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Mercy internist Dr. Dana Simpler

Mercy internist Dr. Dana Simpler discusses some of the key health tests and screenings "every mom should have" in this article by writer Hallie Levine for Parenting.com.

To read the story in its entirety, click this link: http://www.parenting.com/article/9-Health-Tests-Every-Mom-Should-Have

9 Health Tests Every Mom Should Have

You worry about everyone else — but have you had what you need?
By Hallie Levine

Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) Test

What it is: A blood test that screens for an underactive (hypothyroid) and an overactive (hyperthyroid) thyroid

What it measures: Whether your thyroid hormone levels are normal

Why you need it: "Pregnancy and the postpartum period tend to bring on these conditions," says Dana Simpler, M.D., an internist at Mercy Medical Center, in Baltimore. Still, mild forms of thyroid disease may affect from 5 to 10 percent of all women. It gets worse: More than half of all these cases may remain undiagnosed. Feeling tired, being forgetful, and gaining weight -- classic symptoms of being a new mom -- are all signs of hypothyroidism. The opposite condition, hyperthyroidism, usually shows itself with a racing heart, trouble sleeping, or weight loss, which might be dismissed as anxiety or stress. If you're trying to have another baby, this is a crucial test, since a thyroid disorder can stop you from ovulating and increase your risk of miscarriage or premature delivery. If you're diagnosed with hypothyroidism, you'll be put on a synthetic hormone supplement for life; hyperthyroidism is usually treated with radioactive iodine to reduce thyroid hormone production.

How often should you have it? Once a year.