Why You Should Visit a Thyroid Clinic Before Trying to Conceive
If you and your partner are thinking of trying to conceive in the near future, it's a good idea to make sure you're in good health before you start. One part of your body you need to get checked is your thyroid, a small gland in your neck. Your thyroid produces essential bodily hormones, and if it makes too much or too little of them, you could suffer issues with fertility, pregnancy, childbirth and your child's health. Here are 3 reasons to visit a thyroid clinic before you start trying to conceive and what you can do if you have a thyroid disorder.
Thyroid Problems Reduce Fertility
If you have an underactive or overactive thyroid gland, you could find it more difficult to get pregnant. If you have hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid), your body won't produce as much thyroid hormone as it should. This can affect your ovulation, stopping your body from releasing eggs so you can get pregnant. Women with hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid) often have Graves' disease, which can make your periods too infrequent if untreated. One 2014 study found that around half of women with Graves' disease or Hashimoto's hypothyroidism were infertile.
Thyroid Problems Lead to Pregnancy Complications
If you have a thyroid disorder and manage to get pregnant in spite of it, you could be at risk of serious complications during pregnancy and birth. In one study, anaemia, preeclampsia, and low birth weight were found in around 1/3 of mothers with an underactive thyroid, while around 1/5 of participants suffered from placental abruption or haemmorhage. In 12% of the cases studied, the mothers unfortunately suffered a miscarriage. Similar problems can occur in women with hyperthyroidism from Graves' disease.
Underactive Thyroid Increases Autism Risk
While researchers are still unsure of exactly what causes autism, one factor research has linked it to is thyroid hormone production. A 2013 neurological study found that mothers with a low level of thyroxine (a thyroid hormone) are 4 times more likely to have an autistic child. The more severe the deficiency, the more severe your child's autism could be.
What Can You Do About It?
Thankfully, having a thyroid disorder doesn't mean your chances at successful and happy motherhood are doomed. If you get a thyroid disorder diagnosis, your doctor can talk you through the steps you can take to get your thyroid healthy again so you can begin trying to conceive. Often, treatments will involve thyroid hormone replacement medication, radioactive iodine treatments, minor surgery, other pharmaceutical options or lifestyle and dietary changes. Your exact treatment will depend on whether your thyroid is underactive or overactive, whether you have an underlying health issue causing your thyroid problems, and the severity of your condition.
