Hyperthyroidism
- means too much thyroid hormone
- affects 2.5 million people in the United States
- affects 2% of all women in the United States
- affects women 5 to 10 times more than men
- can cause infertility and miscarriage
Graves’ disease
- is the leading cause of hyperthyroidism
- is an autoimmune disease*
Hypothyroidism
- means too little thyroid hormone
- affects 5 million Americans
- affects women 10 times more than men
- affects 1 out of every 4,000 infants born
- can cause infertility and miscarriage
Hashimoto’s thyroiditis
- is the leading cause of hypothyroidism
- affects 1 out of 5 women over the age of 75
- is an autoimmune disease*
- is associated with a higher rate of miscarriage
Postpartum thyroiditis
- occurs in 5% – 9% of women after giving birth
- is usually temporary but can recur with future pregnancies
Thyroid nodules
- affect 4% – 7% of the population
- are benign 90% of the time
- are less likely to be cancerous in women
*Autoimmune diseases run in families and are 5 times more common in women than men.