When you reach your 40s, you might notice some pesky symptoms arise. But is it just the stage of life you’ve entered, or is there something more at play? Let’s examine the relationship between perimenopause and your thyroid health.
The link between perimenopause and your thyroid
Why are the two so similar?
There is a big overlap between perimenopause and thyroid conditions. This includes the age of onset, the symptoms and the driving factors behind it all!
First up, let’s talk about the symptoms. Some of the most common symptoms you see during perimenopause include:
- Irregular periods
- Heavier periods
- Hot flushes
- Weight gain
- Fatigue
- Brain fog and memory loss
- Dry skin
- Hair loss/thinning hair
- Gut symptoms such as constipation, diarrhoea and bloating
- Ageing skin
And then let’s look at the symptoms of an underactive thyroid:
- Irregular periods
- Weight gain
- Fatigue
- Brain fog
- Dry skin
- Hair loss/thinning hair
- A hoarse throat
- Increased soreness and pain
- Constipation and bloating
- Feeling cold all the time
- Mood swings and irritability
Spot the similarities? It’s no wonder that many women are left wondering if it’s perimenopause or thyroid disease!
Then there is the stage of life. Perimenopause will generally start sometime in your 40s, although some may get the first niggles in their late 30s. Thyroid conditions also tend to start around this age more than any other stage of life – for example, Hashimoto’s (an autoimmune thyroid disease) is most common between 30-50 years.
And I’m sure it’s no surprise to you, but guess what can drive both? You guessed it – inflammation. Chronic inflammation, stress, poor sleep, nutrient deficiencies and insulin resistance are just a few factors that I see over and over in both perimenopause and thyroid clients.
Can it be perimenopause and your thyroid at the same time?
It can be one or the other, but it’s not unusual for a woman to experience both. As we’ve seen, the delicate balance of hormones can be thrown off during your 40s, leaving you prone to both sets of symptoms.
The two conditions also feed into each other. An underactive thyroid can exacerbate the symptoms of perimenopause by slowing the metabolism down. The hormone shifts during perimenopause can trigger autoimmunity, reduce the amount of free thyroid hormone and reduce conversion of thyroid hormone.
The good news? Many of the steps you need to tackle your thyroid health are similar to those for perimenopause. It all comes back to the foundational habits for your overall wellbeing.
Stay tuned for the next blog where I’ll explore how to support your thyroid health during perimenopause.
The biggest issue for many – weight gain
There are dozens of symptoms for these two, but the one that is most stubborn and frustrating for many is the weight gain. Even though you haven’t changed your diet or lifestyle, it creeps up and up – no matter what you do!
So why is this the case?
During perimenopause, there are multiple factors that feed into weight gain. Insulin resistance, changes to sex hormone balance and the effects of chronic stress are just a few examples!
When it comes to the thyroid, this is because your thyroid hormone levels drop. These hormones run your metabolism, so your metabolism will burn less energy at rest than usual. As a result, you’ll start to store more energy as fat.
And if you’re experiencing both at the same time? This can cause your weight to skyrocket!
Want to nurture your thyroid and get a handle on your perimenopausal symptoms?
Let’s jump on a FREE Pre-Screening Call to talk about how we can get you feeling (and looking) amazing now and for decades to come!
Susie Garden | Clinical Nutritionist & Naturopath
Are you a woman feeling stressed, flat and experiencing the challenges of peri/menopause?
It’s time to reclaim your youthful energy, radiance and self-assurance (and your ideal weight).
I’m here to help with my proven method.
Book your complimentary Pre-Screening Call here, and let’s see how I might help you.