Thyroid disorders in pregnancy

This podcast episode provides an advanced clinical review of maternal thyroid dysfunction during gestation and the postpartum period tailored for practicing endocrinologists. The discussion analyzes the physiological stress test of pregnancy on maternal thyroid kinetics including the role of human chorionic gonadotropin and altered iodine clearance. Listeners will review the transition away from rigid trimester cutoffs to population based reference ranges alongside the challenges of standard free thyroxine immunoassays. The episode outlines precise levothyroxine titration protocols for overt and subclinical hypothyroidism stratified by antibody status and details the critical first trimester selection of propylthiouracil over methimazole to mitigate embryopathy risks. Finally the presentation covers the management of postpartum thyroiditis and the latest targeted case finding strategies for high risk patients.