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| Category: Women's Health |
Date published: June 20, 2006 |
In the United States, more than 20% of the women in menopause are
diagnosed with hypothyroidism - a sluggish thyroid. Women need to
understand the consequences of menopause on the thyroid, as with the
increase in age, more women are affected by hypothyroidism. Menopause
and hypothyroidism have common symptoms, such as depressed mood,
decreased energy and decreased memory, among others. Often these
symptoms are taken to be due to menopause, leading to delayed diagnosis
of hypothyroidism.
Hormones in women's bodies are balanced delicately and hormonal imbalance
occurs during pregnancy, perimenopause, and menopause. In the time
leading up to menopause, the clockwork menstrual cycles may begin to
become erratic. This could be because of highs and lows in estrogen and
progesterone.
Hypothyroidism, which is seven times more often associated with women
than with men, also occurs because of hormonal imbalance. Certain doctors
feel that estrogen dominance - excess of estrogen combined with low
progesterone - typically occurs in early perimenopause. They feel restricting
estrogen dominance prevents complications in perimenopause, including
hypothyroidism. In fact, estrogen is required to be counterbalanced with
progesterone to avoid hypothyroidism.
Treatment Options of Hypothyroidism
Hypothyroidism - the under-active thyroid is primarily due to the
underproduction of the thyroid's main hormone - Thyroxine (T4). This
hormone has to be converted to the active thyroid - the Triiodothyronine
(T3), by the liver. Then only it can be effectively utilized by the body.
Different practitioners have their own ways of tackling hypothyroidism.
Most prescribe Synthroid, Levoxyl or Levothyroxine - the synthetic T4 - for
hypothyroidism. This is fine, if women are capable of converting this T4 into
T3. For others, who are poor converters, Cytomel - a synthetic T3 - is
prescribed to covert their low T3.
Many women do not believe in synthetic hormones for treating their
hypothyroidism, and relieve their symptoms with nutrition, exercise, stress-
relieving techniques and such natural treatments. Rich nutrition is the basis of
hormonal balance. Rich nutrition should consists of:
?? Multivitamins and/or minerals
?? Essential fatty acids
?? Calcium and/or magnesium
Such essential nutrients, when supplementing a healthy eating
plan, support the body's endocrine, immune and other vital
systems.
Some doctors recommend using a progesterone cream for
treatment of hypothyroidism. Progesterone, which is essential for
building many of your body's most important hormones, is also vital
in offsetting estrogen dominance, which is one of the most
common conditions in perimenopause and hypothyroidism.
Application of progesterone cream gives an immediate relief to the
symptoms of hypothyroidism.
Women in menopause or perimenopause are required to massage
about half a teaspoon of progesterone cream into their hands and
body. It is advisable to use twice daily for 21 days, to discontinue
for 7 days, and repeat the procedure. The cream is required to be
massaged on the thighs, stomach, inner arms, and the buttocks. It
is recommended that you increase your water intake to avoid
dehydration.
Many doctors recommend against prolonged use of progesterone
cream after menopause. Short-term use is recommended after
menopause, especially when weaning off Hormone Replacement
Therapy (HRT).
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