How to test thyroid

Under normal circumstances, couples will go for a physical examination when preparing for pregnancy to understand whether their physical conditions are suitable for having a baby, so as to avoid giving birth to a baby with physical defects while having an illness. Many diseases occur when it is not suitable to have a baby, so pre-pregnancy examination is still necessary, such as thyroid disease. How can I test for thyroid disease to know if it will affect pregnancy?

If a pregnant mother develops thyroid disease, it may cause miscarriage, premature birth, perinatal fetal death, and even affect the intellectual development of the offspring. Therefore, women who have suffered from thyroid dysfunction, or have undergone thyroid surgery, have symptoms of hypothyroidism such as fear of cold, drowsiness, fatigue, and thinning hair, have been diagnosed with a goiter, or have positive thyroid antibodies have a higher risk index and should pay special attention to thyroid disease screening during pregnancy. The reason why pregnant mothers need to check their thyroid gland is because abnormal thyroid function can have adverse consequences for both the pregnant woman and the fetus. Common thyroid dysfunctions include:

1. Hyperthyroidism

If the pregnant mother's hyperthyroidism is not well controlled, it will cause risks such as miscarriage, premature birth, placental abruption, intrauterine growth retardation, stillbirth, etc. It may also cause preeclampsia, congestive heart failure, and even thyroid crisis. It should be noted that pregnancy complicated by hyperthyroidism is not uncommon, so pregnant mothers should do early examination and early detection.

2. Hypothyroidism

The growth and development of the fetus requires sufficient thyroid hormone. If the pregnant mother suffers from hypothyroidism, the thyroid hormone secretion will be insufficient. If the deficiency is mild, it will slightly affect the child's IQ. If the deficiency is severe, the child will have mental retardation, dementia, unstable gait, hearing impairment, etc., which is what we commonly call cretinism. These damages are irreversible. Even if thyroid hormone is supplemented after birth and the newborn's thyroid function returns to normal, the damage to the fetus cannot be reversed.

If you find thyroid problems in early pregnancy, pregnant mothers should not be too nervous. As long as you follow the doctor's instructions, the health of mother and baby will be guaranteed!