If a patient with hyperthyroidism becomes pregnant, it may cause adverse effects on the fetus if it is not treated properly, such as the occurrence of miscarriage or preterm labor, fetal growth restriction, fetal hypothyroidism, and goiter.
Hyperthyroidism is one of the more common endocrine diseases. If a patient with hyperthyroidism becomes pregnant and is not treated properly, it may cause harm to the pregnant woman and the fetus.
1. The effect of hyperthyroidism on the fetus. If hyperthyroidism is not actively treated, or if it is severe hyperthyroidism, miscarriage and preterm labor are likely to occur after pregnancy. If miscarriage or preterm delivery does not occur, it may also cause fetal growth restriction, fetal hypothyroidism or goiter.
2. Effects of hyperthyroidism on pregnant women. During pregnancy, a woman’s thyroid gland is in a relatively active state. If hyperthyroidism is untreated or poorly treated, a pregnant woman may experience hyperthyroidism crisis during labor or delivery or during surgery, infection, or inappropriate discontinuation of medication, which may lead to death of the pregnant woman in severe cases.
If a patient with hyperthyroidism is pregnant, medications such as propylthiouracil and methimazole may be preferred, with attention paid to rechecking thyroid function to avoid serious harm to the pregnant woman and the fetus.