Naturopathic Thyroid Disorder Treatment

The hormone changes in perimenopause and menopause often influence thyroid function, leaving many women struggling with low thyroid function or hypothyroidism alongside the other menopausal symptoms.

Hypothyroid symptoms can include fatigue, weight gain, depression or depressive moods, heavy periods, more painful periods, irregular menstruation, constipation, excessive sleeping, swelling in the extremities, hair loss, dry skin, and always feeling cold.

When your brain perceives low thyroid hormones, Thyrotropin Releasing Hormone (TRH) is released from the hypothalamus. This stimulates the release of Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) from the pituitary gland. TSH then triggers your thyroid gland to produce thyroxine, also called T4. T4 should then be converted into Triiodothyronine or T3. T3 is the most bioactive hormone in the body. It’s what keeps and most strongly regulates energy, metabolism, heart rate, and mood.

Normally, when T3 and/or T4 are low, TSH will increase in an attempt to produce more thyroid hormones in the body. TSH is inversely related to T4 and T3. A high TSH with low T4/T3 is hypothyroidism, whereas a low TSH with high T4/T3 is hyperthyroidism. Unfortunately, the communication between TSH and T4/T3 is not always accurate. You can have a normal or low TSH despite low T4/T3 levels.

There can also be conversion issues. T4 may not be appropriately converted into T3, or it makes Reverse T3, which is inactive. This discrepancy can be due to estrogen, stress, inflammation, mineral/vitamin deficiencies, Low Energy Availability (LEA), low iron, low testosterone, heavy metals, environmental exposures, and autoimmune thyroid disease.

The conventional medical model rarely offers a full thyroid evaluation, choosing to only test TSH and making decisions based on that one sole marker, leaving many women with undiagnosed hypothyroidism. With so many hypothyroid symptoms overlapping menopausal symptoms, it can lead to even more missed diagnosis with the assumption that it’s all due to menopause.

The hormone changes in perimenopause and menopause can be debilitating on their own. When a thyroid disorder is also present, previously undiagnosed or manifesting from the sex hormone changes, it can make the perimenopausal and menopausal transition that much more challenging.

If you are wondering about your thyroid function and struggling with any of the hypothyroid symptoms, regardless of your menopausal status, schedule a visit with Dr. Hamilton to get a full evaluation. In-person visits in Milwaukie, OR, and virtual visits in Oregon and Washington are all possible.