Millions of women in the U.S. are currently in the midst of perimenopause - that time of transition when reproductive hormones fluctuate and menstruation becomes irregular. An additional 45 million women have already gone through menopause, which is defined as not having had a period for at least a year. Perimenopause can start as early as your late 30s, but the typical age for onset is from around 45 to 47. On average, perimenopause lasts four years, and the average age of actual menopause is 51:

“20% of all women going through menopause are being diagnosed with thyroid dysfunction. However, an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism) plays no favorites. It’s also affecting the lives of younger women starting perimenopause, and men too, especially those over 50.” (From Boomers Making a Difference)

Some of the most common symptoms women associate with perimenopause/menopause include the following:

• Menstrual irregularities
• Sleep problems
• Vaginal dryness, itching and/or burning
• Bladder problems
• Decreased fertility
• Loss of sex drive
• Weight gain
• Muscle mass loss
• Hair loss
• Skin changes
• Bone loss
• Changing cholesterol levels
• Mood swings, irritability
• Depression
• Bloating, swollen feet
• Dry eyes
• Food cravings
• Headaches
• Fatigue, lack of energy
• Body aches and pains
• Heart palpitations
• Hot flashes
• Night sweats
• Sagging, tender breasts


The above list of symptoms are very similar - and in almost all cases, identical to thyroid disease. And what many women don’t realize is that as they move into perimenopause and menopause, thyroid disease also becomes more common. Yet, according to the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, when women discuss menopause with their doctors, only one in four doctors ever recommends thyroid testing!
It’s easy to see that almost all of the symptoms commonly assumed to be menopause, except perhaps for vaginal/bladder problems, night sweats, and sagging or tender breasts, can, in fact, be due to an undiagnosed thyroid condition:

“The thyroid menopause connection is complex. It actually stems from close interactions between hormones the thyroid produces and the reproductive organs. Because hormones produced by the thyroid regulate metabolism, they directly influence the activity of reproductive glands. In addition, estrogen and progesterone directly affect thyroid uptake receptor sites by blocking or allowing them to function. Not only do the symptoms of an imbalance of thyroid hormones mirror many of those associated with fluctuating levels of estrogen and progesterone, the two conditions may be involved in a casual relationship. Synthetic hormones used during HRT interact with and affect the functioning of the thyroid, as well.” (From Menopause Reliefs)

This is why some experts believe that all symptomatic women with symptoms should be thoroughly evaluated for underlying thyroid disorder - before assuming that those symptoms are due to perimenopause or menopause.

Women who are experiencing these symptoms should have a thorough thyroid evaluation. This includes taking your personal and family history, a thorough clinical examination, and often, blood tests. For more information, see “Could Your Thyroid Be Underactive.”

Some doctors believe in a therapeutic trial of thyroid hormone replacement for women suffering from apparent perimenopausal or menopausal symptoms, to see if some symptom relief can be achieved.
If, however, you are in fact suffering symptoms that are directly resulting from the hormonal fluctuations of perimenopause or menopause, a knowledgeable practitioner will consider treatment options, including:
Hormonal therapies, which can include the birth control pill, skin patches, creams or gels that contain various forms of estrogen or progesterone, or custom-compounded bioidentical hormones. (Note: Women with hypothyroidism who are taking thyroid hormone replacement medication may need an increased dosage when treated with estrogen, so be sure to have your thyroid levels evaluated around 12 weeks after starting any hormonal therapies)

Antidepressants may help some symptoms, in particular, hot flashes, mood changes and depression. The antidepressant venlafaxine (Effexor) is considered particularly effective for hot flashes. These medications can have unwanted side effects, however, including nausea, dizziness or sexual dysfunction.
Some important supplements, which may help support hormonal balance and relieve perimenopausal and menopausal symptoms. Supplements often recommended include dong quai, black cohosh, panax ginseng, kava, calcium, vitamin D, DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone), evening primrose oil, flax seeds or flax seed oil, and maca. Other supplements that may be recommended to help with perimenopausal and menopausal symptoms include:

• A good quality multivitamin
• Magnesium
• A high potency B-complex vitamin
• Vitamin E
• Zinc

Any complete program to deal with perimenopause and menopause will also include weight-bearing exercise, sufficient sleep, stress reduction approaches, a healthy diet, and other useful lifestyle changes. A knowledgeable practitioner can help guide you in developing an overall approach to help you feel your best.
Fast Facts About Menopause:

• A full year without a period is needed before you can say you have been “through menopause.”
• Hysterectomy often causes what’s referred to as surgical menopause
• Cancer treatments or radiation therapy can cause what’s known as “induced menopause.”
• Premature menopause is menopause that occurs before the age of 40
• An elevated level of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) (over 30 mIU/mL in multiple readings) in a woman who is not on the birth control pill may be indicative of perimenopause or menopause.
• New research is now suggesting that in women who have gone through menopause, treatment with estrogen therapy does not increase the risk of breast cancer.
• A recent survey of members of the National Association for Female Executives (NAFE), who are currently experiencing menopause symptoms, or have in the past, found that 80% of respondents had problematic symptoms. The most common symptoms were hot flashes (84 percent) and night sweats (77 percent). (Harris Interactive survey, April 2006)
• As women approach menopause, they are at increased risk of suffering depression. Women near menopause are almost twice as likely to suffer depression, and women who report symptoms of depression are five times more likely to be nearing menopause.

For a FREE e-Book by Dr. Hotze on Hypothyroidism and Thyroid CLICK HERE.

Are you suffering from Female Hormonal Imbalance? CLICK HERE to test yourself.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, November 14th, 2006 at 4:49 pm and is filed under Mary J. Shomon. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.