Hypothyroid and ttc

[Shak19]

Hi all this week I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism and started on levothyroxine
I have been ttc since february and now not sure where this leaves me in terms of fertility
My gp told me he doesn't know so I'm just really upset with everything
Can anyone offer any insight? Thank you

Really depends on what your levels were before. If you have only been ttc since February it’s probably too early to know if the hypothyroidism had an impact or not (it can cause implantation failure or miscarriages; and if combined with pcos can sometimes make ovulation a bit more difficult). Keep trying.

Well I have good news for you! It’s quite likely that your untreated thyroid disease has been making it harder to conceive. So once your levels are improved, so are your chances of falling pregnant 😁

Heres some information from the thyroid foundation www.btf-thyroid.org/information/leaflets/38-pregnancy-and-fertility-guide

Pregnancy and hypothyroidism
Before pregnancy

If you have an untreated (or undertreated) underactive thyroid gland (hypothyroidism) you are likely to find it more difficult to conceive. You may have longer or heavier periods, which can cause anaemia, or your periods may stop completely. Once you are taking medication (levothyroxine tablets) and your thyroid hormone levels are back to normal your chances of becoming pregnant should improve dramatically.

If you are planning a pregnancy you should let your doctor know and ideally have a blood test before you conceive. Experts in the field recommend that if you are on levothyroxine the TSH level should ideally be kept in the lower half of the reference range before pregnancy as this has been associated with a lower risk of miscarriage.

During pregnancy

It is likely that you will require higher doses of levothyroxine during pregnancy, especially during the first 20 weeks, to provide sufficient supply of thyroid hormones to the baby. If you are taking levothyroxine, you should increase your dose by approximately 25mcg daily as soon as you have a positive pregnancy test. This can also be achieved by doubling the dose of levothyroxine on two days of the week. You should then arrange to have a thyroid function test so that more targeted adjustments can be made if required.

Even if your thyroid function test result is not ideal at the start of pregnancy, your risk of a pregnancy complication is only slightly higher than normal and you would still have a good chance of a successful pregnancy outcome. However, your levothyroxine treatment should be adjusted to normalise your thyroid function as soon as possible.

You should have regular blood tests throughout your pregnancy so that your dose can be adjusted if necessary.

If you are prescribed supplements containing iron, calcium or Gaviscon you should take these several hours before or after the levothyroxine since these can alter the absorption of levothyroxine.

Try not to worry - it’s good that you have been diagnosed and have started on the right treatment. Hopefully you will start to feel a lot better soon.

Your meds will help prevent any problems for you and baby in pregnancy, so it’s important you keep taking them when you fall pregnant.

More info here

www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/endocrine-diseases/pregnancy-thyroid-disease

This is good to know. I really hope it does help and I can conceive soon. I know j haven't been trying long but each month I'm so hopeful and then end up so disappointed and upset month after month

I've been on the correct dosage of levothyroxine for years and conceived first month so once you're on the right dose, maybe you'll be lucky too!!

@Sleepyquest wow that is lucky.
What type do you have? Apparently mine is auto immune?
Can you remember back when diagnosed how long it took for your levels to normalise? Also what dose are you on?

Hi @Shak19 I was diagnosed about 7 years ago. Started off on 25mcg and now on 125. I have no idea what type I'm afraid, no one has ever given me that much info. I think my levels normalised quite quickly but I have a blood test every 6 months and my dose has been changed a few times. I'm now 26 weeks pregnant and they check my levels every 6 weeks or so. Wishing you all the luck!!

I developed thyroid disease after my second baby and as soon as my levels were stabilised, I conceived number three straight away.

Once you conceive and it shouldn’t take long now you’re on treatment you’ll be under consultant care for your pregnancy so they can monitor your levels mine were ridiculous and I was on a lot of levo and I felt terrible but much better once I’d delivered. I have congenital hypothyroid and have no thyroid at all. Ask to speak to someone who knows more than your GP some have more experience than others in endocrine conditions.

Hope all works out for you, and you feel better on treatment and conceive soon

Ahhh I have to get my bloods retested in 8 weeks and unsure whether to pause ttc until then? I'm just so desperate for a baby now

AFAIK you are more likely to miscarriage if your levels aren’t good. So personally I would wait, but that’s just me.

However I’m concerned that you are “ so desperate “ for a baby now, given that you are quite young and have only been trying for a few months. You have a very long time before you need to worry.

How does your husband feel about it? Have you thought how taking maternity leave will affect your career and how you will cope with the cost of childcare?

Do you have anxiety or depression ? Have you thought about talking to a Counsellor about this ? Lots of people find this helpful.

