Women who are at the general age of menopause or who are approaching the age or are experiencing pre-menopausal symptoms (perimenopause) will gain a valuable education from the important information contained in this book. This is especially true of those who have a combination of menopause and thyroid disorder, which can occur commonly but may remain undiagnosed in a significant number of women.
Husbands of wives who may be going through these conditions can also benefit greatly from the understanding this book can bring and by learning the information together, spouses can become partners in seeking the best possible treatments that can help relieve the symptoms of this often long term and life-altering hormonal condition.
The Thyroid-Menopause Connection
Mary J. Shomon gives informative detail to the facts regarding thyroid hormone imbalance (most commonly hypothyroidism) and how it can occur commonly with perimenopause and menopause, causing a worsening of the symptoms of each. Very important facts are brought to light in these pages, including the fact that estrogen dominance can cause increased hypothyroidism due to the hormone estrogen, taking over many of the receptor sites in the blood that normally carry thyroid hormone into the cells of the body to regulate normal metabolism.
Facts in regard to thyroid symptoms being attributed to menopause and causing a lack of diagnosis for both conditions is also a subject, as well as detailed descriptions of all areas of thyroid disorders, including diagnosing them and treatment options that are offered for them. The author brings home the important fact that treating both thyroid disorder and menopause, when the conditions co-exist, can result in better treatment success for each of them.
The Endocrine System and Hormone Activity
The book goes on to delve into the very complicated subject of how the endocrine system (hormone network) works in synchronization and how all hormones involved, including the sex ones, create a balance that is disrupted with the onset of perimenopause leading up to menopause. The author however helps to simplify the subject by breaking down the functions of hormones and helping the reader to better understand endocrine processes, including descriptions of how some hormones, including the sex ones, are created by others (pre-cursor hormones) through a conversion process.
The reader also gains an understanding of the differences between the pre-menopausal state called “perimenopause” and the full blown state called “menopause”. The terms are often placed under the same umbrella but the difference in them as related to a woman’s monthly cycles (mensus) is addressed to help the reader distinguish between them.
Tests for Menopause
In addition to descriptions of symptoms involved in these conditions, Mary also addresses testing methods that help determine the menopausal stage. In addition to sex hormone testing by blood labs, she includes information about home tests that can be purchased at pharmacies that test levels of “follicle-stimulating hormone” which requires a urine sample to be analyzed. Also included is information regarding imaging tests that may be needed for women suffering severe symptoms of menopause. The tests described, include MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) which is sometimes ordered to look more closely at the reproductive system in affected females.
Symptoms and Treatments
Common symptoms are listed for these disorders in detail. Problem-symptoms that can reach severity or that are difficult to resolve are also looked it, along with methods and treatments that are administered to help resolve them. The book gives important detail in regard to treatments available for menopausal women, including information on the sometimes complicated and difficult-to-balance area of hormone therapies that require qualified physicians but that can yield successful outcomes. She also dedicates many pages to natural treatments that are sometimes used with great success as well, also adding wisdom in regard to cautions when using any natural or alternative treatment.
Also included are important facts regarding diet practices that when followed faithfully can be extremely beneficial to menopausal women and to those with co-morbid thyroid disorders. To fully round the information off, Mary includes an exercise segment, including pictures showing them being performed, with information on how to choose the right exercise regimen and how it can improve quality-of-life. Readers are encouraged to design a plan that will help them, using the invaluable information offered in this book that is a must-read for women approaching menopause years or who have already reached them!
(Special thanks to Mary for the free review copy of the book.)
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