A damaging autoimmune condition known as postpartum thyroiditis (PPT) affects women without even a background of thyroid illness before becoming pregnant and develops during the first 12 months of giving birth.

PPT is an autoimmune condition linked to thyroid peroxidase antibodies (TPO).

postpartum thyroiditis may occur after abortion. As a result of the pregnancy's immunosuppressive state, the level of anti - TPO antibodies naturally declines during pregnancy. An 80% likelihood of PPT exists for women who continue to be anti - TPO antibody positive during the third trimester of pregnancy.

Temporary or persistent thyroid illness may result from PPT. The following three phases of PPT have been proposed:1)Temporary hyperthyroidism 2) Temporary hypothyroidism, and 3) Temporary hyperthyroidism followed by hypothyroidism and eventually recovery a traditional type of PPT.

Endocrine Society clinical recommendations advise screening risky women for postpartum thyroiditis like those with a positive anti - TPO antibody test, a history of PPT, or type 1 DM. Serum TSH levels for risky women should be checked at 3 and 6 months after giving birth