The thyroid gland is a gland of internal secretion and is a part of the endocrine system. It synthesizes two iodine-containing hormones - thyroxine( T4) and triiodothyronine( T3), and the peptide hormone is calcitonin.
Thyroid hormones are the main regulators of the body's homeostasis. They take part:
- in the main metabolic processes of tissues and organs;
- in the formation of new cells;
- in structural differentiation.
Another important function of thyroid hormones is the maintenance of constant body temperature, energy production. Thyroid hormones regulate oxygen consumed by the tissues, oxidation and energy production processes, control the formation and neutralization of free radicals. During the lifetime of , the influence of thyroid-stimulating hormones on the development of the body in the physical, mental and psychic plan of does not cease. Because of a deficiency of hormones during pregnancy, it is possible that the brain is underdeveloped during the period of intrauterine development, hence the risk of child's cretinism increases. Responsibility for the functioning of immunity is also properly carried by thyroid hormones.
Thyroid Diseases
Thyroid disease is the second most common after diabetes mellitus. Every year the number of thyroid gland diseases grows by 5%.
The reasons for the development of thyroid pathologies are as follows:
- poor ecology;
- inadequate iodine in the daily diet;
- violations in genetics.
The most common thyroid disease is chronic autoimmune thyroiditis. The outcome of the disease is hypothyroidism.
Thyroiditis and pregnancy
During pregnancy, additional stimulation of the thyroid gland should be provided. But it may turn out that the thyroid gland does not perform its functions due to the ongoing autoimmune processes. The productivity of thyroid hormones, which are required during the first trimester in order to ensure the normal development of the fetus, is reduced. In addition, may trigger activation of hypothyroidism during fetal gestation in the womb of the .
The development of the thyroid gland of the fetus may deviate from the norm if antibodies to thyroglobulin penetrate the placenta. As a result, placental insufficiency may occur, and as a result, termination of pregnancy early. Unfortunately, the concepts of AIT and conception are incompatible. Therefore, when a woman plans a pregnancy, a visit to a doctor-endocrinologist, which will determine the functional state of the main gland of the body, is mandatory.
AIT and infertility
AIT is a very important factor in the issue of female infertility. It is often attributed to the main cause of miscarriage. The thyroid gland is destroyed under the influence of antibodies, they also adversely affect the ovaries. And from here and problems with conception.
Even in modern medicine, there is no effective medicine to treat such a disease. Autoimmune thyroiditis in some cases proceeds more easily under the influence of immunomodulators, but this is a rarity.
Thus, before planning conception, it is necessary to screen the amount of antibodies to thyroid peroxidase.
Chronic autoimmune thyroiditis
It is also called Hashimoto's thyroiditis and lymphocytic thyroiditis. It is a chronic thyroid disease of autoimmune genesis. Cases of chronic autoimmune thyroiditis among women are much greater( and more often they are affected by young women) than among men. Often cases of manifestation of AIT in the form of family forms are known. Relatives of the majority of patients with AIT have circulating antibodies to the thyroid gland. It is not uncommon for one and the same patient to be diagnosed with AIT, or members of his family, other autoimmune diseases to be diagnosed.
For a long time, chronic autoimmune thyroiditis may not show any symptoms. His first symptoms are an increase in the size of the thyroid gland, changes in the structure: tuberosity, density. Often patients complain of a feeling of squeezing the neck, a lump in the throat, difficulty in swallowing, if the gland is greatly enlarged, the patient may feel difficulty in breathing.
The consequence of progressive thyroiditis are disorders on the hormonal background. Hormones are elevated in hyperthyroidism. The patient is often irritable, his heartbeat is rapid, he feels general weakness, fever, sweating, and loses weight.
In most cases, chronic AIT is manifested by a decrease in the number of hormones in the gland - hypothyroidism.
In both cases, cases of infertility development, weakened attention, bad memory are revealed. If chronic AIT are affected by children, then they have a slowdown in development, a gap from their peers.
Consequences of
During the course of pregnancy, the health of the expectant mother is very important, as the health and life of the baby depend on it. The course of pregnancy depends on the hormonal background and the thyroid gland. AIT refers to diseases that can affect the bearing of pregnancy. The immune system mistakenly takes the cells of its own thyroid gland as foreign, and its cells are destroyed by the antibodies of their own organism. As a result, thyroid functions lose their activity.
The most dangerous consequence of AIT is miscarriage. To prevent a miscarriage that is especially dangerous in the first trimester of pregnancy, it is necessary to carefully monitor the disease during this period. Explanation of incompatibility of pregnancy and AIT: antibodies to thyroid cells without any obstacles penetrate the placenta and, as a result, placental insufficiency arises. Most expectant mothers with AIT suffer from severe toxicosis. If in time to identify and start treatment for this disease, then terrible consequences can be avoided. To ensure a smooth course of pregnancy without unpleasant consequences, before planning a child, you need to examine the body in a complex, treat and monitor chronic diseases. AIT is no exception in any case!
With the diagnosis of autoimmune thyroiditis, conception can be achieved if the amount of thyroid hormones is normal.
Thyroiditis is an inflammation in the gland tissue. Symptoms of AIT are often minimal, especially if the amount of hormones in the blood serum meets the standards. During pregnancy AIT can be accidentally detected when examining the neck of the patient .
Hypothyroidism, which can occur if an autoimmune thyroiditis is diagnosed, can negatively affect the course of pregnancy and the development of the fetus itself. The doctor-endocrinologist should necessarily direct the patient on analyzes of hormones of a thyroid gland and by results of analyzes TTG and antibodies to TPO to make the decision on purpose of a dose of a hormone which will compensate a disadvantage.
Approximately 20% of people have a deficiency of thyroid hormones. Diagnosis - hypothyroidism - an obstacle to conception. If substitution therapy is chosen correctly( inflammation and AIT in this case do not interfere), infertility does not threaten.
In the event that the patient receives replacement therapy, the dose increases during pregnancy.
With such questions it is necessary to address to the doctor-endocrinologist who will pick up a necessary dose of a substitute preparation, will estimate a degree of gravity of a status of the patient.
