What levels of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) hormone affects pregnancy?
Apr 19, 2022
The new recommendations for TSH levels during pregnancy are mentioned below:
First trimester – range of 0.1-2.5
Thyroid hormone has an important role in brain development of the baby during pregnancy. It is clear that overt hypothyroidism (increased TSH levels and low thyroid hormone levels) in the mother, especially early in pregnancy, can affect the baby’s brain development or cause other problems with the pregnancy. It is not clear if subclinical hypothyroidism (increased TSH levels and normal thyroid hormone levels) would have similar adverse effects.
Usually, below-normal levels of TSH leads to hypothyroidism, which may happen in the first trimester of pregnancy. If TSH levels are less, another blood test is performed to measure T3 and T4. It is then understood that overt hypothyroidism raised TSH levels and low thyroid hormone levels in the mother, especially initial in pregnancy, can affect the baby’s brain development or cause other problems with the pregnancy. Hypothyroidism high TSH during conception and pregnancy should be treated. It has its effect on neurological development of the baby. High TSH itself is not an focus for termination of pregnancy but any problem if it has happened cannot be ruled out. Your wife should take Eltroxin 50 mcg daily and continues serum T4 and TSH after 3 weeks and depending upon the levels her dose can be settle . Eltroxin should be taken empty stomach. Anti TPO Thyroid Peroxidase antibodies can be done in your wife’s blood sample to know the type of hypothyroidism. Usually it is due to dietary insufficiency and iodized salt should be taken.