Thyroid

 Risk Factor: A
 Class: HORMONES / Thyroid Agents

Contents of this page:

Fetal Risk Summary
Breast Feeding Summary
References
Questions and Answers

Fetal Risk Summary

Thyroid contains the two thyroid hormones levothyroxine (T4) and liothyronine (T3) plus other materials peculiar to the thyroid gland. It is used during pregnancy for the treatment of hypothyroidism. Neither T4 nor T3 crosses the placenta when physiologic serum concentrations are present in the mother (see Levothyroxine and Liothyronine). In one report, however, two patients, each of whom had produced two cretins in previous pregnancies, were given huge amounts of thyroid, up to 1600 mg/day or more (1). Both newborns were normal at birth even though one was found to be athyroid. The authors concluded that sufficient hormone was transported to the fetuses to prevent hypothyroidism.

Congenital defects have been reported with the use of thyroid but are thought to be caused by maternal hypothyroidism or other factors (see Levothyroxine and Liothyronine).

In a surveillance study of Michigan Medicaid recipients involving 229,101 completed pregnancies conducted between 1985 and 1992, 44 newborns had been exposed to thyroid during the 1st trimester (F. Rosa, personal communication, FDA, 1993). One (2.3%) major birth defect (two expected), a cardiovascular defect (0.5 expected), was observed.

Combination therapy with thyroid-antithyroid drugs was advocated at one time for the treatment of hyperthyroidism but is now considered inappropriate (see Propylthiouracil).

Breast Feeding Summary

See Levothyroxine and Liothyronine.

References

1. Carr EA Jr, Beierwaltes WH, Raman G, Dodson VN, Tanton J, Betts JS, Stambaugh RA. The effect of maternal thyroid function on fetal thyroid function and development. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 1959;19:118.
   
   

Index

Questions and Answers

Can a women with thyroid problem become pregnant in time she wants to?

I was diagnosed to have a thyroid problem does it affect my conceiving in case I plan to get pregnant?I'm I already infertile?
I'm also constipated does it have any relation to my thyroid problem?
thank you.

- first you must know that thyroid gland produce hormone named " thyroxine " this hormone affect nearly all body systems so elevation of this hormone at your body will affect many system
- the most serious effect is when the heart is affected " you feel palpitation , rapid pulse , some time shorting of breathing " as the hormone increase the power and rate of cardiac contraction which will make u expeince easy fatigability after minor efforts
- cardiac affection is danger during pregnancy " as your heart have overwork to supply the blood to ur baby"
- SO ,, u must control ur thyroid hormone level before pregnancy and remaining following up ur thyroid hormone level + ur cardiac function at doctor clinic to have safe pregnancy
- thyroid hormone is easy to control medicaly BUT u must keep follow up at doctor clinic
- lastely .. thyroid hormone effect on Gastrointestinal Tract directly produce mainly diarrhoae ,,, but constipation may occur due to increasing your appetite " u eat too much food " which is the effect of the hormone at the brain " it also treatable by medication

-- LASTELY HAVE NICE BABY BUT DON'T FORGET PRENATAL FOLLOW UP

Anyone had difficulty getting pregnant after thyroid cancer?

I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer about 3 years ago and did the surgery and radiation therapy afterwards. My thyroglobin levels are still undetectable. I have four daughters and would like to get pregnant again. We have been TTC on and off for the past year (husband was out of the country for part of it). With my daughters all I had to do was think about getting pregnant and it would basically happen...this time it's just not working. My TSH levels are very supressed (.001) and I'm wondering if this is my problem. Any advice?

I got pregnant pretty easily after thyroid cancer. First child conceived in 3 months, second child conceived on the first attempt.

Usually endos want to keep TSH suppressed to 0.1. Your TSH is really suppressed. I conceived both of my kids with a TSH of 0.1 and Free T4 at 1.8.

Thyroid cancer totally changed my menstrual cycle. I used to have a 31 day cycle with ovulation occurring on Cycle Day 17. Now my cycles are 38 days and I ovulate on Cycle day 24. Since ovulation is delayed by 1 week, I had to adjust my "baby dancing" by 1 week to increase odds of conception.

I used fertilityfriend.com to chart my cycles along with ovulation predictor kits and a basal body temperature thermometer. If you haven't charted, I would highly recommend it. If you don't know how, you should read "Taking Charge of Your Fertility" by Toni Weschler.

