Hypothyroidism and pregnancy - prognosis and treatment

Hypothyroidism is a clinical condition that is caused by a decrease in thyroid hormone levels caused by hypothyroidism in the thyroid gland. Hypothyroidism can be primary, that is, due to pathological conditions of the thyroid gland, or secondary, manifested by a decrease in TSH hormones caused by disorders in the pituitary or hypothalamus. However, the latter option is rare, accounting for about 1% of all cases.

It should be noted that a decrease in the level of TSH hormones can cause difficulties with conception, so hypothyroidism and pregnancy are simultaneously diagnosed rarely. However, it is impossible to exclude the development of hypothyroidism during fetal gestation.

What signs should alert a pregnant woman? The clinical picture with hypothyroidism is characterized by increased weakness, fatigue, the appearance of muscle cramps, a decrease in heart rate, dry skin, hair loss. That is, the symptoms of this disease are often perceived as fatigue. A woman often does not suspect that she has hypothyroidism, and pregnancy appears as a source of emerging health problems.

Indeed, many perfectly healthy women during pregnancy note a rapid fatigue with loads. However, if the feeling of weakness becomes permanent and does not pass even after a long rest, then there is a reason to go to the endocrinologist.

Today, with the help of analyzes, it became possible to identify hypothyroidism at the earliest stage, when the clinical picture of the disease is practically absent. You can detect the disease by conducting special tests for thyroid hormones, during pregnancy such an analysis should be done at the earliest possible dates.

As already mentioned, subclinical hypothyroidism is practically not manifested, but some patients complain of drowsiness and depressed mood. With timely detection of violations, substitution therapy will be prescribed to correct subclinical hypothyroidism, and pregnancy will be preserved.

If untreated, the disease may begin to progress. It should be noted that hormonal disorders are quite dangerous, including hypothyroidism, and pregnancy, in this case, is under threat.

Lack of TSH hormones affects, primarily, the development of the fetus, especially when forming the central nervous system. If a woman is sick with hypothyroidism, the child from the earliest time will develop in conditions of a lack of thyroid hormones, which leads to the occurrence of pathologies that are irreversible.

Earlier, in women suffering from hypothyroidism, complications during labor and pathology in the development of the fetus were noted quite often. Today, thanks to early diagnostic methods and timely treatment, in almost all cases, problems can be avoided.

To treat the detected disease, administration of thyroid hormones is prescribed, as a result of which hypothyroidism can be compensated, and pregnancy will proceed without complications. At the same time, during the formation of the fetal CNS, that is, early gestation, the need for L-thyroxine increases, so the dose of its intake should be increased.

The success of treatment is constantly monitored by regular analysis of thyroid hormone levels

The drug L-thyroxine is available in the form of tablets, which are recommended for taking in the morning. But since pregnant women often suffer from toxicosis and it is in the mornings that experience nausea, it is better for them to reschedule the drug for another time. A dose of hormones is prescribed and, if necessary, adjusted by the doctor, guided by the results of the tests.