The 8th International Thyroid Awareness Week was launched at the new building of People’s Daily in Beijing, on May 26, 2016. The event this year intends to call on potential parents to check for thyroid disorder before pregnancy.

According to Prof. Teng Weiping, former head of Chinese Society of Endocrinology, 0.6 percent of women has been diagnosed with clinical hypothyroidism during the first half period of pregnancy, and the morbidity for subclinical hypothyroidism among pregnant women is 5.3 percent. Another 8.6 percent of them have been tested positive for thyroid autoantibodies (TPOAb).

Numerous domestic and foreign studies have shown that clinical and subclinical hypothyroidism as well as positive TPOAb will significantly increase the risk of premature delivery, miscarriage and complication, said Teng.

“Given that the atypical manifestation of thyroid disorders, such as fatigue and weight increase are easily confused with pregnancy symptoms, it is necessary for women in early pregnancy or pregnancy preparation to go through a thyroid function check-up,” Teng emphasized.