Mumsnet hasn't checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you have medical concerns, please seek medical attention; if you think your problem could be acute, do so immediately. Even qualified doctors can't diagnose over the internet, so do bear that in mind when seeking or giving advice.
Mumsnet hasn't checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you have medical concerns, please seek medical attention; if you think your problem could be acute, do so immediately. Even qualified doctors can't diagnose over the internet, so do bear that in mind when seeking or giving advice.
Autoimmune disease
Levothyroxine - impact on AF? help please
LottieB30 · 19/04/2018 12:25
Hi all
On Friday I started a low dose of levothyroxine 25mg as I have a slightly underactive thyroid that my GP is trying to resolve as we have been TTC for almost 3.5 years - unsuccessfully. Saturday my AF started as expected but has never really got going.... so up until today (Thursday) I have only had spotting or an extremely light period.
I wondered if anyone else had come across a similar side effect for this medication?
Over the past few months my AF has become much longer lasting up to 11 days and light-medium flow but this one has been almost non-existent compared to normal.
Just FYI I know I am defo not pregnant as I did not ovulate last cycle - confirmed on a blood test.
Any advice/help will be very much appreciated as I am super confused.
Thanks muchly :)
picklemepopcorn · 19/04/2018 12:55
I think it is recognised that thyroxine can make Flo lighter. Mine is all over the shop, so it's hard to know.
LottieB30 · 19/04/2018 13:55
Thanks picklemepopcorn it had confused me this cycle - I didn't expect the medication to work so quickly.... not that I am complaining about having a lighter period 
timeistight · 20/04/2018 13:20
Are they trying to get your TSH down below 2?
That's where it needs to be to conceive and hang onto the pregnancy, but NICE have sneakily removed this from the latest edition of their Clinical Knowledge Summary.
LottieB30 · 20/04/2018 14:37
Hi timeistight thanks for the reply. My TSH level is currently 5.78 and has been around this level for the 9 months I have been having blood test - they have only just started medicating as the thyroid antibodies have now become 'normal'.
I guess I may have a way to go to get in down to below 2....
MargoLovebutter · 20/04/2018 14:39
Do you know why you are hypothyroid Lottie? Have you had your thyroid antibodies tested?
25mg is a very low dose of Levo and you should be booked in to have your thyroid levels checked again to see if that small dose has made any difference.
Have you also had ferritin, folate, B12 and Vit D tested?
MargoLovebutter · 20/04/2018 14:41
Sorry, cross posted.
If you showed positive for thyroid antibodies, that means you have an autoimmune thyroiditis, which is also known as Hashimoto's Disease. It would be worth researching that and understanding that your antibody levels will fluctuate, so they may be down in the 'normal' range now, but may go up again.
To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.