The symptoms can be very similar – here’s what you can do.

As part of our Lunch & Learn series we were joined by Dr Marilyn Glenville PhD of Glenville Nutrition, who specialises in women’s health, to discuss menopause and thyroid problems.

Henpicked: What is the connection between menopause and problems with thyroid?

Dr Marilyn Glenville: There’s a huge overlap between symptoms of the menopause and thyroid symptoms. Everything I’m talking about here relates to underactive thyroid. Thyroid problems are ten times more common in women than men and will often hit when women are going through perimenopause. So we have overlapping symptoms, like weight gain, lethargy, losing energy, hair loss, that kind of thing. A lot that women could think these are caused by menopause and may not think about their thyroid.

When you look at the research on underactive thyroid and women with menopausal symptoms, we can see that if the thyroid is treated it can alleviate some of the menopause symptoms. If you’re not sure then get your thyroid checked and see if something is going on that needs to be treated. Because of this interplay, this would then impact on menopause symptoms. In some cases, the underlying cause of symptoms could be a combination of both. 

Henpicked: Going back to basics, what is the thyroid and its function? 

Dr Marilyn Glenville: It’s actually quite a small butterfly-shaped organ in the front of our neck and has a part to play in so many systems within our body. There can be about 100 different symptoms related to problems with thyroid, which is why it may be missed or misdiagnosed. It works like a thermostat and controls our metabolism, our ability to keep warm, our general energy and fat burning.

Henpicked: How would an underactive thyroid present? 

Dr Marilyn Glenville: A good test is to ask if you answer yes to four or more of these questions: 

Has your weight gone up gradually over the months for no apparent reason? 

• Do you often feel cold (even if still having hot flushes)?
• Are you constipated? 
• Are you depressed, forgetful or confused? 
• Are you losing hair or is it drier than it used to be? 
• Have you noticed a lack of energy? 
• Are you getting headaches? 

It could also affect the menstrual cycle and cause it to be irregular or cause gaps, which is also very similar to perimenopause.

Henpicked: is there an age range that thyroid problems might be most likely? 

Dr Marilyn Glenville: Yes, around perimenopause and menopause. The issue is it happens to women at that age when they’re going through a hormonal transition. Problems can happen earlier, but are more likely to happen at this age. Unfortunately it’s a bit of a double whammy. 

Henpicked: From a diagnosis point of view, NICE guidelines say that for a woman over 45 otherwise presenting healthily, menopause can be diagnosed on symptoms. So somebody could start menopause treatment but it could be their thyroid. How do you work out what’s going on? 

Dr Marilyn Glenville: That’s why it’s important to get tested for thyroid problems. Your GP can do this. They usually only test TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) which is produced by your pituitary gland. This stimulates your thyroid to produce the thyroid hormone thyroxin (T4). If that’s too high it means more stimulation is needed to get your thyroid to produce the right hormones. But this is only one aspect.

The other hormones that should be tested would be T4 and T3. We have to convert T4 to the active hormone T3 for your body to use it. I’ve seen many women on thyroxin who were still having problems. Tests showed their T3 hormone was really low, so their body wasn’t making the conversion. They were getting enough of the medication but their body couldn’t use it properly. So it’s really important to think about testing everything. And some women produce thyroid antibodies. This is an autoimmune problem called Hashimoto’s disease. These antibodies attack the thyroid and over time cause an underactive thyroid.

If your tests come back fine then you know it’s due to menopause. Finding out there’s not a problem is almost as important as finding out there is a problem. You know then what you’re focusing on and where your symptoms might be coming from. 

Henpicked: Are some people more prone to have thyroid problems? 

Dr Marilyn Glenville: It can run in families, as with other things like type 2 diabetes, but that doesn’t mean it’s inevitable. Testing as early as possible is the best thing to do, so you can address it before it becomes a problem. 

Henpicked: Do some things make thyroid problems worse, like stress?

Dr Marilyn Glenville: Yes, stress is a big one, and it can also make menopause symptoms worse. Our adrenal gland is supposed to produce a form of oestrogen which takes over when the ovaries aren’t producing it. And it’s quite clear from research that if we have high cortisol, a hormone which comes out with adrenaline, our symptoms will be worse. Cortisol blocks conversion of T4 to active T3 hormone, so we’re not getting the benefit of our own hormone or medication. Getting rid of or reducing stress can help with menopause and thyroid function.

Henpicked: Can nutrition help? 

Dr Marilyn Glenville: This is a big one. One mineral that is really important is iodine. We can’t make it in our body so has to come from the outside in. It is absolutely crucial for the manufacture of our thyroid hormone. We get it from seafood, grains, eggs and some dairy, but the biggest source is seaweed. However, there is a class of food called goitrogens which block the uptake of iodine. These include cruciferous veg like kale, broccoli, cauliflower, sprouts. The good news is they’re only a problem when raw, not cooked. If you know you have a thyroid issue I would say really minimise the amount of raw veg you take in. You could be blocking your intake of iodine. These foods are so beneficial and important to metabolise oestrogen safely, so don’t eliminate them, just don’t have them uncooked.

You can buy seaweed flakes, and use them as a condiment on things like rice, or have it toasted. But seaweed is fine raw if you prefer. Just be careful with crispy seaweed from the takeaway, as this is often sugared cabbage!

Henpicked: What about supplements? 

Dr Marilyn Glenville: There are some really good nutrients that feed the thyroid. Vitamin D is important to help control our immune system. There’s an amino acid called thyrozine which helps the body produce thyroid hormones, and a particular resin called gum guggul which helps conversion of T4 to T3, as does selenium. Omega 3 fatty acids keep every hormone receptor in the body flexible and fluid, which is also really important. 

You can use these alongside any thyroid medication. Ultimately, you should be monitored over time to make sure you’re on the lowest-possible dose. Everything you do in terms of nutrition is not just about addressing problems you might have right now, but looking to your long-term health. We are all living longer, and we want these years to be healthy ones.

Watch the video here:

Dr Marilyn Glenville PhD is the UK’s leading nutritionist specialising in women’s health. She is the Former President of the Food and Health Forum at the Royal Society of Medicine and the author of a number of internationally bestselling books including ‘Natural Solutions to the Menopause’.

*She also made this special offer to all our readers:

There’s more information here:

*This is not a sponsored or paid for post and we have received no money for advertisement.

Check out the rest of Henpicked’s Lunch & Learn video series!