Hypothyroidism occurs when the thyroid gland does not produce enough thyroid hormones to meet the body’s needs. The correct functioning or not of the thyroid affects many areas, one of them being pregnancy and the health of the fetus. For this reason, we have asked Dr. Paula Celada, a gynecologist at IVI Valencia, what relationship hypothyroidism has with fertility.
An incorrect functioning of the thyroid can affect fertility
According to data from the Spanish Association of Thyroid Cancer, 1 in 10 people in our country suffer from a thyroid-related disease. But the reality is that half do not know it, due to the lack of information and that their symptoms tend to be confused with other pathologies. In addition, in particular it is common for women of reproductive age to suffer from hypothyroidism. We have already seen what this pathology consists of, but how does it affect fertility? When we talk about fertility we find ourselves, in the case of women, with irregular or even anovulatory cycles. That is, it may be that during a menstrual cycle ovulation does not occur, making it more difficult to conceive.
But not only this pathology affects female fertility, but also male. And it is that hypothyroidism can have negative consequences on sperm quality. This would cause the morphology of the spermatozoa to be altered, affecting mobility. All this leads to a decrease in male fertility.
Hypothyroidism also affects pregnancy
Yes, the reality is that, despite what has been said above, there are cases in which achieving a pregnancy with hypothyroidism does not imply that complications do not appear during pregnancy. Hypothyroidism is associated with a higher rate of miscarriage, placental abruption, preeclampsia, or low birth weight in these infants. We have also observed an association between hypothyroidism and fetal neurodevelopment.
Diagnosis and treatment of hypothyroidism for reproductive purposes
Luckily, it seems that not everything related to the thyroid is negative. And it is that diagnosing and treating thyroid pathologies is simple. First, perform a blood test to determine if something is wrong with the activity of this gland. Said anomaly can be due to excess or defect of operation.
On the other hand, regarding the treatment of this pathology, its functioning can be restored by means of supplementation with synthetic hormones. The objective will be to recover normality in various functions.
If we talk about assisted reproduction treatments, thyroid pathology is not a contraindication. Rather it can be the solution to the problems. In the case of women with irregular cycles, very simple techniques such as Artificial Insemination or In Vitro Fertilization can help regulate the cycle and, therefore, conception.
Finally, once the reproductive desire has been achieved, the patient must be followed up with her endocrinologist and gynecologist, and if necessary, an adjustment of the medication. With a good diagnosis and a good treatment of thyroid pathology we can achieve pregnancies without any type of risk for the mother or the baby.
Do you have hypothyroidism and want to be a mother?
At IVI we can help you achieve your desire to be a mother despite suffering from hypothyroidism. To do this, our medical team will carry out the necessary diagnostic tests, to decide together the most appropriate treatment. You can call us at 900847300 or through the form to request an appointment at IVI.
