Patient education: Thyroiditis after pregnancy (The Basics)

What is thyroiditis after pregnancy? — Thyroiditis is a condition that happens when a gland in the neck called the thyroid gets inflamed (figure 1). This gland makes thyroid hormone, which controls how the body uses and stores energy.

The thyroid gland sometimes makes too much or too little thyroid hormone. Hyperthyroidism is the medical term for when this gland makes too much thyroid hormone. Hypothyroidism is the medical term for when this gland makes too little thyroid hormone.

Thyroiditis after pregnancy can cause hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, or both (one after the other). This condition happens within a year of being pregnant. That means it can happen after a woman has a baby, miscarriage (when a pregnancy ends on its own before the baby can live outside the womb), or abortion (when a woman chooses to end a pregnancy).

The medical term for thyroiditis after pregnancy is "postpartum thyroiditis."

What are the symptoms of thyroiditis after pregnancy? — Thyroiditis after pregnancy can cause symptoms of hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism. Sometimes people have symptoms of hyperthyroidism and then symptoms of hypothyroidism.

Common symptoms of hyperthyroidism include:

●Feeling tired or weak

●Losing weight, even when you eat normally

●Having a fast or uneven heartbeat

●Sweating a lot and having trouble dealing with hot weather

●Feeling worried

●Trembling

Common symptoms of hypothyroidism include:

●Having no energy

●Feeling cold

●Trouble having bowel movements (constipation)

●Not making enough breast milk, if you are breastfeeding

Is there a test for thyroiditis after pregnancy? — Yes. To check if you have this condition, your doctor or nurse will ask about your symptoms, do an exam, and order blood tests.

Sometimes doctors order other tests, such as an ultrasound of the thyroid gland. An ultrasound uses sound waves to create pictures of the inside of the body.

How is thyroiditis after pregnancy treated? — In many cases, women don't need any treatment. The condition usually gets better on its own, and the thyroid gland works normally again. This usually takes 6 months to 1 year.

Until you get better, your doctor will:

●Do blood tests on a regular basis to check your thyroid hormone levels. If your condition worsens, you will need treatment.

●Treat your symptoms. Symptoms from hyperthyroidism are treated with medicines called "beta blockers." Symptoms from hypothyroidism are treated with thyroid hormone pills.

Although uncommon, thyroiditis after pregnancy sometimes causes long-lasting hypothyroidism. If this happens, you will need life-long treatment with thyroid hormone pills.

What if I want to get pregnant again? — Women with thyroiditis after pregnancy are likely to get this condition again after future pregnancies. If you get pregnant again, let your doctor or nurse know so that they can monitor your thyroid hormone levels.

More on this topic

Patient education: Hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid) (The Basics)
Patient education: Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid) (The Basics)

Patient education: Hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid) (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid) (Beyond the Basics)