Can HRT affect your Thyroid?

[Joan_CD]

Hi,

My doc called today with blood test results and said my thyroid level was off. She said not a great deal but she wants me to see my endo. I'm waiting for a call back from my endo. While I'm waiting can anybody tell me if estrogen and/or progesterone can cause issues with your thyroid? I can't seem to find any info.

Thanks!

[I Am Paula]

My thyroid was way off (hypo) and I was on meds for three years. When I started hormones my endo said we would have to watch it very carefully, and he called for monthly blood tests. After three months HRT it has stabilized, and no more meds.
He's not sure if it's HRT, or if it just fixed itself (very common). Good, less drugs to take!

[Joan_CD]

Thanks Paula. I've been on HRT almost two years with no problems. I hope it has nothing to do with it because it would devastate me to go off HRT. Maybe it's my age (62). I don't know. Thanks again for your info!

[Ariamythe]

There was a recent study published (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24128431) where a cismale population did show a correlation between free estrogen levels and certain thyroid problems. But it's not a conclusive study, and as far as I can tell the effect isn't huge. In general, the thyroid is a hormone-regulating gland; that a drastic and long-term change in the endocrine system might have some effect on it isn't out of the realm of possibility.

[Joan_CD]

Thanks Ariamythe!