[Anonymous December 10, 1996 at 5:58 am Post count: 93172]

#1166989

You are talking about future pregnancies, right? According to the books I have, RAI treatments have not shown any effect on subsequent pregnancies. From THE THYROID GLAND (but I’ve read this elsewhere, too) “There has been no increase in fetal abnormalities or infertility after radioactive iodine therapy for hyperthyroidism, or even after much higher doses of radioactive iodine given for thyroid cancer. Women should not become pregnant for six months after this treatment.” This author, Joel I. Hamburger, is an MD, but I don’t know what type (endo, internist…?) Anyway, he goes on to state that of the various treatments for hyperthyroidism, he feels that RAI is the safest for women of childbearing age (actually, he thinks that this is the safest, PERIOD) because antithyroid drugs can cross the placenta to the baby in some cases, and CAN cause the baby problems, so very careful management of these drugs is required during a pregnancy. “Unless there is careful management and complete patient cooperation, there is a danger of fetal goiter or mental retardation. In contrast, there are no reports of genetic abnormalities caused by radioactive iodine.”

[Anonymous December 10, 1996 at 6:26 am Post count: 93172]

#1057810

Hi,
Can anyone tell me whether it will have any damage to future pregnancy
after being treated with RAI, i.e,
baby can be defected????

Thank you very much.

[Anonymous December 10, 1996 at 11:29 am Post count: 93172]

#1166990

I received RAi treatment in June 1995 and was told by my endo. that the safest time to conceive is 9 months – 1 year after treatment. That’s what we did and we are expecting a child this April. From the sonograms, everything looks fine and I’m not considered to be at-risk due to RAI treatment.

Good luck! Jennifer

[Anonymous December 10, 1996 at 10:20 pm Post count: 93172]

#1166991

Most of the med advice is to wait a year after RAI before getting pregnant
I haven’t read of any danger to future children. Anyone been there,
done ths?

[Anonymous December 12, 1996 at 6:10 pm Post count: 93172]

#1166992

Hi Alice-

I, too, have the same question!! From what I have read and discussed with
others there seems to be no negative link between RAI and pregnancy.
However, I am trying to find out more about it. It used to be that they
did not treat females in child bearing years with RAI. This has changed
but I do not know since when.

Let me know if you find out the answer. Thanks and Good Luck, Diane

[Anonymous December 12, 1996 at 6:14 pm Post count: 93172]

#1166993

Congratulations Jennifer!!! You give me hope. Good Luck with your
pregnancy. Best Wishes, Diane

[Anonymous December 13, 1996 at 12:49 am Post count: 93172]

#1166994

Hi Diane,

Thank you for replying my message. I will go see my doctor tomorrow
and ask whether RAI will affect pregnancy.

I am curretnly under Accupuncture treatment. I find it somewhat helpful.
I will let you know whether it will work well this time.

Thank you

[Anonymous December 13, 1996 at 12:49 am Post count: 93172]

#1166995

Hi Diane,

Thank you for replying my message. I will go see my doctor tomorrow
and ask whether RAI will affect pregnancy.

I am curretnly under Accupuncture treatment. I find it somewhat helpful.
I will let you know whether it will work well this time.

Thank you

[Anonymous December 16, 1996 at 5:51 pm Post count: 93172]

#1166996

I was told no affect on future pregnancy IF you can get pregnant. However hypothyroidism can inhibit fertiliy and cause miscarriage. iT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT you get frequent testing as your meds will probably have to be adjusted as you go along in the pregnancy. My last pregnancy my endo was very unresponsive to my concerns. I became hypo very hypo and I lost the baby. In 3 years have not been able to get pregnant again Bummer.–Kendra

[Anonymous December 16, 1996 at 6:49 pm Post count: 93172]

#1166997

My heart goes out to you Kendra. My 42 year old friend tried to get
pregnant for over 10 years. She now has a one week old little girl!
There is hope – do not give up. I was trying for almost two years and
then discovered that I have Graves. I now have to wait for this to all
be sorted out before continuing. It is a bummer that’s for sure. Have
you tried hormone replacement or fertility drugs?

Best of luck to you! Diane

[Anonymous December 17, 1996 at 11:58 am Post count: 93172]

#1166998

How have your levels been since you lost the baby? Are they “normal” or are you still trying to ge them balanced? My endo.–who I feel is a godsend–is also a fertility specialist. He told me that once my levels were stabilized (I had RAI treatment one year prior to trying to conceive my 2nd child) and wasn’t pregnant within 6 months, he’d order other types of testing–ie..fertitilty testing–because he felt there should be no reason why I shouldn’t be able to conceive after everything got straightened out. I don’t know where you are but if you are close to the Houston area, I’d love to give you his number to see if he could hopefully help.

Good luck and God bless.
Jennifer

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