Table of contents:
- Effects of hyperthyroid disease on the risk of fetal death
- How to treat hyperthyroidism during pregnancy
Thyroid hormone is needed for the growth of various organs in the fetus during pregnancy. If the thyroid gland is affected, thyroid hormone production becomes abnormal. Hyperthyroid disease that causes hormones to jump up and even allegedly can cause it stillbirth aka fetal death.
Effects of hyperthyroid disease on the risk of fetal death
Diagnosing hyperthyroid disease before pregnancy is relatively difficult because the symptoms are similar to those of pregnancy.
You may experience common symptoms such as shortness of breath or a racing heart. Both of these symptoms can be a sign of hyperthyroidism.
Mild hyperthyroid disease usually does not require special treatment. You only need to monitor the thyroid hormone through a blood test to make sure the disease does not get worse.
On the other hand, severe hyperthyroid disease needs to be treated more seriously.
Severe hyperthyroid disease is a risk factor stillbirth or fetal death usually triggered by Graves' disease.
Graves' disease triggers the immune system to produce special antibodies. Instead of attacking germs, these antibodies attack healthy thyroid gland cells.
This condition triggers the production of thyroid hormones above normal amounts or in other words, hyperthyroidism.
If left untreated, a very high thyroid hormone production can lead to various complications that are dangerous to the mother and the fetus.
Mother is at risk morning sickness severe disease, anemia, high blood pressure, and impaired heart function.
Gradually, antibodies that attack the mother's thyroid gland can also move to the fetus and make the fetus develop hyperthyroid disease.
As well as fetal death, according to research in British Medical Journal, hyperthyroid disease in the fetus can cause various health problems such as:
- Increased heart rate
- Developmental failure
- Heart failure
- Premature labor
- Low birth weight
- Miscarriage
How to treat hyperthyroidism during pregnancy
Hyperthyroid disease that is triggered by Graves' disease can be treated with thyroid gland surgery and radioiodine therapy.
Radioiodine therapy is performed by giving radioactive iodine in small doses to destroy a number of thyroid gland cells.
However, treating hyperthyroidism is as difficult as diagnosing it.
Although effective, radioiodine therapy cannot be applied to pregnant women because it can damage the fetal thyroid gland and cause hypothyroid disease (low thyroid hormone production).
To protect the fetus from the risk of fetal death due to hyperthyroid disease, pregnant women are usually advised to take anti-thyroid drugs.
The goal is to keep the amount of thyroid hormone slightly above normal, while still holding back its production.
Treatment generally consists of administering propylthiouracil in the first trimester and methimazole in the second and third trimesters.
Both must be consumed as directed by a doctor and the timing of the drug is very important.
The reason is, giving propylthiouracil after the first trimester can trigger liver disorders. Meanwhile, giving methimazole in the first trimester can increase the risk of birth defects.
This is why treatment of thyroid disease to prevent fetal death must be carried out with care.
The dose of the drug is then reduced once the amount of thyroid hormone reaches the desired level.
This method will reduce the impact of thyroid disease on the health of the mother and fetus as well as prevent the fetus from the risk of hypothyroid disease.
Hyperthyroid disease has a huge impact on the health of both mother and fetus.
If you have this condition and want to plan a pregnancy, the best step you can take is to consult a doctor.
The goal, of course, is that pregnancy can run healthily and safely.
