Tag Archives: Maternal Health

ScienceDaily:

Emerging data clarifying the risks of insufficient thyroid activity during pregnancy on the health of the mother and fetus, and on the future intellectual development of the child, have led to new clinical guidelines for diagnosing and managing thyroid disease during this critical period. The guidelines, developed by an American Thyroid Association (ATA) expert task force, are presented in Thyroid, a peer-reviewed journal published by Mary Ann Liebert, Inc.

Clinical studies are producing critical data demonstrating the harmful effects not only of overt hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism on pregnancy, but also of subclinical thyroid disease and maternal and fetal health. Ongoing research is clarifying the link between miscarriage and preterm delivery in women with normal thyroid function who are thyroid peroxidase antibody positive. Studies are also uncovering the long-term effects of postpartum thyroiditis.

I agree that more should be done to combat sub-clinical and overt hypothyroidism, however given my own experience with hypothyroidism and pregnancy I disagree with the following statement:

“…..women with overt hypothyroidism or with subclinical hypothyroidism who are TPO antibody positive should be treated with oral levothyroxine; use of other thyroid preparations such as triiodothyronine or desiccated thyroid to treat maternal hypothyroidism is strongly recommended against; and women with subclinical hypothyroidism in pregnancy who are not initially treated should be monitored for progression to overt hypothyroidism….”

1. You should treat with whatever medication works for you. Most hypothyroid patients don’t do well on T4 only medication and prefer desiccated thyroid preparations.
2. Please, if you find out that you have sub-clinical hypothyroidism, insist on treatment, don’t wait for overt hypothyroidism. It can be more dangerous than you know.

Read the whole story: Science Daily