Pregnancy and Your Thyroid

Pregnancy is an incredibly joyful time, but what happens if your thyroid goes haywire? This slideshow shows how you can develop a thyroid condition, such as hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, and postpartum thyroiditis, during or after pregnancy.

How Pregnancy Affects Your Thyroid

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When you're pregnant, your body is constantly evolving—your belly is growing, your hormones are changing, and sometimes your thyroid goes haywire. Because of these changes, pregnancy can trigger a thyroid problem. You may be more susceptible to a thyroid condition during pregnancy for genetic reasons, from pre-existing hypothyroidism that hasn't been treated properly, or from previous damage or removal of the thyroid to treat hyperthyroidism.

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Written by Julie M. Gentile

Reviewed by Daesman N. Suri MD

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Source

Pregnancy and thyroid disease. National Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases Information Service. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases Web site. http://endocrine.niddk.nih.gov/pubs/pregnancy/. Accessed July 7, 2011.