This is an automatically translated article.
The article was professionally consulted with Associate Professor, Doctor, Doctor Hoang Dang Mich - Head of Department of Medical Examination & Internal Medicine - Department of Medical Examination and Internal Medicine - Vinmec Ha Long International Hospital.Regardless of the circumstances, hypothyroidism in pregnant women also more or less adversely affects the development of the fetus, even causing the fetus to have poor physical development and mental retardation. Therefore, it is very important to prevent and learn about this disease.
1. What is hypothyroidism?
Hypothyroidism is very common today, is a condition in which thyroid function is reduced and the ability to produce hormones is not adequate compared to the body's needs, making tissues and organs damaged and causing damage. clinical and laboratory metabolic disorders.Depending on the age and the degree of decrease in thyroid hormone secretion in each person, hypothyroidism has different manifestations. This disease is common in women (accounting for about 2% while in men only about 0.1%). In particular, congenital hypothyroidism may occur in 1 in 5000 newborns.
Hypothyroidism in pregnant women will often cause many bad consequences for the fetus, so this disease needs to be detected early and treated promptly.
2. Causes of hypothyroidism in pregnant women
Nguyên nhân gây suy giáp ở phụ nữ mang thai là những nguyên nhân nào?
Other causes of mild hypothyroidism during pregnancy may be due to the patient's thyroidectomy or treatment basedow with too high dose synthetic antithyroid drugs, radioactive iodine treatment...
In addition , cases of hypothyroidism in pregnant women can also occur in cases where the pregnant woman has been or is being treated for hyperthyroidism, has a large goiter, has a family history of thyroid disease, has had thyroiditis or hypothyroidism in a previous pregnancy... or thyroidectomy.
3. Is hypothyroidism in pregnant women dangerous?
If a pregnant woman has mild hypothyroidism during pregnancy, if it is not detected and adequately treated, it is likely that typical complications of hypothyroidism will occur such as muscle weakness, anemia, congestive heart failure, constipation. . severe cases of hypothyroidism in pregnant women.For the fetus, the thyroid gland will be formed and active starting from the 10th or 12th week of pregnancy, so for about the first 3 months, the fetus will be completely dependent on the source of thyroid hormone of the fetus. If you have hypothyroidism, your baby will too. Thyroid hormone plays a very important role in the division and formation of organs as well as brain development in children. Therefore, if a child has congenital hypothyroidism, there is a high chance of having abnormalities in physical and intellectual development.
Hypothyroidism in pregnant women can cause a lot of risks and it is considered dangerous for both the mother and the fetus. Therefore, doctors always recommend that pregnant women get tested for TSH as soon as they plan to have a baby or during the first 3 months of pregnancy.
If you have mild hypothyroidism during pregnancy and are being treated with thyroid hormone (levothyroxine), you need to have monthly FT4 and TSH tests throughout your pregnancy to monitor your health because of the need. Thyroid hormones will increase during pregnancy, necessitating an increased dose of the medication. However, if you don't have thyroid disease and your first TSH test after finding out you're pregnant is normal, you won't need to be tested again.
4. How is hypothyroidism in pregnant women treated?
Suy giáp ở phụ nữ mang thai điều trị như thế nào?
The treatment for hypothyroidism in pregnant women is the same as for non-pregnant patients, focusing on supplementing with synthetic forms of thyroid hormone. Pregnant women will be adjusted to the optimal dose, reaching euthyroidism from before pregnancy to ensure the safest and most effective. In addition, the patient also conducts thyroid function test (FT4 and TSH) every 6-8 weeks to know if the FT4 and TSH levels are within the normal range. After giving birth to a baby, women still have to continue to treat hypothyroidism as if they were pregnant. Newborns born to mothers with hypothyroidism need early support after birth by supplementing with synthetic thyroid hormone.
On the other hand, to ensure her own health and the comprehensive development of the baby, before planning to give birth, a woman should take the initiative to go to the hospital to have her thyroid function checked. If signs of hypothyroidism are detected, it is necessary to treat the disease and return to normal thyroid function before becoming pregnant.
Trắc nghiệm: Bạn có hiểu đúng về dấu hiệu mang thai sớm?
Các dấu hiệu mang thai sớm không phải chỉ mỗi trễ kinh mà còn có rất nhiều dấu hiệu khác như xuất huyết âm đạo, ngực căng tức,… Điểm xem bạn biết được bao nhiêu dấu hiệu mang thai sớm thông qua bài trắc nghiệm này nhé!
When you find yourself with suspected signs of thyroid disease, patients should go to reputable hospitals such as Vinmec Times City International General Hospital for endocrinology examination and timely treatment. There is a Department of Endocrinology - Diabetes to screen for pituitary, thyroid, diabetes and adrenal gland diseases.... very safe and with high accuracy. Especially, the specialist has a close coordination with the IVF Center - Obstetrics Department in the management of patients with thyroid disease, especially hypothyroidism in pregnant women, gestational diabetes.
Pregnant women, if hypothyroidism is detected during pregnancy, they will be treated with the most modern techniques in the country such as: treatment of benign thyroid nodules by radiofrequency ablation, or applied research. Stem cell technology in the treatment of diabetes... At the same time, there is a convergence of a team of specialized, experienced, well-trained doctors at home and abroad.
Associate Professor. Dr. Hoang Dang Mich has over 42 years of medical practice, has strengths in the specialized fields of Liver - Kidney - Immune pathology... Currently, he is a Specialist Consultant in General Internal Medicine Department of Examination. Medicine & Internal Medicine, Vinmec Ha Long International General Hospital.
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