With moderate hyperthyroidism, many of the symptoms are similar to those of a normal pregnancy. But many women experience significant weight loss, increased blood pressure, vomiting, and a constant palpable heartbeat. These phenomena require a blood test to determine hyperthyroidism.
Mild or moderate hyperthyroidism has TSH levels below normal, and T4 levels are normal, it is not life-threatening for mother and child and does not need to be treated. Nevertheless, the thyroid hormone test is usually repeated again in the fourth week of pregnancy. But untreated moderate to severe hyperthyroidism can cause various complications in the embryo and its mother, not excluding the possibility of tachycardia (heartbeat above average) and small fetal growth.
New recommendations for the treatment of hyperthyroidism in pregnant women are the use of propylthiouracil in the first trimester of pregnancy in order to block the synthesis of thyroid hormones and bring their levels to the lower limit (or slightly below normal).
The use of propylthiouracil in the first trimester during the critical period of fetal development is much preferable than the use of methimazole (tapazole), since it has a lower risk of various fetal deformities in later periods.
However, propylthiouracil should not be used in the last two trimesters of pregnancy due to the serious risk of hepatitis. In the second and third trimesters, you need to switch to methimazole. The frequency of side effects of these drugs does not increase during pregnancy. During pregnancy, it is forbidden to use radioactive iodine to scan or treat the thyroid gland, as it is passed through the placenta.
A positive aspect for women with hyperthyroidism is that Hashimoto's disease and Graves' disease tend to weaken as pregnancy progresses.
Goiter of the thyroid gland during pregnancy
An increase in goiter during pregnancy is considered to be a very common phenomenon. Especially if a woman lives in an iodine-deficient area. In the United States, iodine consumption is normal on average. But it can also decrease if you remove milk, eggs and iodized salt from the diet.
Also, not all vitamins contain iodine, and pregnant women should only take iodine-containing ones during the entire period. If thyroid nodules are found during pregnancy during an ultrasound scan of the thyroid gland, it is urgently necessary to do a biopsy and evaluate the results without waiting for permission from the doctor. New users can significantly improve their first betting session by activating the promo code of 1xbet which connects the account to special rewards. These include a 100% bonus up to $130 or a 100% welcome bonus up to €130 on sports bets. Casino players enjoy €1,950 in bonus funds and 150 free spins. Supported by live betting tools and secure transactions, these benefits offer strong value.