EMAS position statement: Thyroid disease and menopause

[helvella]

Just saw this and thought it needed posting. I'm sure most members here are better able to read and understand it than I!

EMAS position statement: Thyroid disease and menopause

Gesthimani Mintziori

Stavroula Veneti

Kris Poppe

Margaret Rees

Leonidas Duntas

Irene Lambrinoudaki

Published:April 23, 2024

DOI: doi.org/10.1016/j.maturitas...

Highlights

• Menopause and thyroid dysfunction (hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism) may be accompanied by similar symptoms.

• These symptoms include menstrual irregularities, mood disorders, increased sweating, sleep disturbances, hair loss, and diminished quality of life.

• The differential diagnosis may be challenging.

• A personalized patient approach is suggested, involving the woman in the decision-making and respecting her preferences to achieve overall well-being.

Abstract

Introduction

Thyroid diseases are common in women in their late reproductive years; therefore, thyroid disease and menopause may co-exist. Both conditions may present with a wide range of symptoms, leading to diagnostic challenges and delayed diagnosis.

Aim

To construct the first European Menopause and Andropause Society (EMAS) statement on thyroid diseases and menopause.

Materials and methods

Literature review and consensus of expert opinion (EMAS executive board members/experts on menopause and thyroid disease).

Summary recommendations

This position paper highlights the diagnostic and therapeutic dilemmas in managing women with thyroid disease during the menopausal transition, aiming to increase healthcare professionals' awareness of thyroid disorders and menopause-related symptoms. Clinical decisions regarding the treatment of both conditions should be made with caution and attention to the specific characteristics of this age group while adopting a personalized patient approach. The latter must include the family history, involvement of the woman in the decision-making, and respect for her preferences, to achieve overall well-being.

Amazingly, despite being an Elsevier publication, it does appear to be open access:

maturitas.org/article/S0378...

[tattybogle]

• A personalized patient approach is suggested, involving the woman in the decision-making and respecting her preferences to achieve overall well-being.

Well that'll never fly , i can just imagine the N.I.C.E response ...

"N.I.C.E have a proud history of basing guidelines on Evidence Based Medicine and there is good quality evidence that menopausal women can't make decisions for toffee.... and our current practice of 'NOT respecting their preferences' has been 'grandfathered' in and continues to work well for us , so we see no need to change it now ".

[arTistapple in reply to tattybogle]

Beautiful.

[sparkly]

Thank you for sharing that.