Postpartum depression Thyroid disorders are often a cause

Depressed mood after birth? Cause can be a thyroid disorder

For many mothers there are strong mood swings after giving birth. The so-called "baby blues" can develop into a serious postpartum depression, also called postnatal depression. However, the depressive moods and irritability after birth can also have another cause.

If necessary, have thyroid checked

Although depressive moods or irritability after birth may be signs of postpartum depression. However, it may also be caused by a disturbance of thyroid function, the so-called post-partum Hashimoto's thyroiditis. The German Society of Endocrinology (DGE) therefore advises women who have had their thyroid gland checked for these new symptoms up to one year after delivery. This is especially true for women who have had abnormalities of their thyroid before pregnancy. The disease can be treated well.

Depressed mood or postpartum irritability may be a sign of postpartum depression, but the cause may be a disorder of thyroid function. (Image: highwaystarz / fotolia.com)

Symptoms are often misinterpreted

As the DGE writes in a communication, about seven percent of all women after delivery contract an autoimmune dysfunction of their thyroid gland.

"It often takes a long time to make the diagnosis. Symptoms such as persistent fatigue, irritability or insomnia are often associated with the new stress situation and misinterpreted as "baby blues", explains Privatdozent Dr. med. med. Joachim Feldkamp, ​​Chief Physician of the Department of General Internal Medicine, Endocrinology, Diabetology and Infectious Diseases at the Klinikum Bielefeld.

In addition, the disease often remains undetected for a long time, as it causes no pain.

Disease often occurs in different phases

According to the experts, a post-partum Hashimoto's thyroiditis develops for reasons not yet fully understood within a period of about six to 52 weeks after delivery.

"Particularly at risk are women who have been detected before or during pregnancy elevated thyroid antibodies - so-called TPO antibodies - so women with a tendency to Hashimoto or Graves disease and diabetics," said the endocrinologist.

"Young mothers with thyroid disease in the family are at particular risk."

The disease often occurs in different phases. It initially comes to a hyperthyroidism with nervousness, accelerated heart rate and increased sweating. This is often followed by a phase of hypothyroidism in which women suffer from listlessness, listlessness, inexplicable tear bursts or fears.

"A blood test clarifies whether thyroiditis is present. Effective drugs are available for every phase, so that patients usually get better quickly, "explains Feldkamp.

In one part of the affected women, the illness returns after one year by itself.

Serious effects on the health of mother and child

"Young mothers with symptoms of postpartum depression should always be examined for disturbance of their thyroid function," advises Professor. med. Sven Diederich, medical director Medicover Germany and vice president of the DGE from Berlin.

"Unfortunately, the susceptibility of the thyroid to pregnancy is often underestimated, especially in high-risk patients, and the function of the organ in this particular phase of life is not routinely checked - this must change," says Diederich.

"Pregnancy places extreme demands on the thyroid gland, both in terms of iodine metabolism and hormone production." Deviations can have a serious impact on the health of both mother and baby. (Ad)