hello,
Could someone please explain the impact hypothyroidism has on estrogen?
does it cause high or low estrogen?
Google seems to imply it can heighten it but then other claim it can lower it…so v confused.
What are other people’s experiences?
Thanks
GTS🦭
I don't know if my hypothyroidism lowered or raised estrogen as I was already perimenopausal when it happened. But, the better my thyroid treatment has gotten the more stable my hrt has been... Was roller coaster in all over before that.
Thank you for replying! I am hopeful it might be the other way around for me as my female hormones have always been wonky and wondering if this is having a knock on effect on thyroid…due to start hrt tomorrow!
All I know is that hyperthyroidism made me go into menopause very early in life. As It did with my mother.
Good luck and God bless you
i don't know if hypo has an effect on estrogen ,,, but estrogen has an effect on the binding/ transport of thyroid hormones ~ which affect how much thyroid hormone needs to be produced by thyroid (or taken orally)
higher estrogen levels cause more Thyroid Binding Globulin's to be produced .
lower estrogen levels cause less TBG's.
TBG's bind to T4 or T3 to carry it round in the blood . ( if it's not bound to TBG's it's freeT4/ fT4 . the TotalT4 test measures both the T4 that is bound to TBG's ,and the Free T4)
The more TBG's there are, the more T4 can be bound up and less of it will be free.
(a healthy thyroid / intact HPT axis would then compensate by increasing / reducing thyroid hormone production so there was enough to fill up the available TBG's .... i think )
So when estrogen level falls ie at menopause , some people will need a lower dose of levo.
if they start HRT they may need more levo .
and when stopping HRT they may need less levo.
or for example , in pregnancy , the volume of blood increases , and the amount of TBG's increases too , so that the blood can carry the extra T4 needed during pregnancy)
From what I have read, only oral estrogen will raise TBG levels as it is metabolised by the liver. That is why functional doctors prefer transdermal estrogen which bypasses the liver.
Thanks for replying! Yea I’d read this too.
I’m starting transdermal estrogen tomorrow and hoping I will fair better on that than any oral E! 
i'm starting transdermal today as a hypo too - quite nervous about the effects as the titration of levo has been... shall we say.... a journey. Have warned my husband that we might be in for an emotional rollercoaster for the next few months. 😬
would love to hear how you're getting on with it over the coming weeks.
Good luck, hope you get on well with it! I'm currently unable to tolerate any thyroid medication at all so a bit worried about how things will go...but I guess if I don't try then I'll never know as we're all so different!
I too have become unable to tolerate ANY thyroid medication after 20 years on T4 and several formerly success trials in T3. Do you have any answers why you are unable to tolerate thyroid meds? My doc seems stumped.
oh no, im so sorry! its such a crap situation isn't it!?
Your situation is a little different to mine in that I've only just started having thyroid issues in last couple years and from the start they've been awful and intolerable. even t3 mono was insufferable for me! 
I've never had an answer from doctors and they seem stumped...but don't lose hope
Defo make a post and ask for some thoughts and advice on the forum! There are any others who are more knowledgable than me and can do a much better job at explaining too! but a couple thing to consider are: (im probs forgetting some!)
-Low vitamins/minerals - especially ferritin/iron if it's low.
-Adrenal/cortisol issues- low cortisol in particular can make you feel worse on thyroid meds but then high cortisol can also impact t4/t3 conversion (i think?)
-menopause/perimenopause or hormone imbalance can also have an impact!
But here's my weird lil theory about my own situation....
So for me I've always had low progesterone and lowish estrogen (never had a period, and im 33 now) contraceptive pill is the only thing that gives a bleed and overall makes me feel ok-ish but even on this I can barely tolerate thyroid meds and i feel it exacerbates my thyroid dysfunction further. my tolerance of thyroid meds is even worse when contraception/hrt are stopped (there are times when I've been so ill from it my partner has wanted to call an ambulance and will regularly check im still breathing etc) it can be that bad. I'm learning that thyroid medication can increase histamine levels quite a lot and i wonder that's a big part of my problem as progesterone in particular helps regulate histamine....and i don't have any! Estrogen also plays a role in thyroid function as well and too little/too high can impact thyroid. So im hopeful if I finally get my wonky female hormones working with HRT I can see where I'm at with thyroid and hopefully my health will improve overall!
