Hypothyroidism During Pregnancy Increases Risk of Miscarriage

Over nine thousand women participated in a study conducted in Maine between 1990 and 1992. The women were tested for TSH levels between the 15th and 18th months of pregnancy. Of the 209 women identified with TSH levels of 6 or above, 8 had miscarriages (3.8%). The 37 women with levels of 10 or higher had a miscarriage rate of 8.1%.

Researchers at the Foundation for Blood Research in Scarborough Maine reported their findings in the Journal for Medical Screening published by the British Medical Journal. The study linked 6 of every 100 late term miscarriages to elevated TSH levels. Researchers suggested that early detection and treatment of hypothyroidism in pregnancy may be the key to preventing these miscarriages.

In an earlier article in the New England Journal of Medicine these same researchers linked maternal hypothyroidism with decreased intellectual performance in the child. See Hypothyroidism during Pregnancy effects IQ Scores

Sources
• Maternal Hypothyroidism During Pregnancy Linked to Increased Risk for Miscarriage accessed 8 Dec 2000
• Hypothyroidism Linked to Greater Miscarriage Risk J Med Screen 2000;7:127-130 accessed 8 Dec 2000

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