What is the largest endocrine gland in the human body?

The thyroid gland is the largest endocrine gland in the human body. If the thyroid gland in the human body is elevated, it will cause great harm to the patient's body, especially to women. High or low thyroid levels in women will affect their fertility. Women with abnormal thyroid glands generally experience memory loss, mental retardation and other phenomena. In severe cases, it can affect women's fertility. What symptoms will women experience when they suffer from thyroid disease?

Symptoms of hypothyroidism include:

1. General symptoms of hypothyroidism

The patients may become afraid of cold, have dry skin with little sweat, thick, yellow and cold hair, sparse and dry hair, brittle and cracked nails, fatigue, drowsiness, poor memory, intellectual impairment, slow reaction and mild anemia. Weight gain.

2. Special facial features

The face is pale and sallow, the face is swollen, the eyes are dull, the eyelids are loose and swollen, the expression is indifferent, he speaks very little, and when he speaks, his voice is hoarse and his words are slurred. This is a symptom of hypothyroidism that should be paid special attention to.

3. Endocrine system

The main symptoms are excessive menstruation in women, and amenorrhea may also occur in those who suffer from the disease for a long time without treatment. The adrenal cortex function is low, and the blood and urine cortisol levels are reduced. Primary hypothyroidism is sometimes accompanied by autoimmune adrenocortical insufficiency and/or type I diabetes mellitus.

If a pregnant woman has been diagnosed with clinical hypothyroidism or subclinical hypothyroidism before pregnancy, she should immediately start treatment under the guidance of a doctor, check her thyroid function regularly after taking the medicine, and adjust the dosage. The treatment goal should be achieved as early as possible, that is, serum TSH should be controlled to a level of <2.5 mIU/L before pregnancy. For those at high risk of hypothyroidism, such as those with a personal or family history of thyroid disease or autoimmune disease, those with goiter, those who have undergone thyroid surgery or I131 treatment, and those who have tested positive for thyroid autoantibodies in the past, screening is required before pregnancy.

Do pregnant women with hypothyroidism still need to take medication?

Patients with hypothyroidism still need to take medication after pregnancy. They should choose levothyroxine (L-T4) treatment under the advice of a specialist. The dosage usually needs to be increased by about 25%-30% as the gestational age increases. It is best to take the medicine on an empty stomach in the early morning. If you vomit on an empty stomach during early pregnancy, you can postpone taking the medicine until you are not nauseated or vomiting. Thyroid function needs to be monitored regularly throughout the pregnancy, once a month in the first half of pregnancy (1 to 20 weeks), and once every two months in the later stages. According to the treatment target of serum TSH, adjust the dosage in time under the guidance of the doctor. The L-T4 dose of pregnant women with hypothyroidism should be reduced to the pre-pregnancy level after delivery, and the serum TSH level should be rechecked 6 weeks after delivery to adjust the L-T4 dose. If thyroid hormone replacement is insufficient during pregnancy, it may affect the neurological and intellectual development of the fetus and increase the risk of premature birth, miscarriage, low birth weight, stillbirth and gestational hypertension.

What should pregnant women with hypothyroidism pay attention to during pregnancy?

1) During T4 replacement therapy, you should strengthen your nutrition, pay attention to proper iodine supplementation, get enough rest, and avoid overwork.

2) Have regular prenatal checkups, pay attention to the growth of weight, abdominal circumference, and uterine height, and use B-ultrasound to monitor fetal growth and development.

3) Collect umbilical cord blood during delivery and test thyroid function and TSH.