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How often should I be
tested for thyroid disease?

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Experts recommend that adults be screened for thyroid disease beginning at age 35 and every 5 years thereafter.1

In addition, certain individuals are at higher risk of hypothyroidism and they should talk to their doctor about a TSH blood test. Talk to your doctor about your thyroid, if you have:

  • An autoimmune disease such as pernicious anemia (low red blood cells) and type 1 diabetes2
  • A parent or sibling with an autoimmune thyroid disease3
  • Radiation to treat cancer of the head or neck3
  • Thyroid surgery or a problem with your thyroid (called dysfunction)3
  • During and after pregnancy3
  • A mental health problem (for example, depression)1
  • If you are taking amiodarone4 or lithium3

A TSH blood test will reveal whether or not you have normal TSH levels.

References:

1. Villar HC, Saconato H, Valente O, Atallah AN. Thyroid hormone replacement for subclinical hypothyroidism. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2007;(3):CD003419. 2. Franco JS, Amaya-Amaya J, Anaya JM. Thyroid disease and autoimmune diseases. In: Anaya JM, Shoenfeld Y, Rojas-Villarraga A, Levy RA, Cervera R, eds. Autoimmunity: From Bench to Bedside. National Library of Medicine; 2013:chap 30. 3. Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid). Mayo Clinic. Accessed May 25, 2023. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hypothyroidism/symptoms-causes/syc-20350284 4. Deshauer S, Wyne A. Subclinical hypothyroidism in pregnancy. CMAJ. 2017;189(28):E941.