ible, designate one bathroom in your home as your own that nobody else can use after RAI therapy. Avoid using public restrooms. Washing your hands frequently. Bathing or showering daily. Washing your clothes, sheets (linens) and towels daily. Don’t share these items. Wash them separately from other people’s laundry. Avoiding preparing food for others that requires prolonged handling with your bare hands. Using your own dishware, cups and eating utensils and washing them separately from others’. Don’t share these items. Avoiding public transportation, if possible. Avoiding long automobile trips with others. Advertisement Your healthcare provider will let you know how long to follow these precautions. Most healthcare providers recommend that women avoid pregnancy for six to twelve months following treatment. Men should avoid conception for at least six months following treatment. How long do you have to stay isolated after radioactive iodine? You typically need to isolate or distance yourself from others after radioactive iodine therapy for at least three days. But it could be as long as two weeks. The length of time varies based on your dose of radioiodine and other factors. People who get RAI for thyroid cancer generally need to isolate for longer than those who get the treatment for hyperthyroidism. Your healthcare team will give you specific instructions for your situation. Don’t hesitate to ask questions. Care at Cleveland Clinic Thyroid Disorders Treatment Find a Doctor and Specialists Make an Appointment Get a Second Opinion Risks / Benefits What are the advantages of radioactive iodine therapy? Radioactive iodine is effective at destroying thyroid tissue, specifically. So, it’s a reliable form of treatment for certain thyroid conditions. How successful is radioactive iodine therapy? Radioactive iodine therapy generally has high rates of success. One study of 138 people who had RAI therapy for hyperthyroidism found that the success rate (cure rate) was 87.7% fo