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Grave's Disease and Pregnancy

Graves' disease is a condition in which a person's thyroid works too hard and produces too much of the hormone throxine. An overproduction of throxine is also known as hyperthyroidism. Symptoms of Graves' disease include an abnormally fast heartbeat, anxiety, insomnia, weight loss and extreme fatigue. Due to the normal hormonal changes that happen during pregnancy, it's not unusual for a woman to be diagnosed with Graves' disease during this time. Pre-existing Graves' disease may temporarily worsen during pregnancy.

  1. Facts

    • Pregnancy-induced hyperthyroidism is not very common. Only about two out of 1,000 women develop Graves' disease while they are pregnant.

    Effects

    • If you are diagnosed with Graves' disease during your pregnancy, it is important to explore treatment options. Hyperthyroidism that is not treated or controlled can cause your baby to have an abnormally fast heartbeat, or low birth weight, or could result in possibly birth defects.

    Medications

    • Propylthiouracil (PTU) is used most often to treat pregnant women who have Graves' disease because it does not harm the fetus. Tapazole and radioactive iodine also are used to treat Graves', but they are not safe medications to use during pregnancy.

    Benefits

    • For some fortunate women, pregnancy will actually put them in remission from Graves' disease. Other women may experience a "partial remission" where their condition improves and requires less medication during gestation.

    Time Frame

    • Graves' disease may get worse right after delivery, due to the hormonal surges prevalent at this time. Your doctor will test your thyroid function more frequently for about 12 weeks after your baby is born to accurately judge medication levels.

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