Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat Is Graves' Disease?SymptomsCausesDiagnosis in PregnancyTreatment in PregnancyComplicationsFrequently Asked Questions

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

What Is Graves' Disease?

Symptoms

Causes

Diagnosis in Pregnancy

Treatment in Pregnancy

Complications

Frequently Asked Questions

Graves’ disease can run in families. Anyone can get it, but it most often develops in people assigned female at birth who are under 40—in other words, during potential childbearing years. It sometimes comes on duringpregnancy. But you can have a successful pregnancy with Graves' disease.

This article looks at what Graves’ disease is, fertility and pregnancy risks, how it’s diagnosed and treated, and how to avoid possible complications.

IuriiSokolov/ Getty Images

A female doctor examines the thyroid of a pregnant person.

A Rare OccuranceDespite being the most common cause of hyperthyroidism during pregnancy, Graves’ disease is still fairly uncommon. It only affects 0.2% of pregnant women.

A Rare Occurance

Despite being the most common cause of hyperthyroidism during pregnancy, Graves’ disease is still fairly uncommon. It only affects 0.2% of pregnant women.

Graves’ disease is anautoimmune condition, but it’s an unusual one. In most autoimmune diseases, your immune system createsantibodiesthat attack and damage a healthy body part.

In Graves’ disease, researchers suspect an antibody directly triggers excess thyroid hormone production. That leads to problems with hormone balance.

When Graves’ disease comes on outside of pregnancy, it can cause fertility problems regardless of your biological sex. It can cause:

Fortunately, treatment often restores fertility.

1:59Click Play to Learn All About Graves' Disease

1:59

Click Play to Learn All About Graves' Disease

Symptoms of Graves' Disease

When you have too much thyroid hormone, it speeds up a lot of processes and changes the way your body deals with energy and growth. Common symptoms include:

During pregnancy, the fetus may be exposed to high levels of thyroid hormone. This can cause a goiter during fetal development.

If you have Graves’ disease before pregnancy, immune-system fluctuations may worsen symptoms early, then improve in the second and third trimesters. Symptoms may worsen again after delivery as your immune function returns.

Thyroid Disease, Fertility, and Pregnancy

Causes of Graves' Disease in Pregnancy

During pregnancy, your thyroid hormone levels naturally increase. The thyroid gland may get a little bigger but not enough to cause a goiter.

In some people, though, immune-system changes trigger hyperthyroidism. This causes levels that are higher than what’s normal during pregnancy.

Researchers aren’t sure why Graves’ disease develops in some pregnancies and not in others.

Graves' Disease in Pregnancy Diagnosis

Graves’ disease isdiagnosedthe same whether it’s during pregnancy or not. Healthcare providers look at:

Because Graves’ symptoms are similar to those of other conditions, your healthcare provider may also run additional tests.

Best At-Home Thyroid Tests

Treating Graves' Disease in Pregnancy

A commontreatment for hyperthyroidismis radioactive iodine, which damages overactive thyroid cells so they produce less. However, this treatment isn’t safe for the fetus, so it’s not used during pregnancy.

Treatments that are used during pregnancy include:

Treatment GoalsThe goal of treatment for Graves' disease is to maintain normal thyroid hormone levels.

Treatment Goals

The goal of treatment for Graves' disease is to maintain normal thyroid hormone levels.

Pre-Pregnancy Graves' Disease

Before getting pregnant with Graves' disease, you should discuss any needed treatment changes with your healthcare provider. Ideally, you should switch treatments and get the disease stable before conceiving.

Realistically, though, pregnancy can come as a surprise. If that’s the case, be sure to let your healthcare provider know as soon as you discover you’re pregnant. Don’t discontinue treatments without first talking to a healthcare provider.

Complications of Graves' Disease in Pregnancy

Successful treatment generally prevents serious pregnancycomplicationsfrom Graves’ disease. If it’s not well treated or left untreated, you may develop:

Several possible problems can affect the fetus, including:

These problems are rare with proper treatment. To avoid them, be sure to discuss any new, changing, or worsening symptoms with your healthcare provider.