I have an Autoimmune Hypothyroidism (Hashimotos Thyroiditis). My one recommendation to you is to do an AMH test. They start from around £70 for a home test kit (collect blood from finger prick and send off for analysis). This will look at your ovarian (egg) reserve and reassurance of its impact on your fertility.
I am a lot older than you and my condition took a long time to diagnose and get under control...so it did cause a lot of damage to my fertility. Finding out was devastating but it also gave me the control and ability to start planning what my next steps were going to be.
Good luck! I'm happy to share more of my journey if it would be helpful.x

@SLR1982
Thank you for replying
Altho I'm tempted to get amh testing and have thought about it before in the past I'm also worried itll be something else to stress me out if the results arent perfect if that makes sense
I've been ttc only 7 months now but had fsh tested which was fine. My gp said just get my blood levels on track first before worrying about ttc just put it on hold
Did you find out about hashimoto as part of fertility testing?
This is the type I have. My antibodies was around 300 and I need to repeat the test in 7 weeks and take it from there

Only on 50mcg levo atm

Hi @Shak19
It started with fatigue and weight gain. I knew there was something not quite right with me for a number of years. I couldn't put my finger on what it was nor could I describe it. It progressed gradually and got to the point where I struggled to get through a week of work. By Wednesday eve I was resigned to coming home from work and sleeping on the sofa. I couldn't face doing anything at the weekends and would avoid social stuff. About 6 months into me realising something was very wrong I suddenly developed leg swelling that brought on deep tissue inflammation and nerve pain. That was what finally triggered all the investigations. I finally had something tangible I could describe to a doctor. I ended up having endless blood tests, full body CT scan and deep tissue biopsies. I had a list as long as my arm of all the things I didn't have, but no diagnosis. I was told to come back if any "new symptoms" developed. The very next month my period that were as regular as clockwork stopped completely. It was picked up after that in my blood work as I moved from sub-clinical to clinical findings. I was told they'd restart again as soon as my levels improved but sadly they didn't.

I think the Hashimotos was triggered by my taking Roaccutane for my skin when I was 30. I was finally diagnosed at 35. A year later I entered into fertility investigations. My AMH test absolutely floored me, but I took a bit of time to think about the results and I felt a bit of relief that I now knew which gave me the opportunity to do something about it.
I'm still on my journey to motherhood. It's been tough, but I don't regret any of it.

You know you better than anyone else and you need to do what's right for you.
Good luck!x

Hi, I’ve had hypothyroidism for several years now (Hashimotos) definitely push to see an endocrinologist. The treatment will take a while to work, but it is possible to conceive and have a perfectly normal pregnancy. (In this pregnancy I was seen every 4 weeks by an endocrinologist and my symptoms all disappeared in fact) let me know if you’d like to know any more.

And once you get them, push to be tested several times before 20 weeks as high thyroid levels can be bad for the baby. And with Hashimotos it can very easily go up and down, especially in pregnancy

I'm just hopeful that it doesn't take too long for my levels to normalise and I can start trying again. I still just dknt know anything about the condition and the gp wint refer me until they see how these levels come back in 8 weeks. So just a case of wait and see really.

@Shak19 Hi, appreciate it’s been some time since this thread and I hope you don’t mind me asking, how did you get on with your medication?
I’ve started in thyroxine in January, now 18months of trying (only 4 months on meds) and keen to hear others experiences

@Halftime23 hi! Sorry to butt in but just wanted to say I started on thyroxine early October and I conceived in January. Prior to this we had been ttc for 2 years. I was unsure if my thyroid was the issue as was only just underactive but looks like it was. I hope it happens for you soon

@Thefaceofboe that is so comforting to know and huge congratulations to you! I’ve heard and read so many different opinions about whether or not thyroid levels have an effect on fertility - but me and my OH are fit and well other than my subclinical hypothyroidism so I’m really hoping this does the trick. Thank you so much for sharing, you’ve made my weekend.

hi i read few messages not all i have hypothyroid and trying to get pregnant from 2017 can't get pregnant know i am fertility specialist and start clomid but recently i know that your thyroid level must be below 2.5 then i can get pregnant my fertility specialist send me to hormones specialist and he said my thyroid is normal its 3.5 below 4 but when i search online i find out that above 2.5 u can't get pregnant then i discuss with him he said yeah u right i was taking 75 mg levothroxine from 3 year but came below 3.5 then i ask him to increase my mg and when he check my thyroid its still 3.5 then he increase me to 87 mg know 4 week later i mean tomorrow i have appointment to check my thyroid came below 2.5 or not if its not he will increase more my mg si i wish i know that before 3 year that thyroid level must be below 2.5 so i can did something on that time to make my level below 2.5 but its 3 year know so thats why i share to u dont just wait for 1 medication in 4 week u know that medication work for u or not or it need to be increase

oops 1 mistake i m not fertility specialist i went to specialist .

@Halftime23 I never thought it would happen and started to become so down, I got the shock of my life when the test was positive I really hope it’s as easy for you as it was for me! I’m 13 weeks now and all the upset of ttc has been forgotten.

@lovelly that sounds really frustrating for you. I’m pleased that you are finally getting support to lower your levels after all this time. Fingers crossed for you.
@Thefaceofboe honestly this is such a relief, so happy for you and so hoping that it won’t be long before we’re in the same position and I can take my turn in reassuring others that it’s only a matter of time for them too.

yeah my first iui with clomid its fail just got period today so dont know what to do i will check my thyroid level today again if its not normal i mean if its not below 2.5 i will talk to doctor that i have to start onther cycle of iui and clomid or wait for my thyroid level to get normal but hope it not long for u i didn't know at first what i have to do what level should be my thyroid but u know so u can closely handle everything . goodluck for u .

@Halftime23 sorry I don't come here much just noticed an email!
I started my meds beginning of August 2019 and conceived that month. My daughter turned 11 months yesterday x