Is treatment the same during pregnancy?

Pregnant women may require different doses of thyroid hormone and more frequent monitoring. Hypothyroidism can be particularly harmful during pregnancy because it can harm the developing fetus.

How common are the symptoms of hypothyroidism?

In many cases, it can take months or years for low levels of thyroid hormones to produce noticeable symptoms. However, hypothyroidism does affect most of the body's major systems (even when symptoms are not present).

The many possible symptoms include fatigue, weakness, unexplained weight gain, lack of appetite, thinning hair, brittle nails, constipation, joint or muscle pain, puffiness or swelling, memory loss, depression, feeling cold, hoarseness, hypersensitivity of the eyes to light, low sex drive, heavy menstrual flow, longer or more frequent periods and severe menstrual cramps.

What is a thyroid test, and how is it used?

The most common thyroid test is blood testing to measure the levels of several hormones produced by the thyroid gland and one produced by the pituitary gland (thyroid-stimulating hormone, or TSH). The blood sample is sent to a clinical laboratory for analysis. There are also thyroid imaging tests such as a thyroid scan or ultrasound. Thyroid tests are used to diagnose thyroid conditions and to monitor the disorders and their treatment.

How long do most people need to be treated for hypothyroidism?