Description :

Hypothyroidism in pregnancy is usually caused by hashimotos disease and occurs in 2 to 3 out of every 100 pregnancies 1 hashimotos disease is an autoimmune disorder in hashimotos disease the immune system makes antibodies that attack the thyroid causing inflammation and damage that make it less able to make thyroid hormones. Thyroid disease is the second most common endocrine disorder affecting women of reproductive age and when untreated during pregnancy is associated with an increased risk of miscarriage placental. The thyroid gland can increase in size during pregnancy enlarged thyroid goiter however pregnancy associated goiters occur much more frequently in iodine deficient areas of the world it is relatively uncommon in the united states. Hypothyroidism and pregnancy during the first few months of pregnancy the fetus relies on the mother for thyroid hormones thyroid hormones play an essential part in normal brain development deprivation of the maternal thyroid hormone due to hypothyroidism can have irreversible effects on the fetus