Although it is possible for a pregnancy to trigger hypothyroidism, The underlying cause of the condition is probably not the pregnancy itself.
Some women suffer from a thyroid disorder It does not show any symptoms until the time of pregnancy, but once the symptoms appear, it is important to receive medical treatment and follow-up for 6 to 9 months after the baby is born.
See more: Here we share our Insta ‘Live’ today Welcome!
Afterwards, it will also be necessary to control periodically thyroid function, especially before a new pregnancy.
The thyroid is a small, butterfly-shaped gland that sits on the front of the neck. The hormones that the thyroid produces they are called triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4), which affect all aspects of metabolism.
In addition, they maintain the speed with which the body uses fat and carbohydrates, they help control body temperature, influence heart rate and help regulate protein production.
Research shows that around 10 percent of young women have a thyroid disorder that before pregnancy does not cause any problems, but that intensifies and produces symptoms during the gestation period.
Women with a thyroid disorder usually have in the body a high concentration of antithyroid antibodies, a condition known as chronic thyroiditis, Hashimoto’s disease or autoimmune thyroid disorder.
After the birth of the baby, the antibody level normally increases and that can lead to a temporary alteration of thyroid function. The same can happen during pregnancy.
This thyroid disorder usually leads to hypothyroidism, which is the condition caused by a low level of thyroid hormones in the body. Some common symptoms of hypothyroidism are difficult to detect during pregnancy, because they mimic the signs of pregnancy, such as weight gain, tiredness and constipation.
Other symptoms of hypothyroidism that could be more obvious during pregnancy are, among others, more sensitivity to cold, dry skin, swelling of the face, muscle weakness, hoarseness, pain or stiffness in the joints and difficulty concentrating or with memory.
You have to be careful
It is essential to receive treatment with the thyroid hormone levothyroxine, because when hypothyroidism is left untreated, it can affect both fetal development and maternal health during pregnancy. Attentive control is needed throughout pregnancy, through analysis of blood every 4 to 8 weeks to check thyroid function.
In some women, after the baby is born, this condition also results in a disorder known as postpartum thyroiditis.. This disorder can lead to hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism, which is the condition caused by an elevated level of thyroid hormones in the body.
Hyperthyroidism after pregnancy usually resolves itself and without treatment, but when hypothyroidism develops after childbirth, treatment is usually needed for 6 to 12 months. After that time, normally, it can be suspended.
See more: MiAmbiente starts campaign of prevention of fires of vegetal mass
Although the treatment successfully eliminates hypothyroidism, the underlying thyroid disorder remains. That is, before a new pregnancy, there is a high probability that the woman will have hypothyroidism again, regardless of how much time has elapsed between one pregnancy and another.
Knowing this in advance allows the patient and the doctor to prepare a plan together of treatment, because when the treatmentor begins early in pregnancy, the appearance of symptoms of hypothyroidism is generally avoided.
Similarly, patient and doctor should create a schedule for medical follow-up necessary in order to check thyroid function over time, even if the patient never gets pregnant again.
Some studies show that women with a thyroid disorder that triggers symptoms during and after pregnancy are also at risk of developing other thyroid problems later in life.
Therefore, going to scheduled checkups will detect any other thyroid dysfunction while It is still in the early stages and can be treated more easily.
– .
