Can I Get Pregnant with Hypothyroidism?

Having a baby is life changing. Quite a lot of thought goes into the whole process be it the planning or the birthing. There may be many challenges that you can face while trying to conceive. One of the most common obstacles is a health condition known as hypothyroidism. One in ten women have some form of hypothyroidism before or during pregnancy, but many of them don’t realise this.

To put your fears at ease, we will discuss in detail about the know-how of hypothyroidism and getting pregnant with this condition.

What is Hypothyroidism?

Firstly, let us understand what exactly the condition is. All humans have a thyroid gland located under their voice box, near the neck. This gland produces a hormone known as thyroid hormone which regulates metabolism in the body.

Sometimes the thyroid gland does not function correctly and as a result, will produce a low amount of thyroid hormone. Such a condition is known as hypothyroidism. Alternatively, hyperthyroidism can occur when the thyroid gland produces thyroid hormones in excess. It is safe to say that the thyroid gland is vital for major functions in your body to carry on seamlessly.

Causes of Hypothyroidism?

The number one culprit when it comes to hypothyroidism is almost always the thyroid gland not functioning properly. However, few other causes may also be at play:

1. Iodine is an essential mineral which keeps the thyroid gland in check to produce the right quantity of thyroid hormones. When there is too less iodine in the body, hypothyroidism can occur. Vice versa, too much iodine can also cause the same.

2. If the thyroid gland gets infected or inflamed (thyroiditis), it can leak its hormones into the bloodstream. This causes hyperthyroidism, which can turn into hypothyroidism after a few months.

3. When you are too stressed, your adrenal glands get activated and in turn, produce a hormone called cortisol in excess. Cortisol interferes with the normal production of the thyroid hormone and may be a cause of hypothyroidism.

4. Exposure to heavy metals like mercury can also trigger hypothyroidism.

5. Hashimoto’s Disease is an autoimmune disease which inflames the thyroid gland and affects thyroid hormone production. It is one of the more common causes of hypothyroidism.

6. Full or part surgical removal of the thyroid gland during treatment of diseases like goitre, thyroid cancer etc., can affect the functioning of the thyroid gland and cause hypothyroidism.

How Does It Affect Conception and Pregnancy?

If you have an abnormally low (or high) level of thyroid hormone in your body, it can cause fluctuations in your menstrual cycle. This will also affect your ability to ovulate which makes it difficult to get pregnant or in worse cases, may result in infertility.  On the other hand, if you are considering pregnancy with hypothyroidism, do remember that miscarriage is a risk, or your child may be born with congenital disabilities.

We know it sounds daunting, but don’t worry, there are many ways to treat the condition and have a baby as normally as possible! We will tell you how. If you are thinking of having a baby, first things first, you have to schedule a thyroid function test.

When Do I Go for a Thyroid Function Test?

Your doctor will advise you to undergo a few tests before you start trying to get pregnant. Here are the two times when you can consider going for a thyroid function test:

1. Thyroid Profile Test before Trying to Conceive

You should go to your doctor, when:

• Your family has a history of thyroid disorders
• You’ve been trying to get pregnant for six months, but still are unsuccessful
• You experience symptoms like joint pain, muscle pain, hair loss, constipation, fatigue and lethargy, decreased libido, reduced heart rate and development of a goitre
• You are intolerant to cold
• Your menstrual cycles are irregular, and you experience severe period pain
• You have already had more than two miscarriages
• You gain weight rapidly and find it hard to shed the extra kilos even with exercise and a healthy diet

The doctor will take your blood test to determine the levels of two thyroid hormones – thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) and thyroxine (T4) in your body. If your T4 levels are low and TSH levels are high, then you might have hypothyroidism. If the vice-versa occurs, then that might mean irregular or no ovulation.

2. Thyroid Profile Test after Conceiving

You should take the thyroid function test during the initial stages of your pregnancy, if:

• If you have any of the above symptoms
• Your family has a history of thyroid disease
• You have an autoimmune disease like type 1 diabetes or lupus
• If you have had radiation to any part of your neck
• If you are above 30 years old (as the chance to get hypothyroidism increases with age)

How can Hypothyroidism affect the Mother and the Baby?

If you have hypothyroidism during pregnancy and you fail to get it treated, then complications like preeclampsia (rapid rise in blood pressure in later stages of pregnancy), miscarriage, premature birth, heart failure, anaemia and post-birth depression can all occur.

Likewise, your baby could be born with damages to his brain and nervous system, along with problems like low birth weight, premature birth, thyroid conditions, mental retardation and sometimes, stillbirth.

Measures to take before Conception?

If you have hypothyroidism, you need to receive immediate medical treatment to control it before you conceive. The reason is that your unborn baby’s thyroid gland will start to function only after the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. Till then, the baby will depend on you for thyroid hormone. So it is essential to have your thyroid functioning properly and thyroid hormone levels stable before attempting to conceive.

The most common treatment for hypothyroidism is in the form of a pill which your doctor will prescribe. The tablet contains synthetic thyroxine (identical to T4 produced by the thyroid gland) and is meant to substitute its deficiency in your body. Your doctor will advise you how often to take it and check your thyroid hormone levels every four weeks during the first three months, gradually adjusting the dosage till your thyroid function is back to normal again.

The treatment is completely safe, has minimal side-effects and you can try getting pregnant as soon as you are free of the condition! However, if your thyroid hormone levels remain low, plan a visit to a specialist.

What is Subclinical Hypothyroidism?

This is a mild form of hypothyroidism which may go unnoticed due to its apparent lack of symptoms. A TSH test can detect it, but in case it is found during pregnancy, undergoing hypothyroidism treatment is still the best option. Always better to be safe than sorry.

Measures to Take During Pregnancy

If you get pregnant while you are still being treated for hypothyroidism, go to your doctor immediately. He will take the following measures:

• Increasing the dosage of the pill (synthetic thyroxine) as you will be already under treatment
• Regular checks of thyroid function every six to eight weeks during the pregnancy
• Monitoring levels of the thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) as well, to maintain steady hormone levels in the blood. Your doctor may also adjust medication according to these levels during each check.

Here’s what you can do on your part:

• Don’t be alarmed if your doctor increases medication up to 50% in the dosage of the pill. During pregnancy, your body needs double the amount of thyroid hormone as you are providing it to your unborn baby as well.

• Never switch suddenly from a generic medicine to a brand or vice versa during your pregnancy. Stick to what you had been taking before getting pregnant and continue it till your doctor says otherwise.

• Make sure to take the exact dose prescribed by your doctor – not more, not less. Each little action you take may have a huge consequence on your baby, so keep that in mind.

• Lastly, don’t worry. The medication is entirely safe, and both mother and child will not be harmed.

The bright side of hypothyroidism before and during pregnancy is that it can easily be treated just as long as you don’t waste any time to consult your doctor and follow his instructions to the T.

If you do, then there is absolutely no reason that you won’t deliver a healthy, happy baby and look forward to a lifetime of happiness!