Hypothyroidism, Menopause, and Estrogen: What's the connection?

Though rarely discussed, the symptoms of menopause and hypothyroidism have quite a lot of overlap. If you're a woman in your fifties and you begin to describe the fatigue, weight gain, mood swings, and hair loss you're experiencing, your doctors and friends are likely to point to menopause as the sole culprit. While it may be the cause for hot flashes and other common symptoms, a thyroid disease could be underlying your most stubborn and burdensome symptoms. Here's what you need to know about the connection between thyroid problems, estrogen, and menopause.

Menopause in a nutshell

While we're all very familiar with some of the more common menopausal symptoms, in order to understand the connection between menopause and hypothyroidism, it's important to first understand what's happening in the body during menopause.

Menopause entails the changes and symptoms a woman undergoes after they have not had a menstrual cycle in 12 consecutive months. This end in menstruation is also the end of a woman's reproductive life when the ovaries stop producing the sex hormones progesterone and estrogen. 

The symptoms of menopause often include:


  • Hot flashes and night sweats
  • Frequent urination
  • Trouble sleeping
  • Difficulty focusing 
  • Feelings of fatigue
  • Increases in body weight
  • Vaginal dryness and painful sex
  • Increases in body weight
  • Vaginal dryness and painful sex
  • Cessation of menstrual cycles
  • Thinning hair
  • Mood swings 


Menopause can happen in your 40s or 50s. Similarly, hypothyroidism has many of the same symptoms and also begins around this time in a woman's life.

The Role of the Thyroid Gland

The thyroid gland is a small endocrine gland found in the front of the neck just below the voice box. The thyroid hormones produced by the thyroid gland, namely Triiodothyronine (T3), and Tetraiodothyronine AKA thyroxine (T4), are wildly influential for the body. These hormones influence the reproductive system, heart rate, body temperature, digestion, muscle functioning, skin clarity, and metabolism.

Thyroid Disorders

Given the thyroid's many roles throughout the body, it's no wonder that thyroid issues can result in huge health impacts. An overactive thyroid is also called hyperthyroidism. Hyperthyroidism is characterized by excess production of the hormone thyroxine and often results in unintentional weight loss, irregular or rapid heartbeat, increased appetite, heat sensitivity, brittle thinning hair, dry skin, and/or an enlarged thyroid gland (goiter). Hyperthyroidism can be brought on by Graves' disease, Plummer's disease, and thyroiditis.

Hypothyroidism, on the other hand, is often much subtler and is the result of an underactive thyroid gland that doesn't produce enough of certain hormones. As a result, the pituitary gland begins filling the bloodstream with TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone). According to the MayoClinic, the symptoms of hypothyroidism include:


  • Fatigue
  • Increased sensitivity to cold
  • Constipation
  • Dry skin
  • Weight gain
  • Puffy face
  • Hoarseness
  • Muscle weakness
  • Elevated blood cholesterol level
  • Muscle aches, tenderness, and stiffness
  • Pain, stiffness, or swelling in your joints
  • Heavier than normal or irregular menstrual periods
  • Thinning hair
  • Slowed heart rate
  • Depression
  • Impaired memory
  • Enlarged thyroid gland (goiter)


Hypothyroidism can be caused by autoimmune disorders such as Hashimoto's thyroiditis, certain medications, thyroid surgery, and radiation therapy. It's most common among older women and is often linked to a decrease in estrogen levels.

Menopause is not clearly marked by a sudden loss of estrogen. Instead, it is a much more gradual process. During perimenopause, a period of time leading up to menopause (12 months without a menstrual cycle), the body produces unpredictable amounts of progesterone and estrogen. This can have massive results for thyroid health and function. In fact, perimenopausal and postmenopausal women are at increased risk of thyroid disease. Estrogen levels can impact thyroid functioning in the following ways: 

  • High levels of estrogen can result in hypothyroidism by signaling the liver to produce more thyroxine-binding globulin (TBG), an inhibitor protein that reduces the amount of unbound thyroid hormone levels. Thus, the thyroid gland then increases TSH levels (thyroid-stimulating hormone) to compensate for the deficit. 
  • Excess estrogen stimulates the growth of the thyroid gland, resulting in enlarged thyroid (goiter).
  • The symptoms of hypothyroidism and menopause can be amplified by one another.
  • Estrogen stimulates thyroglobulin, a thyroid hormone precursor. High levels of estrogen can cause goiter while low levels of estrogen reduce thyroid function.

So which is it -- menopause, hypothyroidism, or both?!

If untreated, poor thyroid function can result in thyroid cancer, increased cholesterol, and potentially heart attack or stroke thus catching it and managing it early is crucial. If you're experiencing the symptoms of menopause, finding the symptoms hard to manage or suspect that you may have low thyroid hormone, consider meeting with an endocrinologist and expert in women's health and wellness such as an OB/GYN. In addition to evaluating your symptoms, blood tests can be done to test for markers of hypothyroidism such as high TSH levels.


Managing hypothyroidism and improving thyroid health during menopause can be tricky. For instance, overtreating with thyroid hormone may increase one's risk of osteoporosis. Additionally, hormone replacement therapy used to treat low estrogen may result in or exacerbate the symptoms of hypothyroidism.

Additionally, one of the most natural yet surefire ways to increase thyroid hormone production and manage the symptoms of hypothyroidism is to add a vitamin-based natural thyroid supplement to your diet along with exercise and a healthy diet for a healthy thyroid. 1 Body's Thyroid Support Supplement combines ingredients that have been proven to support the body's production of thyroid hormones such as:

  • Vitamin B  
  • Iodine 
  • Zinc (Oxide
  • Selenium 
  • Copper 
  • Manganese 
  • Molybdenum
  • L-TyrosineSchizandra 
  • Coleus Forskohlii
  • Kelp 
  • Ashwagandha Root 
  • Bladderwrack 
  • Cayenne Pepper


Although Thyroid Support is natural and generally considered safe, we recommend speaking with your physician before starting to ensure it does not counteract any medications you're currently on. Managing the symptoms of hypothyroidism and menopause can seem intimidating on their own, let alone together! But by first understanding the connection between the two and nuances between each's symptoms, you can start testing and looking in the right places. With a natural and effective thyroid supplement by your side, you may be able to kill two birds with one stone!

1 Body Thyroid Support

Although Thyroid Support is natural and generally considered safe, we recommend speaking with your physician before starting to ensure it does not counteract any medications you're currently on. Managing the symptoms of hypothyroidism and menopause can seem intimidating on their own, let alone together! But by first understanding the connection between the two and nuances between each's symptoms, you can start testing and looking in the right places. With a natural and effective thyroid supplement by your side, you may be able to kill two birds with one stone!

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