Is Thyroiditis Messing With Your Hormones—and Your Life?
Is Thyroiditis Messing With Your Hormones—and Your Life?
If you're over 40 and feeling like your body's turned on you—your metabolism has tanked, your hair’s thinning, you’re dragging through the day, and your moods are unpredictable—your thyroid might be quietly waving a red flag. It’s time we talk about thyroiditis, because this sneaky inflammation of your thyroid could be behind more of your symptoms than you think.
And here’s the real deal: women—especially those heading into perimenopause and menopause—are ten times more likely to deal with thyroiditis than men. Let that sink in.
What Is Thyroiditis Anyway?
Thyroiditis is inflammation of the thyroid gland. It doesn’t always hurt, but it always disrupts your hormones. It can kick off with hyperthyroidism (everything speeds up—heart rate, anxiety, weight loss), but often crashes into hypothyroidism (everything slows down—fatigue, weight gain, brain fog). It’s the roller coaster you didn’t sign up for.
Types of Thyroiditis Women 40+ Need to Know
🔥 Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis
This is the most common type—and it’s autoimmune. Your immune system goes rogue and attacks your thyroid, which tanks your metabolism. Hashimoto’s and perimenopause are frequent bedfellows. Estrogen and progesterone shifts can trigger or worsen it. It’s no coincidence so many women develop this in their 40s.
Root causes we look at in functional medicine? Gut health, stress load (hello cortisol), nutrient deficiencies, and—you guessed it—hormonal imbalances.
😖 Subacute (De Quervain’s) Thyroiditis
Often shows up after a viral infection with fever, fatigue, and neck pain. It tends to resolve, but it still whacks your hormone system around.
🤱 Postpartum & Silent Thyroiditis
Triggered by immune shifts after childbirth (postpartum) or mysteriously without warning (silent). These types look like Hashimoto’s but can be temporary. Either way, the symptoms are real and disruptive.
⚠️ Thyroid Cancer (Rare, But Serious)
Most thyroiditis cases aren’t cancer, but if there's a suspicion, a biopsy is key.
Are You at Risk?
These red flags increase your chances of thyroiditis:
Being female (especially over 40)
Perimenopause or postmenopause
Autoimmune history (even if it’s mild)
Recent pregnancy
Family history of thyroid issues
Smoking
Radiation exposure (head/neck)
High iodine or certain medications
Symptoms That Mimic Menopause—But Might Be Thyroiditis
Hyperthyroid phase (starts fast and intense):
Anxiety or panic
Heat intolerance
Weight loss despite eating
Skipped or light periods
Insomnia and racing thoughts
Hypothyroid phase (the crash that follows):
Fatigue that sleep doesn’t fix
Brain fog and forgetfulness
Depression or flat mood
Cold sensitivity
Constipation
Hair loss, brittle nails
Irregular or heavy periods
Joint or muscle pain
Sound familiar? You’re not imagining things. These symptoms often overlap with perimenopause—which is why thyroiditis flies under the radar.
Diagnosing It (Don’t Settle for Basic Blood Work)
Too many women get dismissed with “your TSH looks fine.” Not enough.
Demand a full panel:
TSH
Free T3
Free T4
Thyroid antibodies (TPO, TgAb)
If your provider won’t test beyond TSH, it’s time for a second opinion—preferably from someone who understands hormone chaos after 40.
Treatment: A Root-Cause Approach
Yes, thyroid hormones like levothyroxine are often needed, especially if you’ve slipped into hypothyroidism. But managing thyroiditis isn’t just about slapping on a med.
Here’s what we look at:
Balancing estrogen and progesterone (hello, bioidenticals)
Supporting adrenal function
Healing the gut (because 70% of immunity lives there)
Managing inflammation
Optimizing nutrients like selenium, zinc, and iron
Temporary meds like beta-blockers, NSAIDs, or even steroids may help during flare-ups. If cancer’s involved (rare), surgery or radioactive iodine might be necessary—but that’s not where most women land.
Bottom Line
If you’re 40+ and feel like your body is betraying you—especially with symptoms that straddle the line between thyroid and menopause—it’s time to investigate.
This isn’t “just aging.” This is treatable. You don’t have to keep guessing.
Let’s Fix This—Together
Ready to stop Googling symptoms and start feeling like you again? Let’s get to the root of what’s going on—and get your hormones back in sync. Bioidentical hormone therapy might be the missing piece.
