The picture is complicated by the variability of the symptoms among women and by the fact that the symptoms often develop gradually over the course of many years. Without a test to confirm a diagnosis of perimenopause, this transitional phase has been elusive to the medical community.
The thyroid gland, or simply the thyroid /ËÎ¸aÉªrÉÉªd/, is an endocrine gland in the throat, and consists of two connected lobes. It is found at the front of the neck, below the Adam's apple.
The thyroid gland is located in the lower half of the neck in the midline-in the front of the wind pipe, below the voice box (larynx) and above the breast bone (sternum). The butterfly shaped gland produces thyroid hormone to help regulate body metabolism and maintain all body tissues and systems. The thyroid can develop a number of structural abnormalities. The entire thyroid may enlarge, which is known as a goiter. A single lump or nodule may appear without the remainder of the thyroid becoming enlarged. Multiple nodules may be present in an enlarged gland known as a multinodular goiter. Another term for nodule is tumor. Either term raises a patient's immediate concern about cancer.