THYROID DYSFUNCTION IN WOMEN WITH MENOPAUSAL SYMPTOMS

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Department of General Medicine , Mansoura University, Egypt

2 Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Mansoura University, Egypt

3 Department of Clinical Pathology Mansoura University, Egypt

Abstract

Background ; Many of the menopausal manifestations resemble those attributed to thyroid hypofunction or even
hyperfunction. This study aimed at recognizing the role that might be played by the thyroid disturbances in such
symptoms.
Materials & Methods ; The study comprised 135 women with menopausal symptoms attending the gynecologic
outpatient clinic and the endocrinology outpatient clinic at Mansoura University hospitals. All women had serum TSH,
T3 and T4 tested.
Results ; Among the menopausal women in this study, II women (8.1%) sufferred thyroid dysfunction; 6 women
(4.4%) with thyroid hypofunction suffered cognitive and moodal changes and neurological manifestations as
paraesthesia and muscle cramps. The other 5 women (3.7%) with thyroid hyperfunction, mostly suffered hot flushes
and depression. Nevertheless, all the differences were statistically insignificant.
Conclusion ; From these preliminary results, it is believed that postmenopausal women with severe or resistant
menopausal symptoms should be offered TSH, T3 and T4 assays to rule out the thyroid disturbances before attempting
hormone replacement therapy.
 

Keywords