Thyroid Hormones: Pregnancy and Fetal Development

In 1888 the Clinical Society of London issued a report underlining the importance of normal thyroid function on development of the brain. Since that time, numerous studies with rats, sheep and humans have reinforced this concept, usually by study of the effects of fetal and/or maternal thyroid deficiency. Thyroid hormones appear to have their most profound effects on the terminal stages of brain differentiation, including synaptogenesis, growth of dendrites and axons, myelination and neuronal migration.

• Levothyroxine is excreted into breast milk, but levels are too low to alter thyroid function in the infant or to interfere with neonatal thyroid screening programs.
• This latter can be a consequence of the use of iodinated contrast media and iodinated skin disinfectants.
• In some cases, the doctor may order a thyroid scan to see if the thyroid gland is missing or too small.
• By weeks of gestation, the fetal thyroid gland develops and produces the thyroid hormone.

Discussing Synthroid Use with Your Healthcare Provider

Because of these concerns, it is extremely important to let your physician know if you have Graves’ disease or a history of Graves’ disease to ensure both you and your baby are followed more closely. However, the majority of pregnant women tolerate Synthroid well, with minimal side effects. Any potential side effects that do arise are generally mild and can be easily managed with dose adjustments or monitoring by a healthcare professional. When it comes to pregnancy, there are many factors that need to be taken into consideration for the well-being of both the mother and the baby.

MeSH terms

Mothers must be educated and made aware of the importance of thyroid hormones and their functioning for their infant’s proper growth and development. Regularly checking for normal levels of hormones in hydrocodone synthroid the blood should be encouraged, especially during the early phase of pregnancy. Monitoring and regulating the doses of prescribed medicines and maintaining normal functioning must be enabled. Thyroid hormone is essential for normal fetal brain development in utero and for the first 2 years of life.

Studies have shown that maintaining adequate thyroid hormone levels during pregnancy can reduce the risk of adverse birth outcomes and improve neurodevelopmental outcomes for the child. Current recommendations are to verbally screen all women at the initial prenatal visit for any history of thyroid dysfunction or thyroid hormone medication. Laboratory screening of thyroid functions and/or thyroid antibodies should be considered for women at high risk of hypothyroidism.

The Benefits of Taking Synthroid During Pregnancy

Women with hyperthyroidism can increase their chances for a healthy pregnancy by getting early prenatal care and working with their healthcare providers in the management of their disease. The present study was based on the Peking University Retrospective Birth Cohort in Tongzhou, Beijing, which is an iodine-sufficient region in China 18. The information of pregnant women was extracted from the electronic medical information system. Pregnant women whose last menstrual period was between May 2016 and April 2019 were included in the study. The possible relationship between maternal thyroid dysfunction and GDM was hypothesized in the role of thyroid dysfunction in increasing insulin-resistance, although results seem to be rather conflicting (17).

Transient hyperthyrotropinemia

When there is a positive result (a low level of thyroid hormone with a high level of thyroid-stimulating hormone, called TSH, from the pituitary), the screening program immediately notifies the baby’s doctor, usually before the baby is 2 weeks old. Before starting treatment, your baby’s doctor will order a blood sample from a vein to confirm the diagnosis of congenital hypothyroidism. In some cases, the doctor may order a thyroid scan to see if the thyroid gland is missing or too small. With fetal thyroid affected by maternal antibodies, the effect lasts significantly longer as maternal antibodies persist in the fetal circulation for some time after birth, necessitating surveillance and treatment. In the normal individuals, this does not appear to represent much of a load to the thyroid gland, but in females with subclinical hypothyroidism, the extra demands of pregnancy can precipitate clinicial disease. A strategic approach is equally crucial, involving evidence-based strategies to optimize treatment plans and minimizeadverse events.

Subclinical hypothyroidism is diagnosed when TSH is above the reference range while the T4 level is normal. The TSH level is difficult to interpret during the first trimester due to the weak thyromimetic action of hCG. Congenital hypothyroidism is treated by giving thyroid hormone medication in a pill form called levothyroxine. Levothyroxine should be crushed and given once daily, mixed with a small amount of water, formula, or breast milk using a dropper or syringe.

Data Availability Statement

Secondly, the LT4 treatment was defined by prescription of LT4 in the medical information system, we lacked data for LT4 adherence and continuous follow-up of thyroid function. Thirdly, due to the limited sample size for the mild SCH, our findings were only marginally significant after adjusting for multiple testing. Hypothyroidism is thus a condition of an increased thyroid-stimulating hormone concentration with standard blood thyroxin (T4) levels (either total or free) or an elevated TSH concentration above 10mlU/L 7,37.

Fetal treatment by intraamniotic thyroxine injection has been provided in cases of inadvertent maternal radioiodine treatment of Graves’ disease between 10 and 20 weeks gestation and for fetal goiter detected by ultrasound. Effective treatment of fetal hyperthyroidism in pregnant women with high titers of thyroid stimulating autoantibody is possible by judicious administration of antithyroid drugs to the mother. Thyroid disease in pregnancy represents a significant endocrine challenge, affecting maternal and fetal health. Conditions such as hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, and their subclinical variants arise from disruptions in thyroid hormone balance, which is vital for fetal neurodevelopment and maternal well-being.

Some conditions that can mimic hypothyroidism include hypothalamic disorders, Addison disease, anemia, depression, chronic fatigue syndrome, and estrogen-secreting tumors. Similarly, the differential for hyperthyroidism in pregnant individuals is similar to those who are not pregnant. Some conditions that mimic hyperthyroidism include pheochromocytoma, Cushing syndrome, malignancy, tachyarrhythmia, and hydatidiform mole. Thyroid antibody testing (thyroid peroxidase antibody) confirms the autoimmune nature of hypothyroidism and may also identify antibody-positive women who are at risk of postpartum thyroiditis.