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.

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How Pregnancy Affects Your Thyroid

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.

Written 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.