What is postpartum thyroiditis? Symptoms, diagnosis, treatment

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What is postpartum thyroiditis?

Thyroiditis is a general term that refers to "inflammation of the thyroid gland"; Therefore, postpartum thyroiditis means inflammation of the mother's thyroid gland after giving birth to a baby. It should be noted that Thyroiditis can cause thyrotoxicosis (high level of thyroid hormone in the blood) and hypothyroidism (low level of thyroid hormone in the blood). Postpartum thyroiditis may first lead to hyperthyroidism and finally to hypothyroidism.

To get complete information about hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism, symptoms, how to diagnose and treat each, click on the links.

Stages of postpartum thyroiditis

Thyroid inflammation after childbirth usually progresses through several stages or phases.

The first stage: hyperthyroidism (thyrotoxicosis): In this stage, the inflammation of the thyroid gland causes the production and secretion of excessive thyroid hormones.
The second stage: hypothyroidism (hypothyroidism): At this stage, the thyroid gland does not produce enough hormones and becomes so-called underactive.
Third stage: return to normal: In most cases, thyroid function gradually returns to normal.

It should be noted that not all people necessarily experience all these stages in order. Some mothers do not enter the hypothyroid phase at all; That is, they only have hyperthyroidism and then their thyroid function returns to normal.

In rare cases, people may remain in the stage of hypothyroidism. In this case, they should receive hormone replacement therapy (levothyroxine) to compensate for the lack of thyroid hormones.

Symptoms of postpartum thyroiditis

Symptoms of this type of thyroiditis are varied and are often confused with the usual symptoms of postpartum recovery. When the thyroid becomes inflamed, it first releases large amounts of thyroid hormone into the bloodstream, causing hyperthyroidism. At this stage, mild and short-term symptoms appear that most women will not notice. However, after this initial stage, the person either recovers completely or suffers damage to the thyroid gland.

If the thyroid gland is damaged, this damage along with the reduction of thyroid hormone reserves can lead to hypothyroidism. This condition may also resolve or cause permanent hypothyroidism that requires hormone replacement.

The thyrotoxic stage or hyperthyroidism usually occurs one to four months after the birth of the baby and can last up to three months. Symptoms of hyperthyroidism may include:

Feeling unusual heat
Muscle weakness
Anxiety or nervousness
Insomnia
Heartbeat
Weight loss
Excitability
Hair loss

However, most people will experience the symptoms of postpartum thyroiditis more during the hypothyroid or hypothyroid phase. These symptoms usually occur four to eight months after delivery; But they may last up to a year after giving birth. These symptoms usually include the following:

fatigue or lack of energy
weight gain
Constipation
Depression
Dry skin
muscle cramps
Difficulty in cold tolerance

The cause of postpartum thyroiditis

This thyroid disease occurs due to the attack of anti-thyroid antibodies on the thyroid gland. These antibodies are supposed to protect your body and fight against pathogens. But in postpartum thyroiditis, the antibodies get out of control and attack your thyroid gland instead of protecting you. This attack causes inflammation in the thyroid and increases or decreases the production of thyroid hormones.

It is not clear exactly why the antibodies attack the thyroid; However, an unknown/undiagnosed autoimmune thyroid disease may be involved. Due to changes in the functioning of the immune system after childbirth, any unknown disease may flare up after the birth of the baby and cause postpartum thyroiditis.

Risk factors for postpartum thyroiditis

If you have one or more of the following conditions, the risk of getting postpartum thyroiditis increases:

Autoimmune disorders; Like type 1 diabetes The presence of anti-thyroid antibodies; The higher the number of these antibodies, the higher the risk of infection.
History of previous thyroid problems: including thyroid diseases or its previous dysfunction
Family history of thyroid disorders; Having a history of thyroid problems in the family increases the risk of developing this condition.

Diagnosis of postpartum thyroiditis

If the specialist doctor suspects postpartum thyroiditis, he will perform a physical examination and ask questions about your symptoms. The tests used to diagnose postpartum thyroiditis depend on the stage of the disease and the doctor's diagnosis. In almost all cases, a blood test is used to check the level of thyroid hormones (TSH, T3 and T4).

This blood test can determine thyroid hyperactivity or hypothyroidism and is sufficient to diagnose postpartum thyroiditis. Also, this test will help rule out the possibility of similar diseases such as Graves' disease. Graves' disease is a lifelong condition that causes symptoms similar to postpartum thyroiditis. To get information about this disease, you can click on the link.

Treatment of postpartum thyroiditis

Treatment of this condition depends on various factors such as age, symptoms and general health of the patient as well as the stage of the disease. People with hyperthyroidism (thyrotoxicosis) may be treated for symptoms such as tremors, palpitations, and inflammation. Common treatments for these symptoms include beta blockers or prednisone. Since hyperthyroidism in postpartum thyroiditis is not a permanent condition, hormonal treatments are probably not recommended.

Women with hypothyroidism (hypothyroidism) may receive hormone therapy to treat the underlying symptoms. If symptoms of hypothyroidism are mild to moderate, treatment may not be necessary. Breastfeeding mothers who are treated for postpartum thyroiditis are usually able to continue breastfeeding without problems. However, it is important that you consult your doctor before taking any medication or hormone therapy while breastfeeding to make sure that these medications are safe for your baby.

Is postpartum thyroiditis completely curable?

Fortunately, most women who experience postpartum thyroiditis return to normal thyroid function within 12 to 18 months of the onset of symptoms. However, 20% of women who reach the stage of hypothyroidism will remain so. Doctors recommend that you regularly check the level of thyroid hormones after treatment to make sure that your thyroid function has returned to normal.

If you are taking thyroid medication, your doctor may gradually reduce the dose to see if your body can maintain normal thyroid function on its own. People with high levels of antithyroid antibodies are more likely to develop permanent hypothyroidism and may need hormone replacement therapy for the rest of their lives.

Note:

Postpartum hypothyroidism also increases the risk of developing thyroid problems in the future, including hypothyroidism or an enlarged thyroid gland (goiter). So even if your thyroid function returns to normal, you need to check your thyroid condition regularly.

How common is postpartum thyroiditis?

About 5 to 10 percent of women get this disease in the first year after giving birth. People who have type 1 diabetes or a history of thyroid problems are more susceptible to postpartum thyroiditis.

Is postpartum thyroiditis the same as Hashimoto's disease?

While this thyroid disorder is very similar to thyroiditis Hashimoto ; But these two diseases are not the same. Both diseases are associated with the presence of anti-thyroid antibodies and chronic thyroid inflammation. However, postpartum thyroiditis usually resolves within 18 months of starting treatment for most affected women; While there is no cure for Hashimoto's thyroiditis, and if you have it, you must take levothyroxine tablets for the rest of your life.

Summary

Postpartum thyroiditis occurs when a woman's thyroid gland becomes inflamed after childbirth or abortion. This condition may first cause hyperthyroidism; But over time, it can lead to hypothyroidism. Experts do not know exactly what factors cause this disease. If you have high levels of anti-thyroid antibodies before pregnancy, you are more likely to develop this disease. Other risk factors include type 1 diabetes, a history of thyroid problems, or other autoimmune diseases.

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