What is postpartum thyroiditis (post pregnancy thyroiditis)?
Postpartum thyroiditis occurs frequently in women with a past history of thyroid disease who have recently delivered a baby. In most respects, silent and post partum thyroiditis resemble Hashimoto's thyroiditis except that the gland tends to recover and thyroid hormone treatment need be given for only a few weeks. However, it does differ from subacute thyroiditis in that recurrences are common.
Postpartum thyroiditis is not a typical infection, however, the gland does become inflamed due to a response to an injury of the gland, of which the cause is unknown. Postpartum thyroiditis is a postpartum condition that results in temporary hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid) or hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid). Postpartum thyroiditis is fairly common. In fact, five to seven percent of women worldwide develop the disease after giving birth, according to the American Thyroid Association. |
