29 Sept 2026
Normal blood tests. Still feeling terrible. Here is why
Your Thyroid, Your Hormones, and Perimenopause. The Triple Overlap Nobody Is Joining Up. | Dr Golda Parker
PRIMARY DESCRIPTION:
If you have been unwell for months or years, seen multiple doctors, and still do not have an answer that fully explains how you feel, this episode is the one that might finally change that. Dr Golda Parker, GMC-registered GP, explains the clinical overlap between perimenopause, thyroid dysfunction, and low ferritin, why the three frequently occur together in women in their forties, and why normal blood test results are not the same as optimal ones.
LONG DESCRIPTION:
Thyroid dysfunction, low ferritin, and perimenopause are three of the most commonly missed and most commonly co-occurring conditions in women in midlife. Their symptoms overlap so substantially that each one can mask the other, creating a clinical picture that is confusing, frustrating, and almost impossible to resolve when each condition is investigated and treated in isolation.
In this episode Dr Golda Parker explains why thyroid dysfunction becomes more common in perimenopause, the clinical relationship between oestrogen and thyroid hormone transport, the role of ferritin in hair loss, energy, and cognitive function, and why a result that falls within a normal reference range is not necessarily a result that is optimal for a symptomatic woman.
She covers exactly which investigations to ask for, why the full thyroid panel matters more than TSH alone, and what the difference between normal and optimal means in practice. This is the joined-up clinical conversation that most appointments do not have time for.
TARGET KEYWORDS:
thyroid perimenopause, hypothyroidism perimenopause, ferritin hair loss women, perimenopause thyroid symptoms, low thyroid women 40s, oestrogen thyroid connection, perimenopause fatigue, normal thyroid but still tired, ferritin and hair loss, perimenopause symptoms UK, thyroid and hormones women, menopause thyroid UK, free T3 free T4 women, perimenopause blood tests, TSH normal but symptomatic
WHAT YOU WILL LEARN:
Why thyroid dysfunction and perimenopause so frequently occur together and the clinical mechanism behind it. Why ferritin, not just haemoglobin, is a critical investigation for perimenopausal women. Why normal reference ranges are not the same as optimal levels for a symptomatic individual. The exact blood tests worth asking for and why each one matters. What joined-up clinical care looks like and how to ask for it.
LINKS:
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Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ministry-of-menopause/id1834366246
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Website: https://www.drgolda.com (https://www.drgolda.com)
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Any patient stories shared in this podcast are fictional and used for illustrative purposes only. Any resemblance to real persons is entirely coincidental. The content shared in this podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Listening to this podcast does not create a doctor-patient relationship. Always consult your own doctor or qualified healthcare professional regarding any health issues.
