Which type of hormones are commonly monitored in pregnant women?

Thyroid hormones are commonly monitored in pregnant women due to their crucial role in maternal health and fetal development. During pregnancy, the demand for thyroid hormones increases to support metabolic processes and ensure proper growth and development of the fetus. The placenta itself produces human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), which can stimulate thyroid function, leading to changes in thyroid physiology.

Monitoring thyroid hormone levels helps identify conditions such as hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism, which can pose risks to both the mother and the developing baby. Maternal hypothyroidism is associated with complications such as preterm birth, low birth weight, and cognitive deficits in the child, while hyperthyroidism can lead to complications like gestational hypertension and fetal tachycardia.

In contrast, while estrogen, androgen, and prolactin hormones play roles in pregnancy, they are not typically monitored as closely as thyroid hormones. Estrogens help with uterine growth and fetal development, and prolactin supports lactation, but their levels are generally part of normal physiological changes that are expected during pregnancy without the same level of clinical monitoring as thyroid hormones. Hence, the focus on thyroid hormones reflects their direct impact on both maternal and fetal health.