Thyroid Disease, Page 2

How can thyroid disease cause miscarriage?

Not everything is yet known about the mechanism that may make women with untreated or inadequately treated thyroid disease more prone to miscarriage. Generally, women with Hashimotos Thyroiditis (a kind of hypothyroidism) appear to have a slightly higher than normal risk of miscarriage, even when being treated into the normal TSH range.

Will treatment for my thyroid disease also prevent early miscarriage?

In some cases, particularly hyperthyroidism, the answer to the thyroid treatment question is "yes, most likely." In some cases of Hashimotos, the answer may be "no." In those cases, two therapies are used to prevent miscarriage:

Most common - low dose, daily heparin injections with oral baby aspirin
Less common - administration of intravenous immunoglobulin

While the field of reproductive immunology, that is, the study of the effects of the immune system on conception and resulting pregnancy, is relatively new and somewhat controversial, evidence is growing that maternal presence of thyroid antibodies can lead to early miscarriage.

Benefits of Thyroid Disease Treatment

Quite simply, you can avoid (or treat, if already present)...

Mental retardation in newborns (of mothers with thyroid disease)
High blood cholesterol
Heart rhythm irregularities
Mental disorders
Infertility
Growth retardation in children (of mothers with thyroid disease)
Emotional disturbances (e.g. anxiety, depression)
Eye disorders
Excessive loss or gain in weight