I really hope you can find some answers and get better again soon!
Edit: sorry so many typos! But defo do make a post on the forum and I'm sure you'll get some good advice!!
Thanks for replying ah yes I’m aware of this. My estrogen is lowish when I’m not on the contraceptive pill but weirdly I do much worse on levo when I’m not taking any contraception!?
I due to start hrt tomorrow so hoping this will help my thyroid wonkiness.
I’m just worried that my low estrogen is caused by thyroid, bit of a chicken and egg scenario. But likely my estrogen has always been crappy…even in my results back when o was reasonably euthyroid!
Than You for the share
I found that oestrogen gel also affected my throid hormone levels ( ie not just pills)
Hi which way did the oestrogen gel affect your thyroid please as my gynaecologist mentioned i will need it after I have the hysterscopy camera as I have thickening of the uterus lining
I had to increase my thyroid meds after starting Oestrogel.
Oestrogel is the external gel and not the one you use vaginally, which is usually a lower dose 0.1% Oestradiol cream (aka Ovestin) .
If you are just using the latter you may not need to increase your thyroid meds - just bear it in mind and test if you notice a change.
Hi that’s interesting, as in you needed an increase in thyroid meds?
I have been wondering these same things. I am considering transdermal estrogen too. Keep us updated on how it goes!😊
Will do!
I read that high oestrogen can trigger hypothyroidism. I’ve had it my whole life; Adenomyosis which in turn causes inflammation and insulin resistance issues- metabolic syndrome and then thyroid disease it has a knock on effect and it’s all connected.
Yes this is what I read. I had adenomyosis first, then was diagnosed with thyroid after my baby. I also had my gallbladder out after my baby which is apparently another sign of high estrogen
Thank you for replying. I’m the opposite it seems…my estrogen is lowish and always has been. I don’t have insulin resistance either so feel confused about the cause of my thyroid issues
I am on transdermal hrt. I take a spray called Lenzetto. I also noticed that I had to increase my thyroid medication slightly after a few months.
I’m on Sandrena after swapping from Oestrogel, but I think the increased oestrogen contributed to my worsening hypo symptoms which would fit with increasing TRB theory. It’s so hard to know especially in Perimenopause, but the gel certainly raised my own oestrogen and I’m not convinced with doctors saying topical oestrogen ‘can’t’ do this or that. I’m certainly sensitive to it as if it were an oral preparation.
In short, it’s a bit of an experiment I think. See how you go. I’ve only just started Levo so can’t comment on how much I’d need to counteract/balance with the Oestrogen.
thanks for your reply I am a little different as im not in menopause but as my estrogen is always pretty crap my endo has suggested we trial HRT and see if this improves things for me.
I am slightly concerned that it may exacerbate thyroid symptoms but seeing as when im on the contraceptive pill i feel a bit better and with out I feel like I'm in full blown menopause im happy to give it a shot! Perhaps it still has an effect but maybe a bit less of a potent one through the skin?? (just a guess!)
I’m on HRT ….I have Hashimoto’s (other autoimmune disorders) along with lichen sclerous, adenomyosis and endometriosis. Thyroid and gynaecological conditions are linked somewhat.
I had Hysteroscopy a year ago coil fitted I’m 58 and was still perimenopausal at that stage I had abnormal bleeding without hrt with hrt no thickening but found polyps had those removed I had all under general anaesthetic privately even though my surgery put me on the 2week wait as flagged as urgent this never happened so I went private.
Regarding oestrogen it’s not really thyroid friendly in excess or not balanced with progesterone. Where progesterone is often more helpful but progesterone is the first hormone usually to decline as we age and go into pre/perimenopause causing us sporadic period problems and imbalances. Transdermal oestrogen is safest and for most doesn’t cause any problems… I have had no difference with on or off hrt with my blood ranges or symptoms re thyroid … but as with many things we aren’t the same eg re absorption and really it’s an individual thing and best to see how you go and adjust as required with guidance of your surgery or gynaecologist whoever is prescribing.
