“It is also advisable to have your thyroid levels checked again within 6 weeks of becoming pregnant if you or a close family member have a pre-existing thyroid condition or any other autoimmune illness. The best plan, however, is to know your thyroid hormone levels before you get pregnant. Even if the condition is discovered during pregnancy, once treatment begins and the hormone levels are normalized (ideally in the first trimester) the chances of fetal disease or defect are very low. The good news is hypothyroidism can be treated with a thyroid hormone prescription. In addition, untreated hypothyroidism in the mother can adversely affect fetal brain development with some studies showing that even mild hypothyroidism during pregnancy can lead to developmental brain abnormalities in the fetus. In women who do become pregnant, low thyroid hormones can increase the chance of miscarriage, stillbirth, preterm delivery and postpartum hemorrhage. Untreated, hypothyroidism can interrupt or prevent ovulation, making it difficult to conceive. In some women, postpartum hypothyroidism will resolve on its own while for others the condition will be permanent. It may also develop postpartum, typically 2 to 4 months after giving birth.
It is often caused by Hashimoto’s disease (an autoimmune disease), but can also occur after surgical removal of the thyroid or radiation exposure to the thyroid. This is a condition in which the thyroid gland does not produce enough thyroid hormones. Let’s take a closer look at the two most common thyroid disorders and how they affect women. Abnormally high or low levels of thyroid hormones can have significant, even life-changing effects, particularly on women of childbearing age – largely because thyroid levels in the mother can greatly affect both her ability to conceive and the development of her unborn baby. Thyroid hormones play an essential role in regulating a woman’s reproductive system. And hormonal imbalances due to thyroid disorders can have serious reproductive consequences for women. It is estimated that one in eight women will suffer from thyroid problems at some point during her life. Monitoring thyroid function is important for both genders however, thyroid issues are far more common in women than men.
It does this by releasing a steady amount of thyroid hormones into the bloodstream.
Located in the neck just above the collarbone, the hormones released by this butterfly-shaped endocrine gland play a crucial role in regulating many body functions, including energy levels, heart rate, growth, onset of puberty, metabolism and mood. The thyroid is a tiny gland with a big job.
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