It has been well documented (I will be happy to pull references if you
would like) that 10% of women develop post-partum thyroiditis...I had a run
of 3 in 2 months last spring! The time period seems to be within the first
year postpartum. People have advocated for prenatal (or hopefully
prepregnancy, such as at a well-woman visit) thyroid screening, and then to
repeat thyroid testing at 6 weeks postpartum. Definitely family history of
thyroid disease is an important reason to screen women.  Since I do alot of
well-women care and see alot of lactating women, I am constantly doing
thyroid tests, and I would say that I diagnose about 1-2 patients per week
with thyroid disease. Thyroid disease is the number 1 hormonal problem
women develop.
    Since you may be reading this, ...want to hear my created evolutionary
explanation for this prevalence of thyroid disease?  Our bodies are not
much different than cave-woman times. By the age of 30+, cave women no
longer bore children, and thyroid degeneration is a natural way to die. I
especially believe this because hypothyroidisn during the peri-menopausal
period is incredibly common! This is not a proven theory.

                                        Anne Eglash, MD