Summary

Graves’ disease is the most common type of hyperthyroidism during pregnancy. It involves a misfiring immune system that increases thyroid hormone levels. This speeds up many bodily processes.

Untreated Graves’ disease can be dangerous or catastrophic for you and your child. Proper diagnosis and treatment are crucial for a good outcome.

A Word From Verywell

Considering pregnancy with Graves’ disease can be frightening. So is finding out you have Graves’ during pregnancy. Good treatments are readily available, though, and they can protect you and your child from possible complications. Being alert to symptoms and sticking with your treatment plan is key.

Frequently Asked QuestionsThe antibody that causes Graves’ disease can get into the fetal bloodstream and cause high hormone levels. If you have high antibody levels, your healthcare provider can monitor thyroid hormones in the fetus.Learn MoreThyroid Disease in ChildrenYes, if Graves' disease is well managed. It’s best to talk to your healthcare provider before you get pregnant, change medications if needed, and make sure your disease is stable before you conceive.Learn MoreDealing With a High-Risk Pregnancy

The antibody that causes Graves’ disease can get into the fetal bloodstream and cause high hormone levels. If you have high antibody levels, your healthcare provider can monitor thyroid hormones in the fetus.Learn MoreThyroid Disease in Children

The antibody that causes Graves’ disease can get into the fetal bloodstream and cause high hormone levels. If you have high antibody levels, your healthcare provider can monitor thyroid hormones in the fetus.

Learn MoreThyroid Disease in Children

Yes, if Graves' disease is well managed. It’s best to talk to your healthcare provider before you get pregnant, change medications if needed, and make sure your disease is stable before you conceive.Learn MoreDealing With a High-Risk Pregnancy

Yes, if Graves' disease is well managed. It’s best to talk to your healthcare provider before you get pregnant, change medications if needed, and make sure your disease is stable before you conceive.

Learn MoreDealing With a High-Risk Pregnancy

7 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Nguyen CT, Sasso EB, Barton L, Mestman JH.Graves' hyperthyroidism in pregnancy: a clinical review.Clin Diabetes Endocrinol. 2018;4:4. doi:10.1186/s40842-018-0054-7U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Office on Women’s Health.Graves’ disease.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Graves' disease.Preeclampsia Foundation.What is preeclampsia.MedlinePlus.Placenta abruption - definition.National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Dictionary definition: congestive heart failure.MedlinePlus.Thyroid storm.Additional ReadingStanford University, Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital.Graves disease in pregnancy.

7 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Nguyen CT, Sasso EB, Barton L, Mestman JH.Graves' hyperthyroidism in pregnancy: a clinical review.Clin Diabetes Endocrinol. 2018;4:4. doi:10.1186/s40842-018-0054-7U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Office on Women’s Health.Graves’ disease.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Graves' disease.Preeclampsia Foundation.What is preeclampsia.MedlinePlus.Placenta abruption - definition.National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Dictionary definition: congestive heart failure.MedlinePlus.Thyroid storm.Additional ReadingStanford University, Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital.Graves disease in pregnancy.

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Nguyen CT, Sasso EB, Barton L, Mestman JH.Graves' hyperthyroidism in pregnancy: a clinical review.Clin Diabetes Endocrinol. 2018;4:4. doi:10.1186/s40842-018-0054-7U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Office on Women’s Health.Graves’ disease.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Graves' disease.Preeclampsia Foundation.What is preeclampsia.MedlinePlus.Placenta abruption - definition.National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Dictionary definition: congestive heart failure.MedlinePlus.Thyroid storm.

Nguyen CT, Sasso EB, Barton L, Mestman JH.Graves' hyperthyroidism in pregnancy: a clinical review.Clin Diabetes Endocrinol. 2018;4:4. doi:10.1186/s40842-018-0054-7

U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Office on Women’s Health.Graves’ disease.

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Graves' disease.

Preeclampsia Foundation.What is preeclampsia.

MedlinePlus.Placenta abruption - definition.

National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Dictionary definition: congestive heart failure.

MedlinePlus.Thyroid storm.

Stanford University, Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital.Graves disease in pregnancy.

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