Pernicious Anemia hashimotos and fertility issues.

[Oliveorca]

Hi all, I have been reading a number of posts and was wondering if anyone has a similar experience to me.

I was first diagnosed with an underactive thyroid when I was 22 (now 32) and have been TTC for about 18 months now with no success. I have had Previous pregnancies prior to thyroid diagnosis but no live births. 1 miscarriage one TOP.

My husband and I have gone through multiple fertility tests and all of them have come back outstanding no issues with semen or egg quality ect. They have no idea why why are struggling, I have been to the GP to ask for help and had multiple blood tests but they won’t test me for anti TPO - hashimotos as it’s not a standard test on the NHS, I also noticed on three of my blood tests in the last year it says I have above the high reference limit mean cell haemoglobin levels.

Does this sound like I might have an auto immune disorder like hashimotos and therefore more prone to something like pernicious anemia and the above high limit of haemoglobin means I might have a vitamin b12 deficiency and therefore causing my infertility.

Has anyone experienced this and what did you do to get a diagnosis as my GP is having none of it and just keeps telling my my bloods are “normal” and to keep TTC naturally.

x

You can go to some beauticians for B12 injections, they won't do you any harm if you don't have pernicious anaemia, if you have pernicious anaemia you need B12 injections. I have autoimmune pa and under active thyroid and have a baby so it's not impossible.

Thats really reassuring, did you get pregnant after b12 treatment or did you find out you had PA as a result of pregnancy blood tests? I have an appt at the end of the month with a fertility consultant so fingers crossed she can shed some light and recommend how to get tested for Hashimotos and PA. Xx

You can have a test privately for thyroid and vitamins, it will show your antibodies. Google for a private thyroid doctor. It is an expense but should be a one off as they will give you advice about how to.improve things. You can raise your B12 with vitamin sprays, same with vit D

Are you on thyroxine? If so shouldn't you have tests now and then to check your thyroid levels and whether the thyroxine is bringing them up to the right levels?

The gp should be able to test for b12. If they won't, like people said you can get private blood tests, either to prick your finger via the post or (more expensively) to go to a private hospital and have a nurse take the blood.

I think that’s what I will have to do have a private Anti TPO test. I have been taking b12 and folate a vitamin called impryl recommended by fertility specialists so I have no idea why it’s so low, I also take a multi b vitamin with the impryl so I’m sure there must be a reason my body won’t absorb it. ☺️

Yes on levothyroxine been on 100mcg for 10 years. Every blood test I have they say it’s in normal ranges and that it should be below 2 for when trying to get pregnant. The problem the ranges are a blanket spec for everyone in the uk and as soon as they see it’s “normal” they don’t want to check anything else. I have an appt at the end of august with a fertility consultant and she said she’s going to refer me to have an anti tpo blood test to check for hashimotos and also a variety of blood tests to check for b12 deficiency which could be Pernicious Anemia which would make sense as hashimotos and PA seem to go hand in hand. Fingers crossed it’s going to be as simple as B12 and then can get pregnant without having to go down the IVF route. X

Private blood tests aren’t too expensive. Look at Blue Horizon and Medichecks. Also Health Unlocked is a mine of information.
https://www.medichecks.com
https://bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk/collections/health-screening

Amazing thank you will check those out now.