TTC with Thyroid Issues

[TMI26]

Hi, I've been trying to conceive now for 14 months now with no luck, four months ago I was diagnosed with an under active thyroid (7.5) and put on 25mg levothyroxine 1.5 months ago I was told to up my dosage to 50mg as my reading had dropped but only to 5 - optimum for pregnancy is 2.0 and under. I am due to test again, but I have been told I may not be ovulating properly as a result, I've tried OPKs and have never had a positive result which adds to my worries that I am not ovulating - thought I would set this forum up for those of you in a similar situation to me and ask has anyone else been diagnosed with under active thyroid whilst ttc and if you fell pregnant how long after did you become pregnant?

[Lisad1975]

I was . I only found out as we had been trying for a bit and nothing then I had a 21 day test for ovulation and picked there.
I was borderline so started on 25 mcg
I think I did a postive pg test about 6 months later mayb .
Have you had an internal scan at all ?
I honestly think the thing that helped was putting it to one side and thinking of other things like holiday etc..
AND yes I know its hard to get ur head around!!

[TMI26]

Well it will be almost four months, getting retested next week so hoping that my levels will be below 2. It makes me feel rubbishy as it is - it's my first time and i just want it so bad :( at least good stories like yours show there is a silver lining! Did you have to up your dosage out of pregnancy? How long has it been?

[Lisad1975]

I felt really tired and crap till I started on thyroxine.
Yes I changed my dose during pg up to 50 then 75 I think. Then back to 50 after birth .
You will be under a consultant and just have regular blood tests really.
My lg is 21 months now and I am having a 2nd bub in Nov !
I totally understand what you are saying but it is not the end of everything. It will all be fine! Its good you know you have it so it can be monitored.
Getting your levels right takes a little time I have read. There are lots of informative websites out there.
Good luck and reeeelax !

[johendy]

Hi TMI. I was diagnosed with an underactive thyroid while going through ivf. I was only at 3.9 but my consultant put me on 75 Mcg. The first round of ivf faled - I wonder if I should have been on thyroxine for longer. The second round was successful. I stayed on 75 through my pregnancy then dropped to 50 after. We had male factor infertility but I'm sure my thyroid was an issue as i fell pregnant again when baby was 8 months (a surprise as there wasn't a lot of sex! And it certainly wasn't timed). That pregnancy didn't stick, but getting pregnant was very unlikely due to sperm issues, so I'm convinced sorting my thyroid helped. I range between 0.5 and 2.5 in my tests since baby, on 50 Mcg.
The other benefit of sorting my thyroid is that I don't stay each day feeling hungover and end it sloping of to bed early completely exhausted. It has absolutely changed the quality of my life!
Good luck with the baby making. Give your body time to adjust to the thyroxine and enjoy the sex! I hope it happens quickly for you.

[TMI26]

It's frustrating that they don't check thoroughly enough, I asked to be tested myself. Thanks for the support ladies!! Some websites are scary saying it causes 'infertility' which sounds so full and final. Jo, how long did you wait to go through a second round and before your thyroid levels were at a reasonable level ?

[TheCrumpettyTree]

My levels were 6 and I got referred to an endocrinologist and was put on Levo as she wanted them below 2. It's important your levels are low, there is a NICE guideline about it. You'll have to be monitored during pregnancy and your levothyroxine levels increased when you get pregnant. I conceived my second child after this was sorted. Good luck!

[johendy]

I agree it's frustrating that thyroid don't hey checked. I'd been to the doctors with extreme tiredness many many times over the years and no doctor ever checked my thyroid. One blessing of infertility! I've recently told my friend to get pushy for the same reason, after loads of doctors visits they just focused on iron levels but her thyroid was over 8! I imagine there are loads of unknown sufferers. And research shows a link to fertility struggles - I wonder how much heartbreak could be avoided if thyroid issues were better understood and diagnosed.
I started my second ivf the next month, i really pushed to go straight away. And thankfully it worked. So my thyroid for sorted quickly I think.
Don't think of it causing infertility, it's simply that an underactive thyroid impacts fertility. It's not permanent and it is possible to have a successful pregnancy with hypothyroidism, but less likely.
Its just that it may take a little time for you to find the right levels for your meds but it will happen. My doctors have been good about allowing blood tests when I ask, if I start to feel different etc. Maybe your doctor could agree to more regular tests to help you track your levels and feel more in control.
And on the not ovulating point. Most women have a month or two a year when they don't ovulate, even if everything is 'normal'. Maybe you've tested in one of those months.
If infertility is really getting you down, are yo6y in a position to have a private fertility consultation and tests? It's not cheap but might either set your mind at rest (hopefully) or set you on a path to address any issues.

[johendy]

Sorry for typos!

[Junosmum]

Fell pregnant and have a very healthy little boy with a level of 4.5 so it is possible. Hopefully you'll get sorted soon.

[Cinnamal]

I'm pregnant with no. 3 and my TSH was about 4-5 when I got pregnant, it was the first month of trying so it's not all doom and gloom if you have a dodgy thyroid!
I have found though over the years that I need to push for dosage changes/blood tests as otherwise I tend to get left alone. I've asked for trial dose increases and questioned my levels when GPs tell me they are fine. Good luck

[TMI26]

Suppose it effect people in a different way, other things have been ruled out becaUse my thyroid is not stable, from the looks of it I may need to increase my dosage to 75mg - got tested on Friday so let's see what happens next week!