How does Thyroid lead to a Risk of Miscarriage?

Although pregnancy is the most blissful period in a woman’s life, it invites a different set of complications with it altogether. Women have to go through an innumerable number of complications, and one such complication is directly related to the endocrine gland called thyroid gland. The thyroid gland is a small gland which secretes various thyroid hormones and is located in the neck. The thyroid is directly related to pregnancy, so there are many thyroid and pregnancy complications.

At times, the thyroid gland releases various hormones, either excess or little. These two conditions are known as-

1. Hyperthyroidism (excess hormones)
2. Hyperthyroidism (fewer hormones)

These hormones are also essential in other words, because they regulate the use of energy in your body, thereby controlling and regulating the function of almost every other organ in the body. But unregulated thyroid glands can also cause bodily functions to speed up or slow down gradually. Hence, this raises a question that does thyroid causes miscarriage?

How thyroid increases the risk of miscarriage?

The thyroid glands are known for their benefits as well as its problems too. And there are many thyroid and pregnancy complications, which eventually leads us to the conclusion that thyroid causes miscarriage. Thyroid problems have long been associated with a spontaneous loss of the pregnancy, known as a miscarriage. If you are well aware of the hypothyroid condition, then you must be knowing that the connection between thyroid and miscarriage is connected, as there are many thyroid and pregnancy complications.

You could well be affected because of this in the following ways: –

1. Luteal defects, as well as for ovulatory problems, are higher if you are suffering from thyroid conditions.
2. For the healthy growth of fetal development, pregnant women require an increase in thyroid hormones. But if this dysfunctions due to some reasons or the other, then it may hamper it.
3. A disease known as Hashimoto’s disease, which is an autoimmune disease, can prevent immunological changes required in the body to support a healthy pregnancy.

What is hypothyroidism?

Thyroid hormones are known to control our body’s metabolic process. When you suffer from this condition, the thyroid does not produce enough thyroid hormones to keep these processes going on at their normal rate. They slowly begin to slow down. This, in turn, affects your health to a great extent, including the risk of the fact that thyroid causes miscarriage.

Symptoms of hyperthyroidism

Various signs and symptoms can help you to identify whether you are suffering from hypothyroidism or not, which is related to thyroid and pregnancy complications.

According to some researchers, the symptoms of hypothyroidism include:

• Fatigue
• Weight Gain
• Puffy face
• Intolerance to cold
• Pain in the muscles and joints
• Constipation
• Dry and Itchy skin
• Decreased sewing
• Heavy or irregular menstrual periods
• Fertility problems
• Depression
• Slow heart rate

Miscarriage Risks

Many women don’t want to go through such a bad phase as miscarriage. But, the two hormones- hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism may lead to this. Women must consult a doctor if they feel that they are suffering from any such conditions, thus reducing the thyroid and pregnancy complications.

Thus, let’s see how the thyroid causes miscarriage. The two ways are: –

1. Miscarriage risk due to hyperthyroid: A question that can thyroid causes miscarriage troubles almost every woman. Hyperthyroidism causes serious risks of miscarriage, anaemia, preeclampsia, congestive heart failure, and stillbirth. The normal levels of thyroid hormones for pregnancy should be 2.5mIU/L, during the first trimester. Throughout the rest of the pregnancy, it should be 3.0mIU/L. This is the normal range. Anything below or above this must be given serious treatment. If you suffer from mild hypothyroidism, no treatment but essential monitoring is required. Treatment includes supplementing your T4 with T4 mimicking hormones, for women having very low levels of TSH. If you want to be more cautious, then you can help yourself by taking a comprehensive thyroid screening, especially if you have a family history or if you have suffered a miscarriage before. Because thyroid and pregnancy complications, if become serious, then it may also lead to thyroid causes miscarriage.
2. Miscarriage risk due to hyperthyroid: This is another one where thyroid causes miscarriage. Here the levels higher than 5.0mIU/L during pregnancy requires treatment for this. This also eventually leads to thyroid and pregnancy complications. For this, the only possible treatment is the minimal use of antithyroid drugs to maintain the T3 and T4 levels during pregnancy. Radioactive iodine here is the normal course of treatment should be avoided, as it can cross the placental barrier and harm its status. Thus, untreated hypothyroidism can cause foetaltachyrdia, premature birth, stillbirth and pregnancy loss in the first trimester.

Measures to prevent thyroid

There are various measures too for this, by which you can control thyroid and pregnancy complications, and reduce the chances of thyroid causes miscarriage.

• Comprehensive Thyroid Screening: If you have a family history of this, you should get yourself a comprehensive thyroid screening.
• Thyroid Hormone Replacement Medication: Hypothyroidism, with levels above 10mIU/L should be treated, with proper medication.
• Plan your pregnancy: If you are a patient of hypothyroid, then plan your pregnancy well in advance and keep your TSH in the normal range. If your pregnancy is confirmed, then increase the dose of medication.
• A test for early pregnancy: Do take the pregnancy test early, and start medication because underactive thyroid and miscarriage go hand in hand.
• Have a periodic evaluation: Take timely tests and adjust your dose of medication that suits you.
• Art procedures for conception: These patients like IUI or IVF who have subclinical thyroidism should start the treatment before pregnancy.
• Overly Hyperthyroid Condition: This condition requires treatment with antithyroid drugs during pregnancy.

Wrapping Up

It is still possible to have a healthy pregnancy and deliver a beautiful baby, even if you are suffering from thyroid conditions. It is thus important to know about the severity of the condition and then, take the required medication and actions to cure it.