Some people notice winter months regardless of any hormones issues they need slight increase in Levothyroxine.
thank you for replying! so my story is quite different to yours.
my thyroid issues are not autoimmune (confirmed via bloods and scans) and have only just started struggling with thyroid dysfunction the last 2 years and cannot tolerate any thyroid meds. However my female hormones have never done what they should have. I'm not menopausal (only 33) but my estrogen has always been lowish, progesterone also low, my endometrium never thickens and i don't have periods by myself. (even unsuccessfully tried cycling progesterone alone and it did nothing) the only thing that works is the contraceptive pill but feel this isn't good longterm as its all synthetic and has a set of its own side effects!
Progesterone alone gives me some benefit but I still have issues with low estrogen. believe cycling progesterone/utrogestan can lower estrogen which is something I really don't need and likely to make things worse.
I'm hopeful that righting my long standing female hormone issues will help my thyroid function (and endo wanted to try this too!) perhaps at the very least it will allow me to tolerate thyroid medication!
ah to be clear my endo is suggesting trialing estrogen and progesterone HRT
I would say it highers estrogen being that the infertility clinics put women on thyroid hormone if it is 3 and over so that they are better able to produce eggs once given the other hormone treatments.
thanks for your reply. I actually figured it was the other way round as high estrogen causes build up of endometrial lining which would cause the heavy periods associated with hypothyroidism. And i had read it slows the livers ability to detox estrogen so it builds up more. I'm not 100% sure though and i suppose it could be either based on the individual.
I've always had lowish estrogen and it seems that adding levo hasn't changed that sadly
I think it is all trail and error and different for everyone, we are all so unique. I had light periods all the time with hypothyroidism, they got a little better (never heavy) when I went on T4. I then went into early menopause at 42. Sure it had something to do with being so undertreated on thyroid hormone. At 46 I stared on bioidentical hormones natural estrogen and progesterone. which actually gave me 2 periods after all those years. No more periods after that. We do need the raw ingredients to make our hormones. I found out I was very low cholesterol too which we need in abundance to make our hormones.
I have hashi and started the combo patch along with injectable testosterone. I gained weight, got scalp acne, bloated and didn’t feel great. Went off all of it and symptoms went away. Had my bloods tested and my t4 and T3 had ranked. Below normal range in T3 and low t4. Dr changed my testerone to one without peanut oils and took me off combipatch bc the progesterone is. It bioidentical and I think I was allergic. Upping t4 meds to start to hopefully get thyroid back in check.
Read that testosterone ethanate helps with conversion if t4 to t3. We’ll see. Such a fun ride…(yes being sarcastic). Also I’m 54 and now in menopause. My estrogen and progesterone levels are nill and 0.
thanks for you reply! Urgh that sounds so horrid, I know that synthetic progesterone can cause a lot of issues. I struggled for ages with synthetics progestins and can only really tolerate one! I've been reading alot of studies of how important progesterone is for thyroid function and also that if estrogen is low this can worsen hypothyroid symptoms as TBG will also be too low.(don't quote me tho its just what I've read so far!)
Interesting that your symptoms on HRT are similar to the symptoms I get from my baseline female hormones!My story is a little different as I'm not menopausel but my hormones have never done what they should! Yes I think testosterone in general helps conversion, as does progesterone I think?
GTS,
Great response from others regarding what oestrogen does to hypos.
Regarding the other way around- what hypo does to oestrogen it mainly relates to slowed liver detoxication pathways. This may lead to oestrogen levels that build up and if peri-meno, progesterone will be naturally declining further widening the gap.
The detoxification pathways also depend upon certain cofactors that hypo encourages to become deficient encouraging a self-serving circle until thyroid hormones are adequately replaced.
Hello! Thanks for your reply! Yes you’ve confirmed what I’d read too, that E can kinda build up with hypo as everything slows down.
Mine has always been lowish even pre thyroid issues so I feel like my situation is a bit of a weird one! Even now I’m subclincal hypo my estrogen levels are still stuck at the level of a post meno woman. (I’m only 33 so not close to meno!)
It all a bit weird I’m praying if I can sort my
Female hormones with hrt, that thyroid may improve or at the very least I will tolerate the medication better 🤞cos I haven’t been able
To take any consistently at all 🥲
estrogen vs progesterone question
The thyroid and estrogen?
Tri estrogen creams
