Thyroid Problems after Pregnancy

Approximately 5 to 7% of the women who give birth will experience thyroid problems within two to four months of their delivery. This condition is often called postpartum thyroiditis, and in the medical literature is thought of as a somewhat normal and non-problematic issue. Our research and understanding today has shown us that this is more than a temporary nuisance. It is in most cases an autoimmune condition that can have lifelong consequences if left untreated. The immune system is a complex subject and this article will help to explain why shifts in the immune system during pregnancy can lead to postpartum thyroiditis or autoimmune thyroid problems. The video below discusses this topic.

The best evidence for postpartum thyroiditis being an autoimmune condition comes from the fact that people with this scenario often go from a hypothyroid condition to a hyperthyroid condition. This phenomenon in the medical literature is explained by saying that swelling in the thyroid squeezes extra thyroid hormone into the blood stream.

Let's talk about what's really happening here. Autoimmune thyroiditis or Hashimoto's disease is a scenario where the thyroid gland is being slowly destroyed by the immune system. When this attack is slow thyroid hormone levels get low leading to hypothyroidism, and when the attack from the immune system is fast it causes hyperthyroidism. The thyroid tissue is being broken down so quickly that it causes a large release of thyroid hormone into the blood stream causing a hyperthyroid condition.

During pregnancy females go from being in a TH-2 immune dominant status to a TH-1 dominant status. This shift in the immune system function is thought to be the possible cause of the autoimmune flare up that can result.

Females experiencing thyroid problems after pregnancy may notice a small non-tender nodule or goiter in the area of their thyroid and they may also experience the following symptoms if they are in a hyperthyroid state:

1. Increased Anxiety
2. Trouble Sleeping
3. Sudden Weight Loss
4. Brain Fog or Loss of Concentration
5. Restlessness

If you feel that you may be experiencing thyroid problems after pregnancy, it's important to find a health professional that is well trained in functional endocrinology.

The Orlando Thyroid Project

Functional endocrinology is the groundwork of the Orlando Thyroid Project at Integrative Health of Orlando. For females that are having thyroid problems after pregnancy, this in-depth understanding of the body's endocrine system can make all the difference.

If you were recently pregnant and you just don't feel like you should, the Orlando Thyroid Project offers the answers you are looking for. To learn more, call to attend one of our complimentary thyroid classes today. You deserve the very best!