First step is confirming that you are in fact ovulating. Next step is to try to predict when you're going to ovulate so you can time it properly.

Good luck.

mari

is it possible to get pregnant with an overactive thyroid?

has anyone ever got pregnant while having an overactive thyroid... a few years ago a dr said i had a overactive thyroid is it possibe to go away or is only medication meke that possible?

I have underactive thyroid like the previous person and am currently pregnant, but due to the many complications that having an overactive or underactive thyroid causes, it is best to have that body system regulated before attempting to conceive. It does impact your fertility along with many other systems. In fact, many women cannot get pregnant until that organ is regulated.

Having an overactive thyroid can be dangerous to other parts of your system such as your heart and liver, so I would hope that if you have been diagnosed with such a condition that you have been monitored and treated by a doctor.

I had a baby 3 years ago. As part of the routine of being pregnant, does your thyroid get checked?

I believe I have a hypo thyroid, but wouldn't that have been picked up on while I was pregnant, with all the routine blood test?

Its been 3 years...so much can change! Even if they did test for it its possible you have it now and didnt then. If you think thats your problem, see a DR.

Should a person on thyroid medication get pregnant?

I was under the impression that someone with hypothyroidism and currently on thyroid medication for it should not get pregnant or nurse a baby. Am I wrong? One friend of mine told me she'd never had a second child because of the thyroid medication and another person recently told me she IS pregnant, although she's also on thyroid medication (they're both on the same medication).

Oh you are definitely under the wrong impression. Many women get pregnant and nurse while on thyroid meds. :) It's healthier besides if you are pregnant. And the post that said it's dangerous to be hypo and not on meds---I was pregnant twice while hypo and didn't know I was hypo, and was on no meds. And both of those are very smart kids! i.e. it didn't hurt them.

The attempt of using thyroid meds is to give back to your body what your thyroid is not. That is healthy!! And the best thyroid medication while pregnant is desiccated thyroid, not T4 meds like Synthroid or Levoxyl.

How can i get pregnant with thyroid disease?

Ok, here's the scoop... i was born without a thyroid gland and i heard that people in my case known as hypothyroidism, cannot conceive regularly, have a hard time, don't ovulate, not fertile, yada yada.... I'm trying to conceive, trying to time my ovulation times, and nothing... please help!!!!!

I'm going to tell you straight up and no joke-- YES you can get pregnant. it may be difficult but you can!!!

Reason: my girlfriend has had thyroid problems. In 2004 she was pregnant at the time they diagnosed her with thyroid cancer.. let me tell you-- 9 healthy months and 5 sergeries later she's walking talking tall and has one beautiful baby boy!

dont give up hope-- god's on your side sometimes.. i'm just telling you its possible and when its right it'll happen. Keep hope up and if need be there is always incemination.. pricy but I know a firend of mine who had twins. good luck and god bless!

How can I get pregnant faster with thyroid disease?

I have hypothyroidism and have not ovulated since December, my doctor has me on medication and says "over time and frequent blood tests and dosage uping you should be on track". But my husband and I are becoming impatient. I am still not ovulating and my next appointment is in a week. This will be the third uping of my medicine and I will not be able to find out if I even need to go higher until 2 months from then, at my next scheduled blood test. Is there something I can do or ask the doc to do to make this process a little more speedy. We were pregnant a year and a half ago and miscarried. We have been trying this whole time, which I know doesn't seem like long but it feels like an eternity. Any suggestions?

i dont know more about it but my friend is doctor and he tolf me that thyriod glands nervers are attached with girls egg gland due to which sperm circulates more faster than generally it do

How do they check your thyroid while pregnant? & does having thyroid problems make you gain weight?

Thyroid problems can either make you gain or lose wait depending on the problem whether it is hypo or hyperthyroid issues. A blood test is used to check it.

Is it hard to get pregnant if you have thyroid problem?

I went to the doctor's today and they drew blood, they are checking for pregnancy and to see if I have a thyroid problem that is causeing my irregular periods. and My husband and I are trying to get pregnant so I was curious on what my chances would be of getting pregnant if i were to have a thyroid problem.

I have something called hypopituitarism and my doc told me I would need medical help to get pregnant. here I am 4 mos pregnant because I had sex with my fiance. Its not up to the docs sometimes. Sometimes you have to have faith and leave it upto God. God will bless you in his own time. God Bless, Good Luck