Exploring the Connection Between Thyroid Problems and Fertility
"The content below is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition."
After struggling with ongoing symptoms for many years, you were finally diagnosed with a thyroid condition. As a woman, you’re faced with the worry of fertility given your new diagnosis.
How can different thyroid problems impact fertility?
Learn the scientific connection between thyroid problems and fertility, how thyroid conditions affect all stages of pregnancy, and if it’s possible to have a healthy baby if you have a thyroid disease.
Table of Contents
Can a Woman With Thyroid Problems Get Pregnant?
Thyroid problems are a widespread medical complaint, with over 20 million Americans having some thyroid issue and up to 60% being unaware of their condition.
If you’re a woman with a thyroid issue and you’re hoping to one day become pregnant, you might be wondering if it’s possible.
Luckily, women with thyroid problems can conceive and carry a child to term. However, thyroid issues do impact fertility, and some extra medical testing is required to ensure the health of both mother and child.
For example, high and low thyroid hormones can cause
fertility issues before conceiving, and raise the risk of miscarriage as well as complications during childbirth.
Hypothyroidism and Pregnancy
Hypothyroidism is when the thyroid, a butterfly-shaped gland in the throat, is under-preforming. The thyroid releases hormones that control several functions in the body and for women, this includes fertility and the ability to carry a child to term. Here are some of the ways hypothyroidism could impact conception and pregnancy:
Pre-Pregnancy
If a woman has undiagnosed and untreated hypothyroidism, she does not have the correct levels of hormones in her blood. This may lead to many OB-GYN complications, such as irregular or heavy menstrual cycles. Hypothyroidism may also negatively affect a woman’s ability to conceive.
However, once thyroid levels are returned to normal, the chance to conceive quickly rises. If you are considering getting pregnant and worried about your thyroid, consider holistic nutritional thyroid treatment.
Dr. Sergi at HealthierU specializes in holistic nutrition that supports proper thyroid functioning while also ensuring your baby gets everything it needs to thrive.
During Pregnancy
Properly treated hypothyroidism might not have any major effect on pregnancy. Unfortunately, untreated hypothyroidism, and especially
subclinical hypothyroidism, may cause a
higher risk of miscarriage. As such, pregnant women with hypothyroidism should have their thyroid hormone levels checked regularly to ensure they stay in the correct range.
Post-Pregnancy
A few weeks after giving birth, women with hypothyroidism should take a blood test to ensure their thyroid hormone levels remain normal. A small percentage of women with hypothyroidism experience postpartum thyroiditis. This condition causes a temporary inflammation of the thyroid and usually occurs within six months to a year after giving birth.
If you suspect you are suffering from postpartum thyroiditis, consider having your thyroid levels checked. Women who have postpartum thyroiditis are much more likely to have it again with another pregnancy, even if they make a full recovery the first time, so it is important to have your thyroid checked if you plan to conceive again.
Hyperthyroidism and Pregnancy
Hyperthyroidism is a condition that causes the thyroid to over-work, leading to hormone imbalances. These hormone imbalances can trigger a series of other health problems, including pregnancy and conception issues.
Pre-Pregnancy
One of the most common causes of hyperthyroidism is
Graves’ disease, an autoimmune disorder that triggers the thyroid to release more hormones than it should. This overproduction of hormones causes menstrual cycle irregularities in women, and if untreated can make conception difficult. However, once thyroid hormones are stabilized through medication or holistic nutrition, fertility should return.
During Pregnancy
Graves’ disease can have serious implications for pregnancy, so the best course of action is to stabilize the thyroid before conception. Some medications used to treat hyperthyroid disorders have a risk of causing birth defects, so be sure to discuss any medication with your doctor if you are or plan to become pregnant.
Unfortunately, untreated hyperthyroidism is associated with a higher risk of miscarriage in early pregnancy and many other complications, including:
- Premature delivery
- Poor child growth; and
- Increased blood pressure
Post-Pregnancy
Women who had Graves’ disease before their pregnancy may relapse at any time. The risk for
postnatal relapse is high and remains high for a year after giving birth. If you have Graves disease, be sure to continue having your thyroid levels checked, and consider getting a holistic nutrition plan to help support the proper functioning of your thyroid.
Can a Woman With Thyroid Problems Have a Healthy Baby?
If a woman has properly controlled her thyroid disorder through holistic nutrition or other methods, women with thyroid problems can have healthy, unaffected babies.
Women with thyroid problems who are pregnant or plan to become pregnant should be under strict medical supervision. Treatment and regular testing are required to ensure that thyroid hormone levels remain stable for the health of mother and child.
