Hyperthyroidism can occur before or during pregnancy and, if left untreated, can cause problems such as preterm birth, high blood pressure, placental abruption, and abortion.
This disease can be detected by a blood test and its treatment is done with the use of drugs that regulate the functioning of the thyroid. After delivery, it is necessary to continue with medical follow-up, as it is common for the disease to persist throughout the woman’s life.
- Symptoms of hyperthyroidism during pregnancy can often be confused with symptoms that occur due to common hormonal changes during pregnancy.
- And there may be:.
Therefore, the main sign that something is wrong with the thyroid is the lack of weight gain, even with an increase in appetite and the amount of food consumed.
It is important that the doctor regularly monitors the woman so that tests can be done to help evaluate the overall health of the woman and baby. Thus, in this case, dosing of T3, T4 and TSH in the blood may be recommended, which, when found in high amounts, may be a sign of hyperthyroidism.
However, it is important to remember that the hormone T4 may be elevated due to high levels of beta-HCG in the blood, especially between weeks 8 and 14 of pregnancy, returning to normal after this period.
Treatment of hyperthyroidism during pregnancy is done with the use of drugs that help regulate the production of hormones by the thyroid, such as metimazole and propilracil, which should be used as directed by the doctor.
At first, higher doses are given to control hormones more quickly, and after 6 to 8 weeks of treatment, if the woman improves, the dose of the drug is reduced and may even be discontinued after 32 or 34 weeks of gestation.
It is important that treatment is done in accordance with medical advice, as otherwise high levels of thyroid hormones can lead to the development of complications for both mother and baby.
Complications of hyperthyroidism during pregnancy are related to lack of treatment or incomplete treatment of hyperthyroidism, which can lead to:
It is important to remember that in most cases, women already had symptoms of the disease before pregnancy and therefore do not notice changes in the body when they become pregnant. The main cause of hyperthyroidism is Graves’ disease, which is an autoimmune disease in which immune system cells attack the thyroid gland itself, leading to deregulation of hormone production. Learn more about Graves’ disease.
After delivery, it is necessary to continue taking the medicine to control the thyroid, but if the medicine is discontinued, new blood tests should be done to evaluate the hormones 6 weeks after delivery, as it is common for the problem to recur.
In addition, during the lactation period, it is recommended to take the medicines at the lowest possible doses, preferably immediately after lactation and in the opinion of the doctor.
It is also important to remember that children should undergo routine tests to evaluate thyroid function, as they are more likely to develop hyper or hypothyroidism.
See feeding tips for treating and preventing thyroid problems by watching the video below: