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Conception

When's the best time to get pregnant? Use our interactive ovulation calculator to work out when you're most fertile and most likely to conceive.

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Original poster

Thyroid levels and ttc

43 replies

Waggamamma · 06/12/2013 17:09

I've been having a few health issues recently so asked for my thryoid to be checked. I had full bloods taken and everything came back as 'satisfactory. '

TSH levels were 3.68. Can anyone tell me what this means and the implications for ttc? From what I've read it need to be under 2 to sustain a pregnancy? Should I be pressing the doc for meds or more tests.

I had a miscarriage in June at 9 weeks (pregnancy measured 6), and wondering if it could be linked.

OP posts:

naty1 · 03/02/2014 22:24

Did you do test on cd 21 or later. As you said lp 14 days on 34 day cycle so ovulating day 20?

Worrieddd · 04/02/2014 11:33

'Day 21' tests were done 7 days after ovulation

naty1 · 04/02/2014 15:03

You could get them to keep an eye on the levels especially at the clinic.
When you do get pregnant you'll probably want them to monitor the levels as your tsh will probably rise quickly

blamber · 04/02/2014 17:13

Angel, go see a different gp! your tsh is too high. It doesn't matter if your t4 is ok, your tsh indicates that your thyroid is not working as it should be. What happens is, your thyroid is not making enough thyroid hormone. As a result, your body is upping the production of TSH, which is the hormone that stimulates your thyroid. This results in a TSH level that is too high.

How much are your t4 levels? They may be in the lower range, whilst it would be better if it was in the upper range.

Also, you may not be aware of any symptoms, because maybe the problems developed very slowly, so you got used to being a bit more tired or something. They should put you on 25mcg a day and see if that has any effect. They shouldn't just leave it be, it's not good for your health!

jamtoast12 · 04/02/2014 17:35

My tsh is always around 3 and whilst I don't feel perfect I have conceived and carried three children on that so I personally wouldn't over worry.

Regardless of what the US/specific online guidelines etc say about it being better around 2, the fact remains that most doctors in this country are happy with under 5 and many women are therefore ttc at levels above 2 and are fine. To say you need to be under 2 is not true...its may be better to be under 2 but lots of women have tsh upto 5 without having any treatment at all. Most wouldn't even have been tested for TSH. I'd carried my first with a TSH of 15.5 until mid term! My tsh still hovers around 3 even now and I take 100/day. GP won't up it and I don't feel that bad that I would argue over it.

If your GP won't budge I'm not sure what else you can do as even my endocrinologist is happy with under 4.5! I'm happy to trust my doctors as they see enough of it, my antenatal appointments had loads of women with it so it's not exactly uncommon.

naty1 · 04/02/2014 18:27

Odd how it affects people differently. My last reading under 2.5 but I am still so cold they can't get blood out of me (and couldn't always even in pregnancy though I wasn't being treated then)

Worrieddd · 04/02/2014 23:42

Thanks jamtoast interesting again.

Vatta · 05/02/2014 08:32

Hi all, my TSH is at 2.9 so my Gp won't take any action, but I'm really desperate now to conceive (am 37 with 2 miscarriages behind me). We could afford to go private to check my thyroid/get TSH brought down, but I'm not sure where to start - should I be looking for an endocrinologist, or a regular fertility clinic? Any ideas?

jamtoast12 · 05/02/2014 19:15

I really wouldn't worry...tsh 2.9 is within normal uk range and few UK doctors would treat at those levels. What's your t4 as is is more important?. Mine is right up there at 20 so even though my tsh is 3, I am not hypothyroid. Ask your gp for your t4 level to double check your thyroid.

blamber · 05/02/2014 22:11

Jamtoast, what I would say is that it is important to have a normal TSH level during pregnancy, not just because a high TSH (certainly over 4 or 5 or so) increases the chances of miscarriage, but also because the baby may have a lower IQ than it would have had if the mother's TSH was fine.

It's also important that if you're hypothyroid or your TSH levels are borderline, you get checked out regularly during pregnancy, especially in the first term, because in the beginning the embryo does not have a thyroid and will use the mother's hormones, therefore placing more pressure on the thyroid. Most women will need more levothyroxine, or if you're borderline you may need to start taking some.

Penguinttc · 06/02/2014 08:42

After googling this I am sure I have an under active thyroid now and will be getting tested. So many symptoms I thought were single issues are on the list!
Thank you for this, I'll be getting tested ASAP.

Vatta · 11/02/2014 22:08

Hmm, this is all a bit confusing. The nurse at my practice says they only check t4 if the tsh is over 5 or 6. So as my tsh was only 2.9, they didn't test t4 - but I have a lot of symptoms for underactive thyroid, and have had two miscarriages, so I think I should go for private testing.

Any recommendations for testing places in London very welcome.......

angelgabe · 24/02/2014 21:19

hi there
Just an update on my thyroid issues since beginning of Feb....
Well my TSH isn't budging, in fact it has gone up a little. I mc in December and then discovered the TSH as part of bloods following the mc. However I fell pregnant 2nd cycle after mc in mid February. We were so thrilled! However really worried about TSH. GP said levels still within normal and she couldn't give me levothyroxine. I begged her unashamedly and she put me on 25mcg only because I was seeing a consultant the following week. She said I was still within normal range because my T4 is 12. (that is lower end of normal range though). Having a high TSH and normal T4 makes me sub-clinical however I do have some symptoms. Wiped out by the end of the day, freezing cold all the time. Very sadly I mc again last week. My second loss now.
I saw a fertility consultant last week. She wasn't very helpful at all and said she'd see me in 4 months. I reminded her i'm 41 in September but she didn't really care. And then said yes the TSh is a problem but wouldn't up my dose. So pissed off we've now booked a private appointment with Mr Shehata who has a clinic on Harley Street and at Epsom Hospital which is our local hospital. I'm hoping he will up my dose. Print off NICE guidelines and take to your GP although didn't seem to help me. States clearly what GP should be doing.
Sorry this is long....

angelgabe · 24/02/2014 21:20

Just to recap....my TSH is 13.6!

Eletheomel · 25/02/2014 08:27

Your TSH is 13.6, you're trying to conceive and nobody wants to up your dose? That's madness. Carry on fighting your corner - I really don't understand some GP's or your fertility consultant. I was subclinical when I started my ttc journey (similar TSH to you and similar T4 reading) I'm now on 125mcg of thyroxine daily (and have had 2 pregnancies, during both of which the consultant ensured that my TSH was below 2).

Good luck with Dr Shehata - looks like you need someone to actually read the evidence around this.

Original poster

Waggamamma · 25/02/2014 08:46

I'm the op and I didn't realise this thread was still going! Sorry for not popping back.

An update for those who are following, I got my bfp at the start of the year and my 12wk scan this week . Really nervous but I had an early scan at 7+5 so hoping everything is still ok.

My doctor wouldn't take any further action regards to my thyroid levels as I have conceived.

OP posts:

Eletheomel · 25/02/2014 09:41

Congratulations waggamamma - that's great news :-)

BarbiesBeaver · 25/02/2014 09:57

This really fucks me off. How can GP's be so dismissive of this. My TSH level was around 8 last year, plus I had classic Hypothyroidism symptoms (which I didn't realise were being caused by this) - no periods, tired, anxious, putting on weight, ridged nails, dizzy, fuzzy head. Reluctantly the GP gave me 25 micrograms starting dose (but only because I had read up and realised that TSH needs to be around 2 or less to conceive).
I have still be feeling dizzy and lacking energy and my repeat test was "normal". I asked for the actual figures and TSH was around 4. I saw a different Dr and asked to up my dose. I feel so much better on a slightly higher dose - like the real me has come back. I have a libido again, energy, can focus on things and feel like I am me again.

Please keep pushing for treatment as the guideline TSH levels have changed to 0.3-3.0 now and not the outdated limit of 5.0. If you feel rubbish and not yourself then it's worth persuing.

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