Increase Risk for Miscarriages May Be Related to Thyroid Function

A study published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism states that infertility and adverse pregnancy outcomes are more common when the thyroid gland is hypo- or hyperactive. Higher miscarriage rate, more frequent preterm deliveries, increased hypertension, diabetic complications, higher risk for placental abruption, and adverse fetal effects have all been reported with thyroid dysfunction in pregnancy. The study states that women with normal thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels, but with evidence for thyroid autoimmunity, are at approximately a 2-fold increased risk for pregnancy loss. Woman with subclinical hypothyroidism and/or high-normal TSH levels at the beginning of pregnancy may show signs of thyroid insufficiency during pregnancy. The study involved 4123 pregnant women who had their TSH levels measured at the first medical visit during pregnancy. The miscarriage rate was 3.6% in women with a TSH level of < 2.5 mIU/l, and 6.1% in women with TSH levels between 2.5 and 5.0 mIU/l. This indicates that optimal thyroid levels are very important in infertility and preventing a miscarriage.

I have been testing thyroid in all my patients who have had problems getting pregnant and many times it is not at the optimal levels.