IVF and High NK cells / Hashimoto hypothyrodism / thyroid antibodies

[NV42]

Dear all

I have Hashimoto hypothyrodism, thyroid antibodies and high NK cells and need to be having steroids and IVIG. Due to my age, 47, I am also using donor eggs.

1. Does any of you with similar health issues, managed to get pregnant or do you think I should start looking for surrogate?
2. On a separate note (not related to IVF), are you following a specific diet for the Hashimoto and have you seen any benefits?

Thank you in advance.

@NV42 Hey!

Ive just done my first IVF cycle in September with a freeze all (2 embryos) so hoping to transfer next month. I'm glad it wasn't a fresh transfer as I did a thyroid panel last week my TSH was 3.5 I have a feeling it was the meds so hopefully it comes back down in the next few weeks I've upped my dose. I have subclinical hypothyroidism with hashimoto, TPO was 85. I was just wondering what your antibodies are like? My clinic said they won't try steroids as there is no evidence hashimoto impacts fertility only that in can increase chance of miscarriage if TSH is also elevated?

My thyroid antibodies are 888 something.. Very high.
My TSH is 2.5-2.9 but I am taking thyroxine.

I saw two different doctors at the same clinic and one had given me steroids, the other one said what they told you. I think it depends on the doctor not the clinic. At least this is my experience with my clinic.

I'm 43, I had a high (absolute) number of pNK cells earlier this year though it was not conclusive that I had auto-immunity - I had UTI and got treated with antibiotics. In May, all my thyroid hormones were normal except an elevated anti-TPO (120-130), indicating pre-Hashimoto. I was advised to try going gluten-free for 6-8 weeks to see what happens. 2 months later, my anti-TPO has gone down to within a normal range (like 30). As a pleasant side effect of gluten-free diet, my lifetime constipation is now gone. I haven't had a transfer yet but I will stick to my diet until I have a baby!

@Caubabatko how have you got in? I've had a failed FET and wanted to explore thyroid antibodies remedies which I have. I have been on Prednisolone during the FET and will be for future cycles.

@Sunflower360 So my 2nd FET in January was successful and I'm almost 11 weeks pregnant. First FET was natural cycle, didn't work, and the 2nd one was HRT and I'm on blood thinners (aspirin and LMWH) besides the hormones (estrogen and progesterone) until 12 weeks. No steroids. I had a hysteroscopy to confirm my uterine lining was clean between the two FETs. Another difference was the embryo grading - first one was Day 6xgrade 2 and the one in my belly now is Day 5xgrade 1, which both mean the latter had a higher implantation and a live birth rate. I'm still gluten-free and thyroid antibodies have stayed quiet so far (last tested in January).

@Caubabatko that is gopd news, congratulations! Do you think the GF diet worked to help it all along?

@Sunflower360 For ECs, I didn't notice significant differences in terms of blastocyst conversion or euploidy rates between the EC before GF and ones after. Although I hadn't been GF for too long to compare before and after in terms of my overall fertility, I was 6 months GF before I had any transfer.

It might be that I don't have any other issues that you haven't discovered. As we can't share all our backgrounds and medical history here and your case is unique to you.
One thing I can say for sure though is if thyroid antibodies were to have any impact on our fertility, it will be negative (seen some studies showing correlation with infertility). And since the molecular structure of gluten resembles that of thyroid gland, our immune system attacks both if gluten is causing inflammation. So the less risk factors the better.