Thyroid in women during peri- and postmenopause: physiology and diseases

Abstract

The incidence of most thyroid diseases – hypothyroidism, nodular goiter, and cancer – is highest among peri- and postmenopausal women. Diagnosis of thyroid dysfunction in this group of patients is difficult, since the symptoms may be nonspecific, with complaints typical for the climacteric period. Interpreting thyroid function tests, physiological changes in the secretion and metabolism of thyrotropin and thyroid hormones, as well as the effect of concomitant diseases, must be considered. Unrecognized thyroid dysfunction leads to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, bone fractures, cognitive impairment, depression, and mortality. Thyroid dysfunction therapy differs in peri- and postmenopausal women of reproductive age; hypothyroidism should be treated with caution because high doses of L-thyroxine can lead to cardiac arrhythmias and an increased risk of bone osteoporosis, and hyperthyroidism should preferably be treated with radioactive iodine. Thyroid cancer often affects women over the age of 50, the diagnostic and therapeutic approach is the same as in the general population, but the prognosis of cancer is worse than in younger patients. The article presents data concerning the differential diagnosis of menopausal symptoms and thyroid gland pathology in perimenopausal women, as well as the peculiarities of therapy for revealed thyroid disorders in this age group.

Keywords

• menopause
• thyroid physiological changes
• thyroid diseases.