- If you are hypothyroid and planning to get pregnant it is important to consult your physician since it may be necessary to adjust your thyroid medication during and after pregnancy. Pregnancy affects many different hormone levels and bodily functions and, according to www.endocrineweb.com, pregnant women with a previously underactive thyroid may have to increase their dosage of medication. Hypothyroid pregnant women should have their thyroid levels checked every few months during and immediately after pregnancy to determine medication dosage.
- Pregnancy may mask symptoms of hypothyroidism that according to www.endocrineweb.com may develop during pregnancy. Fatigue, lack of motivation and weight gain are both indicators of an underactive thyroid and symptoms of pregnancy. Because the symptoms are similar, hypothyroidism in pregnant women may be overlooked. Diagnosis is made with a simple blood test and pregnant women may be treated in the same manner as the general population, according to the American Thyroid Association.
- The medical community, including the American Thyroid Association, recommend against getting pregnant if you are hyperthyroid since the combined stress of an overactive thyroid and pregnancy can increase the risk of miscarriage and birth defects and overstress the heart. If you are diagnosed as hyperthyroid prior to getting pregnant the endocrineweb.com recommends treating the disease with I-131 radioactive iodine treatment or surgery, both of which reduce the size of the thyroid. Following the treatment a daily thyroid hormone replacement pill will likely be prescribed, but be aware that you should have your thyroid levels tested throughout your pregnancy since they may change during this time and your medication may need to adjustment.
- Similar to the development of hypothyroidism during pregnancy, the development of hyperthyroidism is often overlooked. Insomnia, nausea or an increased appetite are symptoms of hyperthyroidism and pregnancy. However, it is of paramount importance to get the thyroid under control during pregnancy, since the risk of miscarriage and birth defects rise for women with overactive thyroids during pregnancy, according to endocrineweb.com. Controlling hyperthyroidism in pregnant women is a bit dicey, but propylthiouracil (PTU) is considered the safest antithyroid drug, according to the American Thyroid Association. Patients should be monitored closely because the medication may also affect the thyroid in the fetus. If the thyroid cannot be controlled, surgery (even during pregnancy) may be recommended in severe cases.
- According to endocrineweb.com, one in every 20 women experiences a thyroid problem, referred to as postpartum thyroiditis, within a few months of giving birth. This condition should resolve itself within four months, however, if it is present, a new mother may experience bouts of hyper- and hypothyroidism. With this condition the gland may become inflamed and, in turn, leak large amounts of thyroid hormones, creating a hyperthyroid condition. As the gland heals it may fail to produce enough thyroid hormone, resulting in temporary hypothyroidism. In general, treatment is not required for this condition unless hypothyroidism persists.
