Thyroid Disorders in Climacteric Women

The appearance of menopause is combined with the incidence of many diseases typical of middle age, i.e., thyroid disorders, osteoporosis, and cardiovascular diseases. Thyroid disorders, especially subclinical hypothyroidism and subclinical hyperthyroidism, are frequent medical conditions among postmenopausal women. The prevalence of metabolic syndrome and osteoporosis significantly increases in postmenopausal women [1]. Many symptoms appear due to decreased estrogen level; however, chronic diseases influence quality of life as well. One of them is thyroid diseases, which are associated with risk factors for osteoporosis and cardiovascular diseases. Some symptoms of chronic diseases may mimic or modify the clinical expression of climacteric symptoms. Menopause and thyroid disease may present with similar symptoms, i.e., sweating, heart palpitations, insomnia, irritability, or mood changes, which suggest menopause, hyperthyroidism, or both. In addition, weight gain, constipation, skin atrophy, and hair atrophy are climacteric symptoms as well as symptoms of hypothyroidism [2]. With aging, the level of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) remains within normal range and occasionally has a tendency to increase [3]. Reduction of thyroid iodine uptake, free thyroid hormone synthesis, and catabolism of free thyroxine (FT4) are observed. In addition, reverse triiodothyronine (rT3) level increases [3].