Both gynecologists and endocrinologists are well aware of how important it is to control the level of hormones in a woman, especially during pregnancy. At this time, almost all organs and systems of the body change the course of their work, tuning in a new way. After all, for nine months their main task will be to ensure the normal development of the child and maintain the he althy state of the expectant mother. Of course, these changes affect the functioning of the thyroid gland. Violation of the level of hormones produced by it, largely affects the development and course of pregnancy.
The level of the hormone TSH allows you to find out whether the pregnancy is developing normally or there are any abnormalities. This indicator is determined by blood tests taken from a vein. If TSH is lowered or, conversely, elevated, the doctor will prescribe additional studies. They will help to find out what caused the deviation of the hormone level from the norm.
What is TSH?
To know what is at stake, you need to consider the hormones that are produced by the human thyroid gland. Thyrotropic hormone is responsible for the normal functioning of the anterior pituitary gland. It controls the development and functioning of the thyroid gland, as well as the production of triiodothyronine (T3) andthyroxine (T4). These hormones are very important for the normal functioning of the reproductive and cardiovascular systems, are involved in metabolic processes and affect the psycho-emotional state of a person.
Why get your TSH level checked?
Any fluctuation in the amount of hormones in the blood can cause various adverse he alth effects. It is very important to keep under control all significant indicators during the bearing of a child. Often there are situations when the hormonal background changes during this period. It happens that TSH is lowered during pregnancy. It is especially important to pay attention to such fluctuations if a woman has previously experienced thyroid disease or had a sad experience associated with a miscarriage or fetal death.
The fact is that this hormone is very sensitive to pathological changes in the endocrine system. This is explained by one of the basic rules of medicine - the principle of negative feedback. If TTG is lowered, what does it mean? This indicates an increase in the level of free thyroxine. Conversely, with an increase in TSH, T4 decreases. Thus, knowing the basic parameters of hormones produced by the thyroid gland, you can monitor the he alth of a woman, especially in an "interesting" position.
TSH norms during pregnancy
The level of thyroid-stimulating hormone, determined by the ELISA method (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) in the blood of a woman, shouldbe from 0.4 to 4 honey / liter. During pregnancy, these indicators may slightly deviate from the norm. During this period, the level of TSH is constantly changing. Therefore, it is very difficult to derive any average parameters that it should correspond to. It is believed that TSH is most strongly lowered for a period of 10-12 weeks. But there are times when it remains low for all nine months. Often TSH is lowered in multiple pregnancies. However, minor deviations from the norm in one direction or the other are not considered pathological.
The effect of thyroid hormones on pregnancy
The endocrine system plays an important role. The thyroid gland produces triiodothyronine and thyroxine, and the pituitary gland controls this process. In its anterior lobe, TSH is produced, which controls the level of T3 and T4. Together with the blood flow, they enter almost all cells of the human body and take an active part in their life.
The main function of triiodothyronine and thyroxine is the regulation and maintenance of basal metabolism. These hormones help regulate cell reproduction. During pregnancy, they have a stimulating effect on the corpus luteum, preventing the likelihood of an early miscarriage. In the same way that T3 and T4 affect the female body, they are also involved in the development of the fetus, especially in the formation of the brain.
Now that we know the importance of normal levels of hormones produced bythyroid gland, for the mother and unborn child, one can understand why it is necessary to control the levels of thyroxine and triiodothyronine. The doctor should be alerted by the situation when T4 is lowered (and TSH is increased). In this case, a detailed study is assigned.
TTH when planning a pregnancy
It would be a mistake to believe that studying the hormonal background is important only when a woman is already carrying a child under her heart. As mentioned earlier, thyroxine, triiodothyronine and TSH play an important role in human he alth. They also affect the reproductive system. So, if the TSH hormone is lowered, it is not very scary. But if its level is increased simultaneously with a decrease in T3 and T4, the doctor may suggest a violation of the functioning of the ovaries. And this, in turn, leads to a decrease in the likelihood of conceiving and bearing a child.
The processes of follicle production, the formation of the egg and the corpus luteum are disrupted. Therefore, if a woman goes to the doctor with complaints about the inability to get pregnant, the endocrinologist will definitely prescribe an analysis for thyroid hormones. The ideal indicator for planning conception is a TSH level of 1.5 μIU / ml. This is the average level for an adult.
TTH lowered: what does it mean?
Unfortunately, it rarely happens that all tests are normal. Most often, at least one of them, but has deviations. For example, TTG is lowered. What does it mean? As a rule, such a test result should not alert the doctor. A slight decrease in the production of this hormone during pregnancy is absolutely normal. But in somecases, this may be a consequence of pathological conditions:
- If TSH is low during pregnancy, the pituitary gland needs to be checked.
- There is a small possibility of Plummer's syndrome.
- Benign thyroid tumors.
- Pituitary necrosis after childbirth.
- Elevated levels of thyroid hormones.
- Nervous excitement and overexertion.
Thus, if you are wondering "TSH is lowered, what does it mean", do not look for information in the literature, it is better to immediately contact an endocrinologist. He will find out the cause of the changes and prescribe adequate treatment.
If TSH is low, a woman may notice some symptoms, such as headache, heart palpitations, fever and indigestion. But most often, such changes are almost asymptomatic.
TSH increased
If tests show that the level of this hormone is increased during pregnancy, then doctors may prescribe several additional studies, as this may be a sign of the following conditions:
- Disturbed adrenal function.
- There are mental illnesses.
- Problems with the work of the pituitary gland.
- Elevated thyroid hormone levels.
- Pituitary tumor.
- Kidney failure.
- Preeclampsia in a severe stage.
Symptoms of elevated TSH are low fever, weakness, general fatigue, insomnia, pallor and poor appetite. Visually, the neck looksthickened.
T4 hormone: norms and deviations
Thyroxine is closely related to TSH, so tests are usually prescribed to study their level in the aggregate. T4 is one of the most important stimulators of cell division and regeneration in the body. The weight of a person largely depends on its amount, since thyroxine is able to influence metabolic processes and protein synthesis. It is this hormone that determines the body's need for vitamins, and also improves the absorption of carotene by the liver. In addition, it lowers the level of cholesterol in the blood and prevents the appearance of plaques in the vessels of the brain. It is also very important for the functioning of the female reproductive system. In cases where the level of T4 is low or high, there are often problems with planning and pregnancy.
The norm of thyroxine is 9-22 picomoles per liter. These figures are only applicable for women, as they are higher for men. Not always a deviation from the norm is a symptom of a serious illness, it is possible that temporary malfunctions have occurred in the body. If you undergo a course of treatment, then the probability of enduring and giving birth to a he althy baby is very high.
Relationship between TSH and T4
The levels of hormones produced by the thyroid gland are closely intertwined. There are situations when TSH is lowered, T4 is increased. With normal functioning of the pituitary gland and the thyroid gland, this should not be. Usually, if TSH is low, T4 is normal. This means that thyroxine suppresses the production ofthyrotropin.
