Your body undergoes several changes during pregnancy. The endocrine system is responsible for many bodily functions, including hormone production, metabolism, reproduction and more. Hormonal changes are significant during pregnancy and lead to various notable changes in your body. Hormonal balance is important for healthy pregnancy and proper development and growth of the baby. Pregnant women can suffer from endocrine disorders that may affect their pregnancy and lead to complications. Read to learn about potential endocrine disorders during pregnancy, their effects and their treatment.
Endocrine disorders are the malfunction in the endocrine system during pregnancy. This may result in pregnancy complications, including preeclampsia, preterm birth and growth defects. Some of the endocrine disorders in pregnancy symptoms are fatigue, weight gain, abnormal menstruation, lethargy, constipation and cramps.
Check for the following symptoms of endocrine disorders in pregnancy:
● Weight Gain
● High blood sugar levels
● Abnormal blood pressure
● Fatigue and lethargy
● Abnormal Menstruation
● Mood swings
● Weakness
The following are the common endocrine disorders in pregnancy that you may suffer from.
Your sugar levels may fluctuate during pregnancy, leading to abnormal sugar levels. Due to abnormal hormones, it is possible to impair the action of insulin in your body. Insulin resistance results in elevated blood sugar levels. This may occur during the 24th to 28th week of pregnancy. It is possible to deliver a healthy baby even with gestational diabetes. Managing your blood sugar levels is the key to protecting the baby in case of gestational diabetes.
Thyroid hormones are important for the proper functioning of your bodily functions during pregnancy. The common disorders related to thyroid functions during pregnancy are:
This is a thyroid disorder where the thyroid produces more thyroid hormones. Symptoms of hyperthyroidism are tremors, feeling anxious, weight loss and feeling hot. Overactive thyroid leads to pregnancy complications, including low birth weight, preeclampsia and miscarriage.
This is a condition in which the thyroid does not produce enough thyroid hormone, which is essential for a healthy pregnancy. Symptoms of the condition include weight gain, depression and feeling cold. An underactive thyroid may result in various pregnancy-related complications.
Both hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism can harm the growth and development of the fetus.
In Type 1 diabetes, there is a chance of uncontrolled sugar levels due to an autoimmune disorder that stops insulin production. In Type 2 diabetes, the body does not use the insulin secreted by the pancreas.
This is also called prolactinoma, and it is caused by abnormal hormonal levels due to endocrine dysfunction. Headache, visual disturbances and hypertension are the evident symptoms of pituitary tumours.
This is a condition during pregnancy where the pituitary enlarges from its normal size. This may be due to the high levels of prolactin. You may suffer from severe headaches, blurred vision, fatigue and nausea due to this disorder.
The fetus can inherit chromosomes from both the mother and father during conception. It can change the development of your baby. Proper screening tests can prevent genetic disorders.
The following risk factors increase the chance of endocrine disorders in pregnancy:
● Women who are pregnant and are more than 40 years of age.
● Obesity
● Pre-existing endocrine disorders
● Vitamin D deficiency
The endocrine glands involved in pregnancy are the placenta, pituitary gland and ovaries. These endocrinal glands play a significant role in releasing hormones essential for pregnancy. Your body undergoes hormonal changes during pregnancy, which is compromised in the case of endocrine disorders. The increase or low levels of certain hormones can negatively impact your pregnancy and affect your growing fetus. Proper medical treatment and regular monitoring are a must to avoid its effects on your pregnancy.
When you notice some evident symptoms of endocrine disorders, consult your doctor for a proper diagnosis. Your healthcare provider performs a physical examination followed by a blood test and imaging test. You must check for the following levels in your blood:
● TSH
● Prolactin
● Glucose
● FSH and TH
Imaging tests include CT, ultrasound and MRI scans, which help identify the type of endocrine disorder.
Proper treatment for endocrine disorders during pregnancy is important to help deliver your baby without complications.
● Gestational diabetes can be treated with a gestational diabetes diet and being active throughout your pregnancy.
● You will be prescribed antithyroid medicines when you suffer from hyperthyroidism. Thyroidectomy surgery can help treat severe hypothyroidism.
● Thyroid hormone replacement medications help in treating hypothyroidism.
● Regular monitoring of the TSH levels can help treat thyroid disorders during pregnancy.
● It is possible to treat type 1 and type 2 diabetes during pregnancy through proper diet, insulin, exercise and other medications.
● The size and the type of adenoma help your doctor to choose the right treatment plan for pituitary adenoma. Medications and surgery can treat the condition.
● Pituitary tumours can be treated by regulating hormone levels with medication and surgery.
There are complications and risks due to endocrine disorders during pregnancy.
● Hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism can cause pregnancy complications, including preterm birth, miscarriage, low birth weight and preeclampsia.
● Gestational diabetes can lead to preterm birth, large babies, pre-eclampsia, jaundice and breathing problems in the newborn baby, and stillbirth.
● Pituitary tumours can lead to gestational diabetes and high blood pressure levels.
● Pituitary adenoma can affect fetal development and also result in gestational diabetes.
The endocrine system regulates the hormonal balance of pregnant women. Any problems or issues in the endocrine function may cause endocrine disorders. Understanding the symptoms and proper diagnosis can help pregnant women receive the right treatment, which is important for protecting the health of the mother and fetus.
Common female endocrine disorders are thyroid issues, menstrual problems, PCOS, weight gain and ovarian cysts.
The endocrine disorders that occur during pregnancy are called material endocrine disorders. They are gestational diabetes, thyroid disorders and pituitary tumours.
The endocrine system is responsible for releasing hormones and maintaining the right hormonal balance during pregnancy.
Some of the notable symptoms of endocrine disorders in infants
● Slow Growth
● Rapid Growth
● Abnormal head size
