What are the physiological changes in pregnancy that affect thyroid function?

The thyroid undergoes physiological changes during pregnancy, such moderate enlargement of the gland and increasing of vascularization. Beta-Human chorionic gonadotropin (∝-HCG) causes thyroid stimulation since the first trimester, due to structural analogy with thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) (5).

What is the relation between thyroid and pregnancy?

KEY POINTS. The thyroid makes hormones that help your body work. If it makes too little or too much of these hormones, you may have problems during pregnancy. Untreated thyroid conditions during pregnancy are linked to serious problems, including premature birth, miscarriage and stillbirth.

What is the role of thyroid gland in pregnancy?

What role do thyroid hormones play in pregnancy? Thyroid hormones are crucial for normal development of your baby’s brain and nervous system. During the first trimester—the first 3 months of pregnancy—your baby depends on your supply of thyroid hormone, which comes through the placenta link.

What are the different laboratory tests for thyroid function?

Doctors may order one or more blood tests to check your thyroid function. Tests may include thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), T4, T3, and thyroid antibody tests. Thyroid blood tests check your thyroid function. For these tests, a health care professional will draw blood from your arm and send it to a lab for testing.

What is the pathophysiology of hypothyroidism?

Pathophysiology. The most common cause of hypothyroidism is the inability of the thyroid gland to produce a sufficient amount of thyroid hormone; however, less commonly pituitary and hypothalamus may also result in thyroid dysfunction.

Does pregnancy affect TSH levels?

Two pregnancy-related hormones—human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) and estrogen—cause increased thyroid hormone levels in the blood. Made by the placenta, hCG is similar to TSH and mildly stimulates the thyroid to produce more thyroid hor- mone.

What happens if TSH is high in pregnancy?

In conclusion, we found that pregnant women with elevated TSH levels had an increased risk of miscarriage in early pregnancy. In fact, TSH levels between 2.5 and 4.87 mIU/L increased the risk for miscarriage, with TSH greater than 4.87 mIU/L increasing the risk even further.

What is T3 and T4 in pregnancy?

The serum tri-iodothyronine (T3), thyroxine (T4) and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) in these women were estimated. In the first trimester, the mean T3 values were found to be 1.85 nmol/L, which increased to a mean of 2.47 nmol/L in the second trimester and declined in the third trimester to 1.82 nmo/L.

Why does thyroxine increase during pregnancy?

Increasing levothyroxine doses early in pregnancy is associated with a lower risk for pregnancy loss in hypothyroid women. In pregnancy, appropriate treatment of hypothyroidism is very important because low levels of thyroid hormone in the mother may harm her baby or even cause pregnancy loss or miscarriage.

How many types of thyroid tests are there?

Available tests include the T3, T3RU, T4, and TSH. The thyroid is a small gland located in the lower-front part of your neck. It’s responsible for helping regulate many bodily processes, such as metabolism, energy generation, and mood. The thyroid produces two major hormones: triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4).

Can thyroid test detect pregnancy?

Thyroid test can’t be used pregnancy confirmation. In pregnancy, if your TSH levels are high, you may have to support your thyroid with thyroid pill ( synthetic thyroid hormone) but you also want to address the root cause of the problem.