Thyroid tests and conception

[littlegingerone]

Hi wondering if anyone has any experience of this - we are currently ttc and i recently had a private thyroid function test, after reading TSH levels can affect fertility / conception.

My results came back as potential hypothyroidism with TSH level of 4.32. It states a normal level is up to 4.2. When I have been reading up, it seems that its preferred to be up to 3 for early pregnancy and conception? I just wondered if anyone else has had these tests and then had anything addressed via their gp?

Mine is underactive as its the thyroid stimulating hormone that's high, because of the other one being really low, my body is releasing more and more of the stimulant in order to regulate it.

I don't have any of the symptoms of thyroid disorders and do seem to be ovulating. The recommendation from my test results is to monitor it but, if it could be impacting my chances of getting pregnant obviously I'd want to sort it out. I'm not sure how receptive my gp will be as it's a new practice and I haven't actually seen them before

Anyone any wise advice or further info please?

Very quick reply for now but I had exactly this

GP didn't know the first thing about thyroid and pregnancy but thankfully my private fertility doctor did. I pushed and pushed for a prescription, finally got one. It took 4 months for my thyroid level to get tobthe optimum range (1.75 from memory) and I got pregnant naturally that month

Equally important to have your thyroid levels checked and medicated once pregnant or significant risk of miscarriage. Do the ground work now to ensure you'll have this, and good luck

I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism when ttc as well. I was put on levothyroxine and had regular blood tests when ttc and when pregnant. I was also put under the care of a consultant when pregnant and was given extra attention / appointments similar to expecting mums with diabetes. After being put on the medication I became pregnant within a month or two which was fantastic- I had been ttc for 13 months prior to that.

Everyone’s circumstances are different but I think the diagnosis made a big difference for me.

Thanks so much both of you for those speedy replies! Really helpful information too, I only read about it last week and ordered a quick private test on a whim really, I had no idea about the impact on fertility or that I would have abnormal levels.

What you've both said has given me the push to get along to the gp, and to push to get medication for it. If it can have such an effect mine is way off isn't it so it needs sorted out. I'm expecting some resistance I guess because I'm not experiencing any 'health' related symptoms

I was the same. Blood test showed very borderline levels but because of my past issues with fertility and miscarriages they put me on low dose of levothyroxine. I fell pregnant pretty quickly once on this.

Thanks so much that's really helpful

Hi,
Hoping someone sees this, as an update after my initial post, I managed to get in to my gp and explained the results of my private test and that we are ttc so the advice seems to be to bring it down. He was very dismissive and kept saying we don't treat at that level it has to be over 10. I was trying to explain that I understand that but it's specifically relating to ttc and pregnancy that I'm asking for help with. He has done a blood test but he said they probably won't offer anything further. I don't know if it's because of my age or if he would have been dismissive anyway (I'm 42!)
I just wondered what other people's levels were and how they managed to get a prescription? My TSH was 4.32 on the private one so normal ish in day to day terms but too high for ttc and early pregnancy from what I'm reading.

I had a miscarriage and then paid privately for a test to check my thyroid since my mum has it and it’s linked to miscarriages. My test came back ok 2.48, on the test it gave a normal range as 0.6-4.8. I don’t know if that normal range moves depending on factors though, it’s what was in the chart for me. I used Superdrug and paid £59, melio are the company who send the results though. They do an advanced thyroid test as well.

Can you request a different doctor, or gp in general if they won’t listen to you?

Oh Googling it suggests TSH should be no higher than 2.5 when ttc.

My doctor reluctantly sent me for blood test earlier this year when I had irregular periods and TTC.

My TSH came back as being 29.6 so I am now medicated. My second blood test came back as 4.6 and that is “normal” according to the doctor and they won’t increase my medication.

I’ve been TTC for 10 months now with no luck.