Thyroid Hormone Pregnacy Warning

An excess of thyroid hormone during pregnancy can harm the unborn baby, warn Chicago University researchers. But women taking replacements should not worry unduly say UK experts. High levels tripled miscarriage risk and hampered weight gain in babies who did survive, the US team report in Journal of the American Medical Association. Replacement is recommended for pregnant women lacking sufficient levels, but it should be tightly controlled they say. The problems caused by a lack of thyroid hormone during pregnancy, such as miscarriage, are well known. It can also result in mental retardation in the child. Women with underactive thyroids, a condition called hypothyroidism, are advised to take supplements to replace the shortage.

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