How is the thyroid gland affected during pregnancy?

Pregnancy has a profound physiological impact on the thyroid gland and thyroid function. During pregnancy, the thyroid gland increases in size by 10% in iodine-sufficient countries and to a greater extent in iodine-deficiency countries. Production of thyroid hormones and iodine requirement both increases by approximately 50% during pregnancy as part of physiology. In addition, pregnancy is a stressful condition for the thyroid gland resulting in hypothyroidism in women with limited thyroid reserve or iodine deficiency. #ThyroidAwarenessMonth