New Delhi, Dec. 13 -- Many Indian women, if not women in general, experience sudden weight gain or mood swings in their 30s. While such changes may occur anytime, when they appear in this period of life, they may have a deeper cause. The two most likely culprits for such changes are perimenopause and thyroid disorder. But it can be difficult to know which one it is exactly.

According to a study cited by fluentinhealth.com, around 13-15 per cent of middle-aged Indian women suffer from subclinical hypothyroidism. This is a condition that is hard to diagnose, as many of its symptoms overlap with those of perimenopause, causing a great deal of confusion.

Perimenopause is a transitional phase where a woman is moving towards menopause. This c...