The Risks Of Hyperthyroid Treatment Methods During Pregnancy and Lactation


For those women with hyperthyroidism or Graves’ Disease who are either pregnant or breastfeeding, there are numerous risks associated with the different hyperthyroid treatment options typically recommended by most endocrinologists. What I plan on doing here is discussing the risks of these conventional treatment methods, and then I will present a different hyperthyroid treatment option which doesn’t come with the same set of risks. This way you can use this information in order to make an informed decision as to which treatment you would like to receive.

The Conventional Hyperthyroid Treatment Options During Pregnancy and Lactation:

The most common hyperthyroid treatment recommended by endocrinologists and other types of medical doctors for pregnant and lactating women is anti-thyroid drugs. Methimazole and PTU are two of the most common drugs prescribed, and they can usually do a pretty good job of managing the symptoms of hyperthyroidism. However, there are potential risks to the baby when taking anti-thyroid drugs. But the risks of untreated hyperthyroidism is usually greater than taking the anti-thyroid drugs, which is why endocrinologists recommend the latter option.

For those women who are pregnant or breastfeeding who don’t respond well to taking anti-thyroid drugs, the next step usually would be for them to receive thyroid surgery. This procedure is rarely performed on pregnant and lactating women, and is usually reserved for those women with severe symptoms who don’t respond well to anti-thyroid drugs. Since thyroid surgery comes with many risks, most medical doctors will try to avoid this procedure if at all possible.

How about radioactive iodine therapy? This treatment has the potential to obliterate the thyroid gland of the fetus, and as a result, is not recommended by endocrinologists to women who are pregnant or breastfeeding. This should give you a good idea as to how harsh of a treatment method this is, as you want to be cautious with any treatment that has the word “radioactive” in it. So even in people who aren’t pregnant or lactating, RAI shouldn’t be the first treatment option, yet many doctors do in fact recommend this to their patients as the primary treatment option.

Natural Hyperthyroid Treatment Methods During Pregnancy and Lactation:

Another hyperthyroid treatment option for women who are either pregnant or breastfeeding is to use natural treatment methods to help manage their symptoms. In many cases, such a protocol can also restore the person’s health back to normal. This obviously presents a more appealing option than taking prescription drugs or receiving surgery, and as a result, many pregnant and lactating women are beginning to choose natural treatment methods.

But are natural treatment methods safe? Under the guidance of a competent natural endocrine doctor, natural hyperthyroid treatment methods are usually a very safe option. However, there are certain herbs which are contraindicated for pregnancy and lactation, and this is why it can be extremely risky to self treat your condition. A good holistic doctor who focuses on endocrine disorders will be able to determine which supplements and herbs are safe to take while pregnant or breastfeeding, and which ones should be avoided.

The Reason Why Natural Hyperthyroid Treatment Methods Are So Effective

The reason why natural hyperthyroid treatment methods are so effective is because they get to the underlying cause of the condition, rather than just manage the symptoms. While symptom management is important for someone who has severe hyperthyroid symptoms, conventional medical treatment does nothing for the actual cause of hyperthyroidism and Graves’ Disease. While taking anti-thyroid drugs may be necessary to temporarily manage the symptoms, they do absolutely nothing for the cause of the condition.

On the other hand, the primary goal of a natural hyperthyroid treatment protocol is to determine the actual cause of the condition. This way the holistic doctor can come up with a treatment plan to help the person restore their health back to normal. Once again, there are certain restrictions for women who are pregnant or breastfeeding, which is why it’s important to consult with an expert, rather than try self-treating your condition.

How Someone Who Is Pregnant or Breastfeeding Can Receive Natural Hyperthyroid Treatment Methods

In order to receive natural hyperthyroid treatment methods in a safe manner, it once again is important to consult with a competent holistic doctor. If you do mention anything about a natural treatment protocol to your endocrinologist or general medical practitioner, chances are they won’t be supportive of this. If there is a local naturopathic doctor in your area then this definitely is an option, although an ideal option would be to find someone who focuses their practice on endocrine disorders, and thus has plenty of experience seeing people with hyperthyroidism and Graves’ Disease.

I actually provide a free guide on how to treat your thyroid condition naturally, which gives some resources on how to find a natural endocrine doctor. You can obtain this guide by visiting the website listed at the end of this article.

Combining Different Hyperthyroid Treatment Options For Women Who Are Pregnant or Breastfeeding

The downside of natural hyperthyroid treatment methods is that it can take a few weeks before they begin to effectively manage the symptoms. As a result, a woman who is pregnant or breastfeeding might want to consider taking the anti-thyroid drugs on a temporary basis, and at the same time begin a natural treatment protocol. Then after a few weeks she can begin weaning off of the prescription drugs (under the supervision of a competent medical doctor of course), and continue with the natural treatment protocol. Even though this will still involve taking the prescription drugs for a few weeks, this is better than taking them all throughout your pregnancy.

Using Natural Hyperthyroid Treatment Methods Before Pregnancy

The ideal situation would be to begin using natural hyperthyroid treatment methods before you become pregnant. If you are already pregnant or breastfeeding then you can still of course benefit from a natural treatment protocol. But if you have hyperthyroidism or Graves’ Disease and you’re not currently pregnant or breastfeeding, then following a natural hyperthyroid treatment protocol not only can potentially restore your health back to normal, but it will create a very healthy environment for the baby.

In fact, I think that any woman who is thinking of getting pregnant should incorporate some type of natural treatment protocol not only to optimize her own health, but to also improve the chances of having a healthy baby as well. Without question it isn’t easy to follow through with such a protocol, but the benefits make it well worth it, especially when we’re talking about the long term health of you and your baby.


Source by Dr. Eric Osansky