Thyroid disease is particularly common in women of child-bearing age.

• As a result, it is no surprise that thyroid disease may complicate the course of pregnancy.
• Frequency varies among different populations and different countries. While pregnancy itself is a natural state and not a "disease," thyroid disorders during pregnancy affect both the mother and baby.
• This article focuses specifically on hypothyroidism and pregnancy. After a general description of normal and abnormal thyroid function, recent data on long term consequences in children of mothers who had hypothyroidism during pregnancy will be reviewed.

Disease of the thyroid gland is extremely common. In some conditions, the thyroid may produce too much hormone. In other conditions, the thyroid may be damaged or destroyed and little, if any, thyroid hormone is produced. The main thyroid hormone is called thyroxine, or T4.

Symptoms of thyroid problems vary depending on whether there is too much or too little T4 present in the blood. With an excess of T4 (hyperthyroidism), people may complain of feeling:

• Restless
• Emotionally hyper
• Hot and sweaty

Some people may have symptoms like:

• Tremors
• Trouble concentrating
• Weight loss
• Frequent bowel movements
• Diarrhea

If T4 levels are low (hypothyroidism) as a result of decreased production by the thyroid gland, patients often experience fatigue, lethargy, and weight gain. Constipation is common and many patients report feeling excessively cold.

In many respects, the treatment of hypothyroidism in pregnant women is similar to that in nonpregnant women. A synthetic form of T4 is given to replace the missing hormone. The medication dose is regularly adjusted to maintain a steady blood level of thyroid hormone within the normal range, and the requirements for this hormone may increase during pregnancy. Therefore, it is routine practice to monitor the blood level of the thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) during pregnancy. For more information, please read the article on hypothyroidism.

The thyroid creates hormones that help your body to work correctly. Thyroid hormones control your heart rates and metabolism. You get thyroid disorder when the thyroid gland produces too much or too little hormones. Women develop thyroid disorders before or after pregnancy. Some women also develop it after giving birth to a child. This is known as hypothyroidism during pregnancy (thyroid deficiency during pregnancy)

• Diagnosis of hypothyroidism during pregnancy (thyroid deficiency during pregnancy)
• Healthcare providers usually do not test the thyroid at any stage of pregnancy. But they conduct the test if you risk developing the symptoms or conditions. For example, hypothyroidism during pregnancy (thyroid deficiency during pregnancy) is having a rash or coughing.
• Symptoms of thyroid deficiency are feeling dizzy, having a sore throat etc. Symptoms develop very slowly over time.
• Your doctor will ask you to take a blood test and other physical exams. It helps to measure the level of thyroid in your blood.

How is hypothyroidism during pregnancy treated?

• If the doctor finds an imbalance of thyroid hormone, you will be given some medicines that will not harm the child.
• Levothyroxine is one of the common medicines used to treat the level of the thyroid. It replaces the T4 hormone.
• The medicines that contain T3 hormone are not provided to pregnant women.

Symptoms
Feeling tired,Weight gain,Dry skin and loss of hair,Constipation,Slow heart rate,Joint pain,Muscle pain,Difficulty to concentrate
Conditions
Hyperthyroidism,Hypothyroidism
Drugs
Levothyroxine,Propylthiouracil,Methimazole