Thyroid during menopause

Menopause occurs in different ways, not only because of the disruption of the reproductive system. The thyroid gland, adrenal glands significantly affect the balance of estrogen. Climax is characterized by decreased production of female hormones by the ovaries, cessation of menstruation and maturation of oocytes. Disrupted many organs in need of estrogens: the uterus, heart, bone, brain. Further worsens the condition of violation of thyroid function - hypothyroidism. Decrease of body hormones leads to increased estrogen deficiency, menopause occurs is extremely difficult.

Thyroid and menopause

Unlike many other endocrine organs, the thyroid gland affects all without exception system. Distortion of the functioning of the body has serious implications for the work of the whole organism. Hypo- and hyperthyroidism equally negatively impact reproductive health.

Menopause sufficiently serious and difficult period of a woman's life. Many patients suffer pathological menopause. The fall of the main production of sex hormones cause extremely unpleasant symptoms of estrogen deficiency. Menopause is accompanied by the appearance of complaints. Normal operation of the thyroid gland helps women maintain an optimal weight, mood, sexual desire, exchange processes. Menopause in this embodiment is less concerned patients.

Violation of the body functioning leads to the disruption of compensatory possibilities of the female body, is in a transitional period of menopause. This results in a so-called pathological menopause. "Full" the patient feels the lack of estrogen. The fair sex to seek help with the following complaints.

1. Vegetative reactions such as hot flushes. Feeling of fever, hot flashes, palpitations, replaced by a sharp deceleration pulse, cold sweat, trembling of the limbs. When violations of the body such attacks are concerned more often more severe and prolonged. The patient almost loses efficiency.
2. Increase fat accumulation in adipocytes manifests weight gain.
3. The occurrence of mood swings, depression, apathy and lethargy.
4. Abnormal thinking, performance, concentration. Climax combined with hypothyroidism is not corrected in 10-15 years is able to be complicated by a severe form of dementia.
5. Violation of the production of thyroid hormones leads to increased blood concentrations of cholesterol, increases the risk of cardiovascular pathologies.
6. Often there are broken bones.

Main functions

Thyroid produces thyrotropic hormones T3 (tri-iodothyronine) and T4 (thyroxine), in which the composition contains iodine atoms. In addition, the body produces neyodsoderzhaschy peptide calcitonin. Target organs of thyroid Gomonov perform virtually all tissues. The point of application of calcitonin is maintaining the calcium level in the blood and the bones.

In utero thyroid provides the nervous system. With a lack of iodine intake and body features a woman during pregnancy, the fetus is formed by mental retardation of varying severity. The extreme degree of deficiency manifests cretinism.

The main functions of the thyroid gland:

• stimulation of growth, differentiation of tissues;
• increases the basal metabolic rate and oxygen demand (increases the pressure, heart rate, temperature, blood glucose, protein synthesis);
• activates brain activity, thinking, efficiency;
• potentiates the formation of red blood cells, reducing the likelihood of anemia;
• It maintains fluid and electrolyte balance, body weight;
• stimulates cellular immunity;
• when harboring involved in the formation of fetal brain cortex.

Thyroid indirectly supervises the work of the mammary glands. It is noted that the hypothyroid state in menopause increase the development of mastitis in 3 times.

Hormonal regulation of the female body is closely linked with the work of the thyroid gland. The main turning points: puberty, pregnancy, menopause - the load on the brain centers maximum. Changes in data development stages affect the functioning of the thyroid gland, and vice versa.

Causes and hypofunction factors in menopause

The main cause of hypothyroidism in menopause - insufficient intake of iodine necessary for the formation of thyroid hormones. Further exacerbating the lack of the elements of constant dieting, unbalanced diet. Patients often experience symptoms of hypothyroidism in menopause, with varying degrees of severity. Predisposing factors for the lack of function of the gland are:

• heredity;
• frequent stress;
• Endocrine related pathologies (diabetes, adrenal disease, ovaries);
• surgery;
• autoimmune processes;
• a large number of pregnancies over 3 genera.

symptoms

Menopause occurs earlier than normal in hypothyroidism. Violations monthly abruptly into a phase of absence. Reduced thyroid function in menopause manifests itself following complaints:

• fatigue, drowsiness, depression;
• irritability, mood lability;
• insomnia;
• memory disorder;
• weight gain;
• decreased libido;
• temperature drop (constant feeling cold and chills);
• disruption of the heart (bradycardia, chest pain);
• swelling;
• constipation;
• dryness of the skin and mucous membranes (brittle nails, skin peeling, sore throat, difficulty swallowing, accelerated atrophy of the vaginal epithelium);
• muscle weakness.

