Is hypothyroidism hereditary?

Q: I am 33 years old and a hypothyroid patient for the last 6 years. I have a 5-year-old son. If I plan for a second baby now, is there any chance that my baby would suffer from hypothyroidism? Is hypothyroid hereditary? My father also had hypothyroidism.

A:If you keep your FT4 and TSH in normal range then there will not be any chances of your baby having hypothyroidism. You must be having autoimmune hypothyroidism and this type of hypothyroidism does have familial predisposition but this happens later in life. I suggest that you can go ahead with pregnancy but ensure that your TSH and FT4 are in normal range at the time of conception and keep it in normal range during pregnancy. Get your thyroid tests done at least thrice during pregnancy. Also remember that the dose requirement is more during pregnancy and that decision will be taken depending upon your thyroid hormone values.