In most cases, the cause is autoimmune. Other less common causes of hypothyroidism are due to iodine deficiency iodine is an essential component of thyroid hormones , excessive dose of medications used to treat hyperthyroidism an overactive thyroid gland , destruction of the thyroid gland following treatment with radioactive iodine, and surgical removal of the thyroid gland. Rarely, hypothyroidism can be caused by certain medications for example lithium and amiodarone or diseases of the pituitary gland.
The symptoms of hypothyroidism vary greatly from one person to another. Some people may have very few symptoms, while others are severely affected.
To some extent these differences can be explained by how severe the hypothyroidism is. Another reason for the symptoms being so different is the speed at which the hypothyroidism develops. This can be from a matter of days to years.
The age of the person is also important. For instance, hypothyroidism in a child may cause poor growth. The symptoms of hypothyroidism are not specific. Surveys of normal populations have shown that up to a third of all people experience symptoms similar to that of hypothyroidism.
This causes confusion and sometimes a wrong belief that a person with otherwise unexplained symptoms must have hypothyroidism. The symptoms of hypothyroidism can include tiredness, weight gain, feeling the cold, slowing down physically and mentally, dry skin, loss of hair, muscle cramps and muscle weakness, puffiness around the eyes, gruff voice, depression , hearing loss and constipation.
Women can develop heavy periods or they may lose them altogether. Some people with hypothyroidism develop an enlarged thyroid gland also known as goitre. Hypothyroidism is common. It affects women more frequently than men and usually at around middle-age. Hypothyroidism affects approximately 1 in 1, men and 18 in 1, women. Subclinical hypothyroidism is much more common and affects approximately 28 in 1, men and 75 in 1, women.
People who have a relative with thyroid disease either hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism are at a higher risk of developing hypothyroidism compared with the rest of the population. An estimated 20 million Americans have some form of thyroid disease. Up to 60 percent of those with thyroid disease are unaware of their condition. Women are five to eight times more likely than men to have thyroid problems. One woman in eight will develop a thyroid disorder during her lifetime.
Most thyroid cancers respond to treatment, although a small percentage can be very aggressive. The causes of thyroid problems are largely unknown. Undiagnosed thyroid disease may put patients at risk for certain serious conditions, such as cardiovascular diseases, osteoporosis and infertility.
Women with postpartum thyroiditis may feel very tired and moody. Postpartum thyroiditis typically happens in two phases, though not everyone with the condition goes through both phases: 4. Your immune system may cause postpartum thyroiditis. If you have an autoimmune disease, like type 1 diabetes , your risk is higher. Treatment for postpartum thyroiditis depends on the phase of the disease and what symptoms you have.
For example, if you get symptoms of hyperthyroidism in the first phase, your treatment may include medicines to slow down the heart rate. In most women who have postpartum thyroiditis, the thyroid returns to normal within 12 to 18 months after symptoms start. But if you have a history of postpartum thyroiditis, your risk is higher for developing permanent hypothyroidism within 5 to 10 years.
A goiter is an unusually enlarged thyroid gland. It may happen only for a short time and may go away on its own without treatment.
Or it could be a symptom of another thyroid disease that requires treatment. Usually, the only symptom of a goiter is a swelling in your neck. It may be large enough that you can see it or feel the lump with your hand. A very large goiter can also cause a tight feeling in your throat, coughing, or problems swallowing or breathing. Your doctor will do tests to see if it is caused by another thyroid disease. If you do need treatment, medicine should make the thyroid shrink back to near normal size.
You may need surgery to take out part or most of the thyroid. A thyroid nodule NAHD-yool is a swelling in one section of the thyroid gland. The nodule may be solid or filled with fluid or blood. You may have just one thyroid nodule or many. Thyroid nodules are common and affect four times as many women as men.
Most thyroid nodules do not cause symptoms and are not cancerous. Sometimes, nodules grow so big that they cause problems with swallowing or breathing. About one-third of nodules are found by the patient, another third by the doctor, and the other third through an imaging test of the neck. You can sometimes see or feel a thyroid nodule yourself. Stand in front of a mirror and raise your chin slightly. Look for a bump on either side of your windpipe below your Adam's apple.
If the bump moves up and down when you swallow, it may be a thyroid nodule. Ask your doctor to look at it. Most people with thyroid cancer have a thyroid nodule that does not cause any symptoms. If you do have symptoms, you may have swelling or a lump in your neck. The lump may cause problems swallowing. Some people get a hoarse voice. To tell if the lump or nodule is cancerous, your doctor will order certain tests. Most thyroid nodules are not cancerous. For more information about thyroid cancer, visit the National Cancer Institute's thyroid cancer page.
About three times as many women get thyroid cancer as men. The number of women with thyroid cancer is also going up. By , the number of women with thyroid cancer is expected to double, from 34, women to more than 70, women. The main treatment for thyroid cancer is surgery to take out the whole thyroid gland or as much of it as can be safely removed.
Surgery alone can cure thyroid cancer if the cancer is small and has not yet spread to lymph nodes. Your doctor may also use radioiodine therapy after surgery. Radioiodine therapy destroys any thyroid cancer cells that were not removed during surgery or that have spread to other parts of the body. Your doctor may also talk with you about other treatments for thyroid cancer. Learn more about thyroid cancer treatments at the National Cancer Institute.
It can be hard to tell if you have a thyroid disease. The symptoms are the same as many other health problems. Your doctor may start by asking about your health history and if any of your family members has had thyroid disease.
Your doctor may also give you a physical exam and check your neck for thyroid nodules. High levels of radioiodine mean that your thyroid makes too much of the thyroid hormone. Low levels mean that your thyroid does not make enough thyroid hormone.
Ultrasound may also be helpful in finding thyroid cancer, although by itself it cannot be used to diagnose thyroid cancer. Both hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism can make it harder for you to get pregnant. This is because problems with the thyroid hormone can upset the balance of the hormones that cause ovulation. Hypothyroidism can also cause your body to make more prolactin, the hormone that tells your body to make breastmilk.
Too much prolactin can prevent ovulation. Thyroid problems can also affect the menstrual cycle. Your periods may be heavier or irregular, or you may not have any periods at all for several months or longer called amenorrhea. Pregnancy-related hormones raise the level of thyroid hormones in the blood. Thyroid hormones are necessary for the baby's brain development while in the womb.
It can be harder to diagnose thyroid problems during pregnancy because of the change in hormone levels that normally happen during pregnancy. But it is especially important to check for problems before getting pregnant and during pregnancy. Uncontrolled hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism can cause problems for both mother and baby.
Hyperthyroidism that is not treated with medicine during pregnancy can cause: 4. Hypothyroidism that is not treated with medicine during pregnancy can cause: 4. For more information about thyroid diseases, call the OWH Helpline at or contact the following organizations:.
Department of Health and Human Services. ET closed on federal holidays. Breadcrumb Home A-Z health topics Thyroid disease. Thyroid disease. Thyroid disease Your thyroid produces thyroid hormone, which controls many activities in your body, including how fast you burn calories and how fast your heart beats.
What is the thyroid? How do thyroid problems affect women? Your thyroid helps control your menstrual cycle. Too much or too little thyroid hormone can make your periods very light, heavy, or irregular. Thyroid disease also can cause your periods to stop for several months or longer, a condition called amenorrhea. If your body's immune system causes thyroid disease, other glands, including your ovaries, may be involved.
This can lead to early menopause before age Problems getting pregnant. When thyroid disease affects the menstrual cycle, it also affects ovulation.
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