1. Hyperthyroidism Slideshow Pictures
2. Take the Thyroid Disorder Quiz
3. Thyroid Symptoms and Solutions Slideshow Pictures

In this Article

• Graves' disease facts*
• What is Graves' disease?
• What are the symptoms of Graves' disease?
• Who gets Graves' disease?
• What causes Graves' disease?
• How do I find out if I have Graves' disease?
• How is Graves' disease treated?
• What could happen if Graves' disease is not treated?
• Does pregnancy affect the thyroid?
• Do I need a thyroid test if I become pregnant?
• I have Graves' disease and want to have a baby. What should I do before I try to become pregnant?
• How is Graves' disease managed during pregnancy?
• Can I breastfeed if I am taking antithyroid medicine for Graves' disease?
• For more information about Graves' disease
• Find a local Endocrinologist in your town
• Graves' Disease Index

Both men and women can get Graves' disease. But it affects women 10 times more often than men. Graves' disease occurs in people of all ages, but most often starts in the 20s and 30s. People who get Graves' disease often have family members who have thyroid or other autoimmune diseases. People who get Graves' disease sometimes have other autoimmune diseases, such as:

• Vitiligo (vit-ihl-EYE-goh) — a disease that destroys the cells that give your skin its color
  
  
• Rheumatoid arthritis — a disease that affects the lining of the joints throughout the body
  
  
• Addison's disease — a disease that affects the adrenal glands, which make hormones that help your body respond to stress and regulate your blood pressure and water and salt balance
  
  
• Type 1 diabetes — a disease that causes blood sugar levels to be too high
  
  
• Pernicious (pur-NISH-uhss) anemia — a disease that keeps your body from absorbing vitamin B12 and making enough healthy red blood cells
  
  
• Lupus — a disease that can damage many parts of the body, such as the joints, skin, blood vessels, and other organs

Many factors are thought to play a role in getting Graves' disease. These might include:

• Genes. Some people are prone to Graves' disease because of their genes. Researchers are working to find the gene or genes involved.
  
  
• Gender. Sex hormones might play a role, and might explain why Graves' disease affects more women than men.
  
  
• Stress. Severe emotional stress or trauma might trigger the onset of Graves' disease in people who are prone to getting it.
  
  
• Pregnancy. Pregnancy affects the thyroid. As many as 30 percent of young women who get Graves' disease have been pregnant in the 12 months prior to the onset of symptoms. This suggests that pregnancy might trigger Graves' disease in some women.
  
  
• Infection. Infection might play a role in the onset of Graves' disease, but no studies have shown infection to directly cause Graves' disease.