What do I do if my thyroid levels are too high during pregnancy? | Thyroid gland values during pregnancy

What do I do if my thyroid levels are too high during pregnancy?

The first question is which thyroid gland values are too high. If the control hormone TSH is increased, there is usually an underfunction and if the thyroid hormones (T3 and T4 or thyroxine) are increased, there is usually an overfunction. Depending on the functional state, there are various options for treatment if the doctor deems it necessary.

In the case of hypofunction, i.e. when the TSH is too high, treatment is with thyroid hormones, which are taken as tablets daily. This can prevent developmental disorders in the child. In contrast, an increase in thyroid hormones (T3 and T4) occurs naturally in many pregnant women in the first few months.

There is an increased need and the thyroid gland is therefore stimulated to produce more hormones. In most cases, no treatment is necessary and the values usually normalize by themselves during pregnancy. Occasionally, however, Graves’ disease also occurs during pregnancy.

In addition to an increase in thyroid hormones and the symptoms of hyperactivity such as trembling, restlessness and increased sweating, the eyes may also become prominent. If Graves’ disease is diagnosed by special blood tests, treatment must also be carried out immediately during pregnancy. For this purpose, special drugs are used which inhibit the thyroid gland function.

These are usually either propylthiouracil or thiamazole. The dosage is chosen as low as possible to reduce negative effects on the child. These cannot be ruled out but the benefits of treatment outweigh the side effects.

What do I do if my thyroid levels are too low during pregnancy?

If thyroid gland values are too low during pregnancy, two fundamentally different disorders are possible, depending on which values are lowered. Too low a TSH indicates an overactive thyroid gland. It is important to note, however, that especially in the first three months of pregnancy there is naturally an increased hormone production and thus a decrease in TSH.

Therefore, depending on the phase of pregnancy, very low values of up to 0.1 and 0.3 may be normal, although under other circumstances this would indicate conspicuous hyperfunction. Nevertheless, further monitoring of the values should then be carried out during the course of the pregnancy. If the TSH is even lower, further diagnostics should be performed.

In addition, further special thyroid gland values (antibodies) are determined, since a possible cause may be Graves’ disease. As a rule, if TSH values are too low due to hyperthyroidism, tablets are prescribed which reduce the thyroid’s hormone production. Although these can potentially have a negative effect on the baby, they should be taken because failure to treat them would be much more dangerous for the development of the child.

The doctor will also choose a dosage that is as low as necessary. If, on the other hand, the thyroid hormones T3 and T4 are too low in abnormal thyroid levels, there is an underactive thyroid, which requires a different diagnosis and therapy. Often, a special thyroid disease called Hashimoto is also present.

This can also be detected or excluded by the determination of antibodies typical for the disease. The hypofunction during pregnancy should definitely be treated by administering thyroid hormone tablets. Otherwise, there is a risk of serious consequences for the child, such as mental or physical developmental disorders. The risk of miscarriage is also increased if the hypothyroidism is not treated.