Topical iodine is absorbed through the skin, and in large enough amounts, and depending on the Graves' patient, can cause thyroid levels to rise.

BUT there are a lot of unknowns in your question, mainly how much iodine ? I happen to remember the basics of where YOU started in all this, and where you are now. It's probably no big deal, IF it is a "small" amount. I'm visualizing a little square about an inch or two on each side.

If this would be like my old memory that surfaces once in awhile, during the birth of my son, way, way back in the olden days, when we were first given a huge flush ALL your bowels out pill, laid out and All hair was shaved, then we were slathered from just below the waist to our knees with many layers of iodine ( including on all that raw shaved skin) .. now that might be too much of a shock to the system. Or maybe it was the rest of the torture they dished out to all women in labor back then that sent me hyper. Thank goodness things have changed for the better.

Bottom line on all these things is asking if there are alternatives, and weighing the risk vs. benefit when it comes to our medical choices.

We do need adequate iodine, more so when pregnant. I'm assuming your iodine intake is adequate and your body is doing a great job of processing it well.

The bigger question coming up is what is best leading up to pregnancy and during as far as pre-natal vitamins, since they do have a little extra iodine for that stage of the new moms life. That's a great question for Elaine. One I should bookmark after you ask. ;)

Thanks, Pam :)

I am going to have a scan of my uterus and they use iodine on my cervix. Only small amount, not sure of what the alternative would be. My endo is a TSH worshiper, just don't want to send him over the edge if this impacts my TSH. All of these pregnancy plans can unravel fast if he jumps off a cliff.