January is thyroid awareness month says a press release I got recently from the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists. Indeed, learning a little more about this small, butterfly shaped gland in your neck may be essential to maintaining your reproductive health and protecting the future health of your children. The thyroid secretes a team of hormones essential to how our metabolism functions. Feeling constantly cold, having clammy skin, or experiencing unexplained, rapid weight gain can all point to something happening with the thyroid gland. Like so many other systems, pregnancy can affect how your thyroid functions.

You may have read some of the other posts about the thyroid here. Steve told us about how his thyroid condition killed his libido, and Angela told us about the difficulties in getting thyroid issues diagnosed. While most thyroid conditions are easily treated with synthetic hormones, pregnant women may find that their treatment needs changing slightly during pregnancy or that they need additional iodine.

Untreated thyroid conditions can cause infertility, miscarriage, stillbirth and lead to mental retardation in children.

It’s important to note that treatment is not dangerous. My own thyroid condition has been easily treated and monitored for the past 14 years and both of my kids are healthy.

The AACE as developed a list of “Things Every Mother Should Know” and posted it on the Thyroid Awareness site.

The list encourages women to ensure adequate iodine intake and to be on the lookout for the symptoms of hypothyroidism (not enough thyroid hormones), hyperthyroidism (too many hormones), and Graves Disease. All women who are planning to become pregnant, should have their thyroid hormones tested before conception and women who know they have an existing thyroid condition should be re-tested as soon as pregnancy is detected.

Post from: Babylune