If you are suspecting a thyroid disorder, you have nothing to lose (but everything to gain) by including thyroid antibodies in your lab work. This is especially true if you do test positive for thyroid antibodies.

Here are 2 other scenarios when testing thyroid antibodies should be considered:

1. Pregnancy

After a pregnancy – to be specific. Growing a human for 9 months means dramatic changes in hormones. Another big shift in hormones (including thyroid hormones) occurs after pregnancy. It is possible for females to develop a thyroid disorder after pregnancy.

I have also seen an increase in thyroid antibodies after pregnancy compared to before the pregnancy. The developing baby can stimulate the development of thyroid antibodies because the immune system (that influences antibody function) identifies the baby as “foreign”.

2. Family History

Thyroid disorders tend to affect more females than males. While hypothyroidism is more common than hyperthyroidism in North America, Hashimoto’s disease is the most common form of autoimmune thyroid disorder. If there is a pattern of females having Hashimoto’s disease in your family, it may be worth monitoring your thyroid antibodies closely.