What is hyperthyroidism? Hyperthyroidism is characterized by a fast heartbeat, shaking hands, and anxiety, and is the result of a thyroid disorder. The thyroid gland is located in the neck and secretes thyroid hormones that regulate the body’s energy use and storage. Doctors often refer to hyperthyroidism as an overproduction of thyroid hormones by the thyroid gland. What should a woman with hyperthyroidism do if she wants to get pregnant? Women with hyperthyroidism need to consult their doctor before getting pregnant, and your doctor will be able to control your hyperthyroidism before you get pregnant. Usually, the treatment of hyperthyroidism for non-pregnancy is as follows: 1. Oral anti-thyroid medication 2. Radioactive iodine Oral tablets or liquids containing radioactive substances 3. Surgery to remove part or all of the thyroid gland 3. You and your doctor will choose the best treatment option by taking into account a combination of factors. 4. It is best to cure your hyperthyroidism before you get pregnant, so that you don’t need to take medication during pregnancy. Women with hyperthyroidism who choose radioactive iodine or surgery should wait at least six months after treatment before becoming pregnant. Most treated hyperthyroid patients do not produce enough thyroid hormone so that your doctor can have enough time to determine if your thyroid gland is producing enough thyroid hormone. Women who do not produce enough thyroid hormone usually have difficulty getting pregnant, again affecting the early development of the fetus. Therefore, women who do not produce enough thyroid hormone need to be treated. What should I do if I have hyperthyroidism during pregnancy? There are two common causes of hyperthyroidism during pregnancy: 1. Graves’ disease, which is an autoimmune disease. 2. An autoimmune disease. 2, a hCG-related hyperthyroidism ? hCG refers to human chorionic gonadotropin, hCG is elevated in early pregnancy, hCG and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) structural homology, TSH promotes the thyroid gland to synthesize thyroid hormones. Therefore, high hCG in early pregnancy can lead to hCG-associated hyperthyroidism. A blood test can distinguish between the two causes mentioned above. How does hyperthyroidism affect pregnancy? Mild hyperthyroidism usually has no adverse effects on the pregnancy or the fetus. Untreated severe hyperthyroidism can lead to the following adverse effects: Maternal effects such as heart disease, pre-eclampsia. Consequences for the mother, e.g. heart disease, pre-eclampsia. How is hyperthyroidism treated in pregnancy? The treatment plan depends on the cause of the hyperthyroidism and the severity of the hyperthyroidism: hCG-associated hyperthyroidism usually does not require treatment. Its clinical symptoms will resolve on their own. Mild hyperthyroidism associated with Graves’ disease usually does not require treatment, but thyroid hormone levels should be monitored regularly. Graves’ disease combined with severe hyperthyroidism must be treated. It is usually treated with oral propylthiouracil. Since some antithyroid medications may cause developmental defects in the fetus, your doctor will choose different antithyroid medications for different trimesters. Do I need to have blood tests during pregnancy? Thyroid hormone levels need to be monitored regularly during pregnancy and the doctor will need to adjust the dose of the medication according to the thyroid hormone levels. Fetal hyperthyroidism occurs in a very small percentage of pregnancies, so blood tests and ultrasound of the fetal thyroid gland are required. Once fetal hyperthyroidism is diagnosed, antithyroid medication will be required. Thyroid hormone levels need to be checked immediately after delivery, as the functional state of the thyroid gland returns to pre-pregnancy levels in hyperthyroid patients after delivery. Can a patient with hyperthyroidism in pregnancy have a normal delivery? Most patients with hyperthyroidism in pregnancy can have a normal delivery. Can hyperthyroid mothers breastfeed? Most mothers with hyperthyroidism can breastfeed. However, it is important to consult your doctor to choose the best anti-thyroid medication and the duration of the medication. Are babies born to hyperthyroid mothers healthy? Most babies born to hyperthyroid mothers are healthy. Rarely, babies with hyperthyroidism may be tested for thyroid hormones.