Why does hypothyroidism develop during pregnancy, its signs and symptoms

Hypothyroidism is not a disease as such, but a process that occurs due to a lack of hormones in the thyroid gland. In women, this pathology is observed in nineteen cases out of a thousand.

It is not uncommon for cases when the process does not show itself for a long time. And the reason here lies in the fact that the occurrence and development of the disease is slow and smooth, and the signs do not provide complete information that may indicate the presence of the disease. Often, signs of hypothyroidism are taken for pregnancy or usual overwork.

Hypothyroidism during pregnancy is dangerous because it has a negative impact on the development of the nervous system of the unborn child, even in the situation when substitution therapy is prescribed to him immediately after birth. Why is this happening? The thyroid gland in the fetus in the first half of pregnancy almost does not function, and with normal thyroid gland functioning in a pregnant woman, the development of the nervous system in the fetus will be ensured regardless of whether he has congenital hypothyroidism or not.

The second half of pregnancy with congenital hypothyroidism is notable for the intensification of transplacental transfer of maternal T4.Developed processes of myelination in the central nervous system will continue even after delivery, and their final completion will occur during the first year of life of the newborn.

Signs and symptoms of

If a woman's thyroid gland deteriorates during pregnancy, her complaints about the inhibition and rapid fatigue that are so characteristic of pregnancy become more frequent. In addition, the pregnant woman experiences chilliness, that is, she is always cold. There are changes in appearance, and for the worse, hair falls out, the skin is scaly as a result of its dryness, the fragility of the nails increases.

Hypothyroidism in pregnancy in rare cases manifests itself in a hoarse voice, puffiness of the face, swelling in the lower eyelids, which are directly conspicuous, indicating a disease. The face is pale with a yellowish tinge. The pregnant woman notices frequent nasal congestion. The tongue in the mouth swells and does not fit into it, and on the sides of the tongue there are traces of the lateral teeth.

Often, most signs of hypothyroidism are mistaken for pregnancy, but an experienced specialist, after a thorough examination, will always figure out what is wrong.

Subclinical and primary hypothyroidism in pregnant women

Subclinical hypothyroidism in pregnancy is a form of thyroid dysfunction, in which signs of disease have not yet been observed. The detection of this pathological form occurs as a result of the determination of blood hormones. The presence of subclinical hypothyroidism is indicated by an increased amount of thyroid-stimulating pituitary hormone in the blood. Since TSH is regulated by the secretion of thyroid hormones, even a slight decrease in its functions leads to an increase in the amount of TSH.Along with this, the blood determines the normal or slightly reduced number of thyroid hormones.

In most cases, the pregnant woman does not even suspect the presence of her subclinical form of hypothyroidism, since the medical theory indicates a complete absence of signs of impaired thyroid activity. Despite this, the detection of abnormalities in various types of metabolism, including in the main exchange, is quite realistic.

Due to improper metabolism, the functions of other systems and organs often suffer. So, patients with subclinical hypothyroidism complain of bad mood, anxiety and depression, as well as the inability to concentrate and remember something. With the use of substitution therapy, these symptoms gradually decrease.

Primary hypothyroidism in pregnancy is a process that provoked deficiency of thyroid function, and originates in the thyroid tissue itself. Often this is the result of injuries, improper congenital development or inflammatory and allergic processes, even in cases of allergies to the body's own tissues, as well as thyroid surgery or destruction by radiation exposure.

Symptoms of primary hypothyroidism are mostly similar to those of the subclinical form, but when the primary form is launched, the appearance of the patient speaks for itself: a swollen, pale face with a yellowish hue, and still, because facial expressions are impaired. The skin of the patient is cold to the touch and dry, scaly. The pregnant woman complains of muscle pain, fatigue, decreased muscle strength, in some cases, convulsive muscle twitching. However, they can be dense and stiff due to the proliferation of connective tissue in them.

In the absence or delay of treatment, a hypothyroid coma may occur, characterized by an unclear consciousness with a deep stance of its loss. All this is accompanied by a decrease in body temperature.

Treatment consists in replacement therapy with thyroid hormones.