Postpartum thyroiditis is a condition where the thyroid gland becomes inflamed after pregnancy. The symptoms appear within the first year after giving birth, having a miscarriage, or having an abortion. It often occurs in people who have never had a thyroid problem.
Postpartum thyroiditis is an autoimmune disease, which means the body wrongly attacks itself. Autoimmune diseases can occur in any part of the body. With postpartum thyroiditis, the body attacks the thyroid gland.
The thyroid gland is located on the front of the neck. Its main job is to make thyroid hormone. Thyroid hormone helps with metabolism (the body’s energy use) as well as growth and development.
There are three types of postpartum thyroiditis:
The symptoms of postpartum thyroiditis depend on whether there is too much or too little thyroid hormone.
In women who have a transient increase in thyroid hormone, symptoms may not show at all. Those that do are often mild and include:
Women who have a transient decrease in thyroid hormone usually have symptoms such as:
Scientists aren’t sure exactly what causes the body to mistakenly attack itself in autoimmune disease. There is a genetic part, but not everyone who has the gene gets the disease.
Some risk factors for developing postpartum thyroiditis include:
Higher risk pregnant women should be screened during pregnancy and after giving birth.
Postpartum thyroiditis is diagnosed using a blood test of thyroid hormone levels.
Most women’s thyroid function will return to normal after 12 to 18 months. However, in some women, the thyroid stays underactive. These women will remain on treatment. Even in women whose thyroid does eventually return to normal, having had postpartum thyroiditis increases their risk for developing permanent low thyroid function in the future.
For women who have a temporary increase in thyroid hormone, treatment isn’t usually required, as symptoms are mild. In a few cases, they may need a tablet to help with symptom control until the thyroid returns to normal.
For women who have a temporary decrease in thyroid hormone, treatment with artificial thyroid hormone can be started. Their healthcare provider will periodically check their thyroid levels.
It’s not always possible to predict which women will get postpartum thyroiditis. Women with risk factors should be screened with blood tests during and after pregnancy. Any woman who gets postpartum thyroiditis should continue with annual screening even if her thyroid eventually returns to normal.