Can you get pregnant if you are suffering from hyperthyroidism?

Thyroid imbalances can lead to problems during conception. In fact, if you are lucky enough to conceive despite the problem the pregnancy can be challenging or affect the health of the fetus.  An underactive thyroid causes more problems during conception and pregnancy than an overactive one. So the good news is that while hypothyroidism makes it difficult to conceive, your chances improve with hyperthyroidism. But it is important to get the levels checked during pregnancy. A routine blood test which is done during pregnancy can reveal your thyroid condition. In case you are suffering from hyperthyroidism your doctor would prescribe medications to bring down the levels. ‘Ideally, you should do a blood test pre-conception to get an idea about your health status and how prepared your body is to carry on the challenges of pregnancy. If thyroid problems flare up during that time it is advisable to bring it under control and then plan a pregnancy,’ says Dr Beena Jeysingh, Consultant, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Motherhood Hospitals, Bengaluru. Read to know how thyroid affects your pregnancy.
At times hyperthyroidism gets better during pregnancy and the hormones might settle without much help. However, if you have severe hyperthyroidism, your doctor might have to plan treatment for you to control the levels during pregnancy. Leaving the overactive thyroid condition untreated can lead to the following problems during pregnancy:

Miscarriage
Heart failure of the mother
Preeclampsia
Premature delivery
Stillbirth

However, don’t go take medications during pregnancy without consulting your doctor. If you skip an appointment and continue taking the medication as prescribed earlier, it could have an adverse impact. To avoid any mishap, make it a point to visit your endocrinologist and gynaecologist during your scheduled appointments to check your health status and they will titrate your dosage as needed.
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