Thyroid issues can be treated in all sorts of ways, from medication to holistic nutrition. If you are curious about ways to support the healthy functioning of your thyroid, consider reaching out to a
holistic nutrition thyroid specialist.
Seeking Treatment for Thyroid Problems Before Getting Pregnant
If you have thyroid problems and hope to become a mother, the first step is to seek treatment to manage thyroid-induced hormone levels in the body. This can be done in a variety of ways, depending on the health of the patient and the severity of the disorder.
Talk to your doctor about different ways to manage your thyroid disorder, and how you can support your thyroid health throughout pregnancy. If you are worried about thyroid medications’ potential impact on your baby, consider reaching out to a holistic nutritionist to learn about alternative ways to support healthy thyroid function.
Here are some tips for discussing prenatal treatment for thyroid problems with your doctor:
Discuss Your Plans With Your Providers
If you are a woman who suffers from thyroid disorders or even if you suspect you suffer from thyroid disorders, be sure to discuss this with your medical provider before you try to conceive. They will be able to check your thyroid levels and offer treatment before you become pregnant, which is paramount to the health of mother and baby.
Get Treatment
If you suspect that you have a thyroid disorder, you must get treatment before you conceive. There are three reasons for this:
- Thyroid disorders negatively impact fertility. You may find becoming pregnant and carrying a child to term difficult or even impossible with an untreated thyroid disorder.
- Thyroid disorders are easier to treat before conception than during pregnancy. During pregnancy, certain treatment options are not available as they could potentially harm your unborn child. If you get treated before pregnancy, you do not have to worry about the effects of thyroid medication on your baby.
- Thyroid disorders tend to be comorbid with other disorders that can impact fertility and pregnancy. By treating your thyroid disorder, you may be able to uncover and heal other unknown issues.
Even after your thyroid has been treated and you become pregnant, your medical provider will want to test your thyroid hormone levels throughout pregnancy to ensure that they stay in a healthy range. You might also want to consider reaching out to a holistic nutrition expert, such as Dr. Donna Sergi at HealthierU.
Implement Strategies To Boost Your Health
Unfortunately, sorting out thyroid issues before and during pregnancy is not the end of the road. Postnatal thyroid issues are incredibly common and impact up to 5% of mothers in the general population, including women who have never had thyroid issues before.
That is why it is so important for women to take their thyroid health seriously. One of the best ways to support thyroid health is to get a holistic nutrition plan from a trusted doctor. Dr. Sergi at HealthierU offers customized holistic nutrition plans based on your unique bloodwork, ensuring that your body gets the support it needs to thrive. This can include:
- Ensuring you get the correct amounts of nutrients for proper thyroid function, such as iodine, selenium, zinc, and iron.
- Keeping blood sugar levels stable to support the adrenal glands, including the thyroid.
- Focusing on anti-inflammatory foods that don’t trigger an autoimmune response from the body.
- Promoting gut health for proper nutrition absorption and anti-inflammatory properties.
Important Tips for Thyroid Issues and Pregnancy
Women with thyroid issues can have healthy babies, but they face some challenges that women with healthy thyroids do not. Here are some important tips for thyroid issues and pregnancy:
- First things first, if you are planning to become pregnant you should discuss that with your medical provider. Hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism may prevent conception and cause early-term miscarriage if not properly treated.
- Even if you have recovered from a thyroid disorder in the past, it’s possible to reoccur during or after pregnancy, so be sure to discuss this with your medical provider. This is especially true for Graves’ disease, which in rare instances can cause hyperthyroidism in the fetal stage.
- Be sure to discuss all thyroid medication you take with your doctor as certain dosages may need to be altered throughout pregnancy for the health of the mother and child.
- If you have had thyroid issues in the past, keep an eye out for postpartum thyroiditis. Be sure to get your thyroid levels tested regularly.
Many women find that medication alone is not enough to support their thyroid function before, after, and during pregnancy. For those people, we recommend a personalized holistic nutrition plan from HealtheirU.
HealthierU Wants To Guide You Through a Healthy Pregnancy Despite Your Thyroid Issues
Can a woman with thyroid problems get pregnant?
Yes, with the help of the right medical professionals, including holistic nutrition, conceiving with thyroid problems is possible.
Nutrition is the cornerstone of health, but did you know that a properly guided nutrition plan can also help support thyroid function? With the right kind of nutritional support, your body can be supported throughout your pregnancy.
Reach out to HealthierU to learn more about thyroid-boosting nutrition plans designed to help you feel your best.
