TSH levels for IVF CONFUSED!

[Berkshire22]

Wondering if anyone has had similar confusion.

My IVF clinic aren't bothered by my TSH level which is repeatedly showing over 2.5 (Its been 2.74, 3.11 and 2.76 with only once as low as 2.33). I have had one miscarriage and a failed FET from the last round of IVF. I asked them to prescribe Levothyroxine but the consultant was adamant my TSH levels weren't a concern. I know other clinics like it lowered to at least 2.5 - so I am finding this really confusing, anyone had a similar experience?

My GP has agreed to prescribe levothyroxine, 25mcg - so I am going to have to go back to my consultant and irritate her with this. I feel like I am having to monitor and control this myself and I'm not a doctor.

@Berkshire22 I’m sorry you’re going through this.

I’ve had it the other way around! TSH levels of 9, 4.5, 6.45 and the doctors only recently put me on 25mcg of levothyroxine about 6 weeks ago (this has been going on for a year!). The IVF clinic are waiting for TSH to go below 2.5 before I can start. hopefully the levothyroxine will lower your TSH levels nicely

@Lauralozzle sorry you have had to go through this for a year. I just don’t understand when it’s obviously a known issue when trying to conceive/IVF/early pregnancy that it isn’t one of the first things to address. I hope your levels lower quickly and you’re able to start IVF as soon as possible. At least your clinic sound like they’re are being conscientious about this - it seems clinics abroad won’t treat unless 2.5 or lower and that must be for a reason! x

I was prescribed levothyroxine on Tuesday because my TSH level was 3.9. My doctor said they are not concerned with getting it below 2.5 but want it below 3.5. She mentioned that the thinking had changed on this in the past couple of years.

@Piapea thanks for your response, it is helpful believe it or not to hear that they still wanted to lower it at 3.9 when my clinic didn’t.

Hello all. I’m due to start my first IVF nhs funded round this cycle and my TSH is 3.3. The consultant has said she is okay with this level and not bothered about it being under 2.5 as there isn’t a history of recurrent miscarriage or implantation failure. I said all reading I’ve done is that it should be under 2.5 and I just want to optimise my conditions. I guess the problem
is, I’ve been taking levothyroxine for a year (TSH was 6.5 in July 2021) and it’s pretty hard to get it down and keep it down, at one point I swung into hyperthyroid levels. So at least now it’s quite stabile and well under the 4.2 upper limit.

so hard to know what to do though and whether to push this or not, or maybe I should ask for a second opinion at the hospital.

@Everythingcrossed89 wish I could advise you but I remain really confused about this, I’ve just had a private consultation with a haematologist (not about TSH but about another blood test) and she contracted everything my consultant said. I cannot believe how difficult it is to get advice I feel I can trust.

Sounds like as you have been on levothyroxine for a while you are being managed properly - all I’d say is if it helps for your peace of mind then it’s worth it, and don’t be afraid to see if your GP will refer you before potentially going private. Good luck 🤞 x

Gosh it’s so confusing, do you mean they contradicted your clinic and said TSH should be under 2.5?

im just waiting for a call from my GP now and will ask to slightly adjust my dosage just to have all bases covered

@Everythingcrossed89 no not about TSH it was about anticardiolipin antibody level, I have had a borderline result and an ‘abnormal result’. My consultant had told me it could put a pregnancy at risk and they would like to prescribe blood thinners - the haematologist told me my results were completely normal and nothing should be done. At every stage of my IVF journey I haven’t the time to explain how much I have been told different information by different specialists!

like you said it’s about having all bases covered, so keep going 💪