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There’s a big connection between our sex hormones and our thyroid. Unfortunately, not a lot of women are told this before trying to conceive or even during pregnancy… even if they know they have a thyroid issue!
So, let’s talk about
how the thyroid impacts pregnancy and vice versa.
First, the thyroid not functioning properly can actually cause issues with ovulation. Because of the relationship between sex hormones and the thyroid, if one isn’t working properly, it can affect the other. And that can start as soon as ovulation.
If you’re trying to get pregnant, it’s a great idea to have a
full thyroid panel so that you know if there are any changes you need to make to support your pregnancy.
Now, typical lab reference ranges will say TSH levels should be below a 5. But from my experience and based on what I’ve seen in women I work with, TSH levels above 2 can potentially impact the ability to get pregnant. You can download my
free guide to reading your thyroid blood test for more information on reference ranges.
Once you are able to conceive, it’s especially important to make sure the thyroid is functioning properly. The first trimester is when the neurological development of the baby is happening, which relies a lot on the mom’s thyroid hormones.
With that, pregnancy causes significant changes in the levels of hormones made by the thyroid gland. For that reason, symptoms of a slow thyroid can start or, if you already have them, get worse during pregnancy or after childbirth.
Diet is an especially tough one when you’re pregnant. We know that eating a healthy diet is best for the thyroid… but sometimes you just don’t want to do that when you’re pregnant! What I would say is just try your best here. I know I noticed a big difference in my third trimester when I was actually able to get my eating back on track. I felt so much better!
It could be really helpful to get your thyroid checked again about halfway through your pregnancy, again to see where your thyroid is at and see if there are any changes you should make. Depending on your progress, you might test more frequently. I was doing panels every 4-6 weeks when I was pregnant because I just really needed to keep an eye on my thyroid hormones.
Symptoms of a slow thyroid are so common in women so addressing these before conceiving and during pregnancy is crucial! And you don't need a diagnosis of hypothyroidism to have a slow thyroid that could be causing hormone issues. Symptoms of a slow thyroid home in women are so common, regardless of having this diagnosis.
If you want to chat more about pregnancy when you have thyroid problems, or if you want help getting a full thyroid panel,
please reach out to me.
Phone: (314) 226-3137