Thyroid dysfunction directly affects the reproductive system of a woman. Quite often the cause of infertility is the inadequate production of thyroid hormones, which are responsible for the proper functioning of the reproductive organs and the development of the fetus. According to statistics, women suffer from this disease more often than men, so the question of whether it is possible to become pregnant with hypothyroidism does not lose its relevance.
What is the probability of pregnancy
Hormonal failure on the background of endocrine disease can not be considered safe, especially if the woman plans to conceive a child. The lack of hormones of the thyroid gland negatively affects the genital function of women. When diagnosing subclinical and manifest hypothyroidism, a violation of the menstrual cycle and infertility can often occur.
The increase in thyroid-stimulating hormone is accompanied by the growth of prolactin, the excess of which in turn inhibits the maturation of oocytes in the ovaries. As a result, the process of ovulation during the menstrual cycle does not occur, which means that a woman can not become pregnant in time.
Hormonal imbalance also affects the formation of the endometrium, the tone of the fallopian tubes and the composition of the cervical secretion. In such unfavorable conditions, a mature ovum will be quite difficult to complete a full fertilization process and attach to the uterine wall.
At the initial stage of hypothyroidism, most women experience the following symptoms:
- Intermenstrual bloody discharge;
- Irregular cycle of monthly bleeding;
- Too copious, or, conversely, scarce menstrual flow.
The correct development of endometrial tissue is due to the harmonious work of the ovaries, pituitary hormones and yellow body. With hormonal imbalance in the interaction of systems, failure occurs, and the absence of ovulation makes the functioning of the yellow body meaningless.
Thyroid hypothyroidism also adversely affects the mammary glands. During an exacerbation a woman can observe the discharge from the nipples of different consistency and intensity. The appearance of colostrum outside of pregnancy is considered a signal that a woman should immediately consult a doctor.
In search of an answer to the question of whether it is possible to become pregnant with hypothyroidism of the thyroid gland, first of all you need to see a doctor and start an effective treatment of hormonal disorder.
Pregnancy planning for hypothyroidism
Pregnancy and hypothyroidism are incompatible concepts. But, one way or another, many women do not stop this diagnosis. When planning pregnancy during hypothyroidism, thyroid examination should be included in the list of mandatory medical measures.
Quite often a woman does not even suspect that her body has a disruption of the endocrine system. Therefore, for preventive purposes, before starting to conceive a child, doctors recommend a comprehensive examination of the thyroid gland and pass the necessary hormonal tests.
The results of the survey will help the endocrinologist to assess the degree of the disease, as a result of which the necessary treatment will be prescribed.
Possible complications in the onset of pregnancy
If, at the behest of nature, when there was a diagnosis of hormonal thyroid disorder, conception occurred, in such a situation a woman should be under special control during the entire period of bearing of the child.
This precaution is due to the fact that pregnant women with hypothyroidism may experience various complications. Hormonal imbalance often leads to the following negative events:
- Early pregnancy interruption;
- Development of various pathologies in the child;
- Delay in the onset of labor;
- Intrauterine death of a baby;
- Pregnancy fading;
- The onset of gestational diabetes mellitus.
Systematic spontaneous abortions also serve as an alarming symptom indicating a failure of the endocrine system. Misalignment can be caused by even an easy stage of subclinical hypothyroidism.
If the pregnancy was saved, then at the end of the term the expectant mother may wait for another unpleasant complication. With this diagnosis, a woman may have a delay in the onset of labor. Overpopulation up to 42 weeks is dangerous not only for the mother, but also for the child. The baby can have various birth trauma and disorders in the work of the nervous system. For a woman, such births are dangerous ruptures of the cervix.
The level of TTG required for conceiving a child
In order for conception to occur at the planned time, it is necessary to assess the level of TSH in a timely manner. Especially important is the diagnosis with the abolition of hormonal contraceptives. When finding a thyroid-stimulating hormone within the limits of the norm, doctors will not have any objections about the planning of pregnancy. If the level of TSH is significantly higher than the norm, then such indicators should be adjusted by a medicamentous method. Only after the hormonal background is stabilized, you can begin to conceive.
Women who have been diagnosed with hypothyroidism before the onset of pregnancy need to monitor the hormonal level throughout the entire period of the child's bearing. Usually, the endocrinologist recommends increasing the dose of thyroxine taken by 50%.This dosage of the hormone will help in the early stages of pregnancy to keep the TSH level within the norm.
Control over the level of thyroid-stimulating hormone should be continued after delivery. A young mother is obliged to take an analysis for hormones once every 2-3 months. Such control will help in a timely manner to prevent a possible relapse of the disease.
In some cases, after pregnancy, the thyroid gland functions independently. This phenomenon is associated with the individual characteristics of the body.
Prophylactic measures that increase the chances of pregnancy
In order to increase the chances of pregnancy with hormonal disruption, preventive measures should be taken to prevent the negative influence of hypothyroidism on internal organs and systems.
The endocrinologists recommended a number of measures that can reduce the risk of negative consequences in the planning of pregnancy:
- It is recommended that a future mother take iodine-containing foods and medications daily. The dosage of this microelement should be 200 μg per day.
- A woman should regularly perform a thyroid examination, take the necessary tests.
- Treatment should be prescribed by a qualified technician. Self-medication in this situation is completely excluded.
- Replacement hormone therapy should be conducted against a background of a special diet, built on the principles of healthy eating.
In addition to the above recommendations, it will not be superfluous to observe the regime of the day, exercise, psychological training and communication with nature.
Predicting the consequences of
For successful treatment of thyroid disorders, it is extremely important to determine the disease at the earliest stage. A neglected disease can negatively affect the functioning of all organs and systems of the body. Violation of the hormonal background increases the risk of atherosclerosis, it is also possible the appearance of malignant tumors, diabetes, mental disorders. Heavy forms of the disease require rather lengthy therapy.
Thanks to modern research in the field of endocrinology, it can be confidently said that with a timely and competent approach to the problem, the patient has every chance of obtaining a favorable prognosis for recovery.
With congenital hypothyroidism the situation is more complicated. This disease requires more careful monitoring. Treatment of chronic patients should begin with the first year of life.
