Thyroid disorders may be present before women become pregnant, or they may develop during pregnancy. Being pregnant does not change the symptoms of thyroid disorders. How the fetus is affected depends on which thyroid disorder is present and which medications are used for treatment. But generally, the following are risks:
Untreated overactive thyroid gland (hyperthyroidism): Slow or less-than-expected growth in the fetus, preeclampsia (a type of high blood pressure that occurs during pregnancy), and stillbirth
Untreated underactive thyroid gland (hypothyroidism): Impaired intellectual development in children and miscarriage
The most common causes of hypothyroidism in pregnant women are
Treatment of Graves disease
If women have or have had a thyroid disorder, they and the baby are closely monitored during and after pregnancy. Doctors regularly check them for changes in symptoms and do blood tests to measure thyroid hormone levels.
Graves disease
In Graves disease (an autoimmune disorder), abnormal antibodies stimulate the thyroid gland to produce excess thyroid hormone. These antibodies may cross the placenta and stimulate the thyroid gland in the fetus. As a result, the fetus occasionally has a rapid heart rate and does not grow as much as expected. The fetus’s thyroid gland may enlarge, forming a goiter. Rarely, the goiter is so large that it makes swallowing difficult for the fetus, causes too much fluid to accumulate in the membranes around the fetus (polyhydramnios), or causes labor to start early.
Often, Graves disease becomes less severe during the 3rd trimester, so the medication dose can be reduced or the medication can be stopped.
Radioactive iodine, used to diagnose or treat Graves disease, is not used during pregnancy because it can damage the fetus’s thyroid gland.
If thyroid storm (sudden, extreme overactivity of the thyroid gland) occurs or symptoms become severe, women may be given beta-blockers (typically used to treat high blood pressure).
If necessary, the thyroid gland of pregnant women may be removed during the 2nd trimester. Women thus treated must begin taking synthetic thyroid hormones 24 hours after surgery. For these women, taking these hormones causes no problems for the fetus.
Hypothyroidism
Hypothyroidism sometimes causes menstrual periods to stop. However, women with mild or moderate hypothyroidism often have normal menstrual periods and can become pregnant. During pregnancy, women can continue to take their usual dose of the synthetic thyroid hormone thyroxine (T4). As pregnancy progresses, the dose may need to be adjusted.
If hypothyroidism is first diagnosed during pregnancy, it is treated with thyroxine.
Hashimoto thyroiditis
Hashimoto thyroiditis is chronic inflammation of the thyroid gland caused by an autoimmune reaction—when the immune system malfunctions and attacks its own tissues. Because the immune system is suppressed during pregnancy, this disorder may become less evident. However, pregnant women sometimes develop hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism that requires treatment.
Subacute thyroiditis
Subacute thyroiditis (sudden inflammation of the thyroid gland) is common during pregnancy. The thyroid gland may enlarge, forming a goiter that is tender. The goiter usually develops during or after a respiratory infection. Hyperthyroidism may develop and cause symptoms, but it is temporary.
Subacute thyroiditis usually requires no treatment.
Postdelivery thyroid disorders
In the first 6 months after delivery, the thyroid gland may become underactive (hypothyroidism) or overactive (hyperthyroidism).
Postdelivery thyroid disorders are more common among women who have
Goiter
Close family members with hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism caused by an autoimmune reaction
Hashimoto thyroiditis
Type 1 diabetes
If women have any of the above risk factors, doctors measure levels of thyroid hormones during the 1st trimester and after delivery. Thyroid disorders that develop after delivery are usually temporary but may require treatment.
A disorder called painless thyroiditis with transient hyperthyroidism may develop suddenly in the first few weeks after delivery. It is probably caused by an autoimmune reaction. This disorder may persist, recur periodically, or steadily worsen.
