The normal course of pregnancy is due to many factors. In the process of intrauterine development of the fetus, external and internal changes occur with a woman. The body's systems work either in an enhanced or in a slow mode.
Throughout all 9 months, the thyroid gland must perform its primary functions. During this period, she has to work for two organisms. Closer to the middle of pregnancy, the baby activates its own thyroid gland, but it still cannot secrete hormones. After its birth, the body systems begin to restore their functions. Sometimes this is overactive, resulting in postpartum thyroiditis.
Features of the disease
It is believed that during pregnancy, a woman's immunity functions in slow motion. Immediately after childbirth, a surge of hormones and antibodies is observed, all systems are activated. As a result, there is an increase in the thyroid gland, which manifests itself in the form of thyroiditis. Pathology begins its development with hyperthyroidism, and ends with hypothyroidism. At a certain point, the body stops producing an increased amount of hormones, reducing themactivity.
Postpartum thyroiditis is an autoimmune disease. It is considered to be the result of excessive activity of the immune system. At risk are women with diabetes, as well as carriers of antibodies to TPO.
Thyroiditis itself is characterized by inflammation of the thyroid gland. Against the background of ongoing pathological processes, its cells begin to die. Pathology is accompanied by discomfort and even pain in the neck. The postpartum form of the disease develops after 2-3 months, as the child is born. After another six months, the hormonal background usually normalizes, and the disease disappears on its own. Sometimes it becomes chronic. In subsequent pregnancies in such women, the violation recurs.
Who is at risk?
Symptoms, causes, treatment of postpartum thyroiditis will be discussed below. First you need to determine the so-called risk group - women who have a high probability of its occurrence.
According to doctors, no one is immune from this disease. It can appear in any lady enjoying pregnancy. However, a number of indicators stand out, thanks to which it is possible to determine the group of women most prone to pathology. First of all:
- age over 35;
- presence of hereditary predisposition;
- disturbance in the work of the central nervous system;
- History of autoimmune lesions.
Symptoms are more likely to worsen with recurrent pregnancy.
Main reasons
As noted earlier, the main reason for the development of the pathological process is considered to be the suppression of the immunity of the future woman in labor. Nature did not at all accidentally conceived these changes. A decrease in the activity of the immune system during pregnancy is necessary so that it does not destroy the developing fetus. After the birth of the baby, the need for this disappears. The body's defenses return to their original state. In the case of postpartum thyroiditis, their hyperstimulation is observed, the victim of which is the thyroid gland.
Assume that a woman will have to face this disease, you can increase the antibodies in the blood to the thyroid gland. In addition, the following factors contribute to the pathological process:
- endocrine diseases of a chronic nature;
- diabetes mellitus;
- infectious and respiratory diseases transferred during pregnancy;
- physical overwork;
- malnutrition;
- unfavorable ecological situation.
Clinical picture
Symptoms of postpartum thyroiditis appear as early as 8-14 weeks after the baby is born. First, a young mother feels an unprecedented energy. Due to the increase in the level of hormones in the blood, she begins to notice interruptions in mood. Feelings of joy and satisfaction very quickly give way to anger, irritability.
At the next stage of the development of the disease, there isa sharp weight loss, while the woman does not suffer from a lack of appetite. The clinical picture is complemented by a rapid heartbeat. There may be a slight swelling in the neck area due to an increase in the size of the thyroid gland.
Then, the signs characteristic of hypothyroidism begin to appear. Drowsiness appears, the young mother loses her desire to take care of the child. Even minor loads provoke severe fatigue. Against the background of a decrease in appetite, weight continues to increase. In some cases, failures in the menstrual cycle are recorded.
Diagnostic Methods
When identifying symptoms of postpartum thyroiditis, you should seek help from an endocrinologist or gynecologist. Both of these specialists are engaged in the diagnosis of such diseases. The gynecologist evaluates the work of the female genital organs. The second doctor specializes mainly in endocrine pathologies.
Diagnosis of postpartum thyroiditis begins with a survey of the patient, the study of complaints and her anamnesis. Since this disease does not have pronounced symptoms, a woman will need to undergo a comprehensive examination to confirm the preliminary conclusion. It usually includes the following activities:
- A blood test for hormones.
- Immunogram (allows you to check the presence of antibodies to the elements of the thyroid gland).
- Ultrasound of the organ (during the study, the presence of tumors and nodes is recorded).
- Soft tissue biopsy (used to determine the malignancy of pathologicalprocess).
- Scintigraphy (analysis helps to assess the size and contours of the gland, the area affected by the disease).
After receiving the results of the examination, treatment of postpartum thyroiditis is prescribed. Today, doctors prefer to use 2 options for influencing the disease: drug and computer reflexology. Each of them will be discussed in detail below.
Basics of drug therapy
With elevated levels of thyroid hormones, thyreostatics are always prescribed initially. These drugs help to eliminate their excess. Medicines can be taken even during intensive lactation, since the active substances do not have a detrimental effect on the he alth of the newborn.
Otherwise, hormone replacement therapy is prescribed, during which only 2 medications are used to choose from: L-thyroxine or Euthyrox. With long-term treatment, the analyzes improve markedly. However, this fact does not mean at all that the body managed to cope with the disease. Good levels of hormones indicate the correct dosage of drugs, and not about the restoration of the endocrine system.
Computer reflexology
Treatment with medication improves the general condition of the sick lady, but does not help to normalize the activity of the thyroid gland. In order for hormone production to stabilize, treatment is often supplemented with computer reflexology. Its essence isto the impact of current on certain points connected with the brain center through the channels of the central nervous system. The use of drugs is not required.
Computer reflexology of postpartum thyroiditis allows you to fully restore the functioning of the gland over time. The thyroid gland after the course of treatment already produces the required amount of hormones. The young mother is recovering, and the main systems of the internal organs are beginning to work smoothly.
Duration of treatment
The duration of the prescribed therapy always depends on the effectiveness of the preventive measures taken and the severity of the disease. As a rule, this period varies from two months to six months.
At the same time, the attending physician must necessarily know whether a woman plans to again try on the role of a mother in the future. If she does not want to have more children, strict therapy is not resorted to. In this case, usually preference is given to expectant tactics under the control of narrow specialists. Within a year, the disease can resolve itself. If replenishment in the family is planned, the patient will certainly be prescribed drug therapy. During treatment, it is necessary to periodically undergo an examination, take blood tests for hormones.
Postpartum thyroiditis and breastfeeding
Many of the fair sex, having learned about their illness, begin to worry about the he alth of the baby. Is lactation permissible during the period of drug treatment of thyroiditis? Most doctors give a positive answer to this question. Modern drugs used inthyroiditis, do not contradict breastfeeding and even pregnancy. As for the pathology itself, it is not transmitted to the child with mother's milk.
Prognosis for recovery
Can postpartum thyroiditis be cured? Reviews of many women indicate that this disease can and should be fought. Properly prescribed therapy allows you to fully recover within a year. Otherwise, the disease can become chronic, which requires a longer and more complex treatment.
