Causes
Autoimmune disease: When the immune system produces antibodies that assault healthy tissues, autoimmune disorders develop. This process can sometimes include the thyroid gland and impair its ability to produce hormones.
Thyroid surgery: Surgery to remove all or part of the thyroid gland can lower the gland’s ability to make thyroid hormones or stop it completely.
Problems present at birth: Some babies are born with a thyroid gland that does not function properly.
Pituitary disorder: The failure of the pituitary gland to produce adequate thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) is a very uncommon cause of hypothyroidism. This is usually caused by a noncancerous pituitary tumour.
Not enough iodine: To produce thyroid hormones, the thyroid gland requires the mineral iodine. Seafood, seaweed, plants growing in iodine-rich s oil, and iodized salt are the main sources of iodine.