Complications in Thyroid Treatment for Women
Women may have more reason to measure their TSH levels than men. This is because nearly all women who are diagnosed with high levels of TSH have some form of hypothyroidism. In fact, hypothyroidism is much more common in women than in men. Treatment, however, has certain complications.
Studies have shown that thyroid hormone increase bone mineral re-absorption, increasing the risk of osteoporosis, especially in postmenopausal women. One study found that women being treated with enough thyroxine, prescription thyroid hormone, to suppress TSH for ten years or more had a 9 percent decrease in bone density. Patients with conditions such as goiters or thyroid cancer must receive TSH- suppressive doses of thyroxine and, therefore, are at a particularly high risk for osteoporosis.
Women who want to check the functioning of their thyroid or who are presently taking thyroid replacement hormones- especially older women- should be screened with this highly sensitive TSH assay around age forty-five, and then follow up with a screening every two years. This is to ensure that their thyroid is functioning properly and that there is no overtreatment with TH, which would increase the risk of osteoporosis.
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