TX helps patients ensure optimal thyroid health management through a whole-person, functional medicine approach that includes ongoing, individualized thyroid monitoring and treatment.
This can have far-reaching positive effects on a woman’s thyroid health during menopause – improving her overall physical, sexual, emotional, and mental health.
Menopause Thyroid Doctor | Austin, TX
Thyroid health is a crucial aspect of managing menopause and post-menopausal health. With the intricate connection between thyroid hormones, estrogen, and the gut microbiome, understanding the complexity of these systems can help optimize overall well-being. Women experiencing symptoms commonly associated with menopause should be screened for thyroid dysfunction, and treatment should address the root cause of any thyroid issues, whether they are related to hormone levels, micronutrient deficiencies, or gut health.
By addressing these factors holistically, women can achieve better health outcomes during and after menopause.
Dr. Ruthie Harper is a respected thyroid doctor and menopause specialist in Austin, TX, who can thoroughly screen, diagnose and treat the root cause of any thyroid and/or menopause issues, whether they are related to hormone levels, micronutrient deficiencies, or gut health.
If you’re experiencing symptoms commonly associated with menopause, schedule an appointment with Dr. Harper in Austin, TX to be tested for thyroid dysfunction, and other hormonal issues associated with menopause.
Don’t let thyroid issues complicate your menopausal transition. If you’re in Austin, TX, and seeking expert care for menopause and thyroid health, Dr. Ruthie Harper offers a comprehensive, compassionate, holistic approach that can help you achieve better health during menopause and for decades afterwards. Take the first step towards feeling better with optimal thyroid and hormonal health by contacting Dr. Harper’s office today!
