Certain groups of women have a higher risk of developing abnormal thyroid function during pregnancy. If women are in of these ‘at risk’ groups, check their thyroid levels in conception and at presentation.

Who is at risk?

History of thyroid disease or surgery	Autoimmune conditions with obstetric complication	Previous late pregnancy loss
Previous thyroid surgery	Type 1 diabetes mellitus	Stillbirth
Goitre	Systemic Lupus Erythematosus	Second trimester miscarriage
Thyroid nodule	Anti-Ro/Anti-La positivity	Two miscarriages or more
Previous overt or subclinical thyroid dysfunction	Anti-phopholipid syndrome	Subfertility
Previous thyroiditis
Positive TPO antibodies
Previous radioiodine ablation
Taking medication which disrupts thyroid function e.g. lithium, amiodarone
Previous head/neck irradiations
Cardiac dysrhythmia (irrregular heartbeat)
Significant weight loss
Enlarged thyroid gland
Thyroid nodule

Read the RCOG Green-top guideline on the Management of Thyroid Disorders in Pregnancy