FAQs

Should my TSH levels be tested
before I get pregnant?

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Infertility may be a symptom of hypothyroidism.1 If you are having difficulty conceiving and you have other hypothyroidism symptoms, talk to your doctor about having your TSH levels tested.

Also, some pregnant women should have their TSH levels measured early in the pregnancy to detect thyroid disease.2 They include women with:

  • Age of more than 30 years3
  • A history of autoimmune disease or prior thyroid surgery4
  • A family history of thyroid disease3
  • A goitre (an enlarged thyroid)4
  • Thyroid antibodies5
  • Hyperemesis gravidarum and clinical features suggestive of hyperthyroidism3
  • Type I diabetes4
  • Other autoimmune disorders (such as lupus or vitiligo)6
  • Previous radiation therapy to the head or neck4
  • A history of miscarriage or preterm delivery5
  • Decreased fertility4
  • A BMI greater than 40 (being very overweight)5
  • A need for amiodarone (a drug for irregular heartbeats), lithium,5 or recent administration of iodinated contrast agent (often used during a CT scan)7
  • Living in an area of known for moderate to severe iodine insufficiency.3

Find out more about thyroid health during pregnancy

References:

1. Hypothyroidism and infertility: any connection? Mayo Clinic. Accessed May 23, 2023. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/female-infertility/expert- answers/hypothyroidism-and-infertility/faq-20058311 2. Hypothyroidism and pregnancy. John Hopkins Medicine. Accessed August 7, 2023. https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/staying-healthy-during-pregnancy/hypothyroidism-and-pregnancy 3. Smith A, Eccles-Smith J, D’Emden M, Lust K. Thyroid disorders in pregnancy and postpartum. Aust Prescr. 2017;40(6):214-219. 4. Sahay RK, Nagesh VS. Hypothyroidism in pregnancy. Indian J Endocrinol Metab. 2012;16(3):364-370. 5. Deshauer S, Wyne A. Subclinical hypothyroidism in pregnancy. CMAJ. 2017;189(28):E941. 6. Franco JS, Amaya-Amaya J, Anaya JM. Thyroid disease and autoimmune diseases. In: Anaya JM, Shoenfeld Y, Rojas-Villarraga A, Levy RA, Cervera R, eds. Autoimmunity: From Bench to Bedside. National Library of Medicine; 2013:chap 30. 7. Lee SY, Rhee CM, Leung AM, Braverman LE, Brent GA, Pearce EN. A review: radiographic iodinated contrast media-induced thyroid dysfunction. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2015;100(2):376-383.