Thyroid usually compensatory increases, is visible when viewed from the neck. Hypothyroidism and menopause have similar symptoms. The combination of state causes an increase in complaints of menopause. A significant advantage is the fact that hypothyroidism can be successfully treated.

possible complications

Menopause informs the beginning of women's aging. Before menopause due to estrogen fair sex being protected from atherosclerosis, hypertension. After 45 years with hypothyroidism concentration of blood lipids increases. As a result of pathological conditions develop faster and harder. Climax at reduced the thyroid gland often complicated. In hypothyroidism the deterioration of mental functions, memory. Brain disorders lead to a severe form of early dementia.

Deficiency of estrogen and calcitonin osteoporosis forms. The disease is characterized by abnormal calcium yield of bone tissue formation fractures. Menopause further increases the likelihood of bone fragility.

Diagnostics

In addition to the specific symptoms of hypothyroidism, it is necessary to clarify the reasons:

• donate blood to determine the level of the main hormones (T3, T4, TSH, calcitonin);
• detection of antibodies to thyroglobulin;
• Thyroid ultrasound;
• stsintiografiya;
• CT;
• MRI;
• radiography sella;
• Doppler blood vessels of the brain.

Often experts analyze blood hormone levels and ultrasonography, and complete the list of studies, if necessary.

therapies

Hypothyroidism need special medications hormonal correction. The main goal of therapy replacement. A woman in menopause is forced to consume hormones externally added. It is sure to be reimbursed the basic substance of thyroid T3 and T4. The patient receives a climax estrogens to deal with complications and slow the pathological processes. Among other things, a woman should follow a diet and to be constantly under the supervision of a specialist.

medicated

To restore hormone deficiency in hypothyroidism menopausal appoint:

• L-thyroxine;
• eutiroks;
• triiodothyronine;
• Tireoidine;
• Tireotoks;
• Thyreocombum.

Begin treatment of hypothyroidism with minimal doses, gradually increasing to the desired. Taking synthetic hormones need to constantly monitor the state of health and to know exactly the signs of hyper and hypothyroidism. Rejection of the complaint in any direction indicates the need to revise the dose of the substance.

hormone therapy to correct thyroid function woman receives life. Doctor is constantly carried out monitoring of hormone levels and changes in the dosage if necessary.

Hypothyroidism due to iodine deficiency is treated with iodine preparations:

• jodomarin;
• Yodaktiv;
• Potassium iodide;
• Mikroyodid.

Menopausal symptoms partially eliminated. Typically, the apparent hypothyroidism and menopause require additional hormonal treatment of the latter. Woman taking phytoestrogens or artificial materials to disappearance of pathological menopause. This replacement therapy takes several years to achieve the necessary adjustment in the menopause.

surgical

The thyroid gland begins to grow compensatory trying to increase the production of hormones due to new tissue. Excessive increase begins to interfere with, compress nearby structures: difficult to swallow, to breathe, to raise his head. In severe advanced stages of hypothyroidism patient needs to remove part of the organ. The operation is performed as a last resort and under strict indications.

Folk remedies

Alternative medicine offers hypothyroidism corrected with the help of infusions, decoctions obtained from:

• Potentilla white;
• kelp;
• Eleutherococcus;
• anise fruits;
• ashwagandha.

Positive effect has coconut oil consumption, apple cider vinegar, a fish oil, iodized salt.

It is important to note that before the decision to choose the people's way of treating thyroid should consult a doctor to rule out cross-influence of drugs.

preventive measures

To prevent the development of hypothyroidism is desirable to follow the principles of a balanced diet, with an optimal content of iodine, selenium, vitamins A, B and D. It is recommended to eat more seafood, fresh seasonal vegetables and fruits, walnuts, seaweed, sage, intoxicating aggregate fruits, eggs and legumes.

In addition, it should be removed from the diet components, further reducing the production of thyroid hormones or trigger autoimmune processes. It is necessary to limit the intake of caffeine, starch, gluten. Cabbage, maize, nuts (walnuts apart), radishes, strawberries, pears prohibited.

It is required to give up bad habits, avoid stress, lead an active lifestyle, weight control.