Postpartum thyroiditis is a thyroid dysfunction syndrome occurring within 1 year after child birth. It can also occur within 5 to 20 weeks after miscarriage or abortion. It is generally believed that the woman already has the thyroid disease before child birth and it aggravates after child birth. Early symptoms are thyroid enlargement (neck enlargement), accompanied by palpitations, chest tightness, shortness of breath, fatigue, heat intolerance, sweating, restlessness, irritability, and other symptoms of hyperthyroidism. The prognosis is good and most of the mild symptoms of hyperthyroidism can relieve themselves. Treatment is often not needed. If the patient continues to have hypothyroidism symptoms, such as fatigue, feeling cold, lethargy, loss of appetite but with increased body weight, edema, abdominal distension, and low sex drive, long-term supplement of thyroid hormone can be used. If not treated timely, it may develop into permanent hypothyroidism.
How is Postpartum thyroiditis treated in practice?