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TTC and Underactive Thyroid

WannaBubbaWannaBubba
in Long term TTC & infertility
Hi ladies,

Does anyone else have an underactive thyroid?

I do but not bad enough for tablets so my levels are still abnormal. My afs are long (10 days) but quite light and painless and my cycles are short (26 days) so I feel like I don't stand a chance at the minute.

Does anyone have any success stories to cheer me up?

xxx

Replies

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    WannaBubbaWannaBubba
    Sorry - I should have introduced myself as this is my first post over here in LTTTC. Hubby and I have been trying for 13 months but GP offering no help until we've tried for 2 years image Hope you don't mind me joining you? x
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    MrsMafiaPrincessMrsMafiaPrincess
    Hi wannababy, I am new here too. Going to see my GP to see if I have an underactive thyroid as my reflexologist suggested my feet were saying I had one x
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    xGemxxGemx
    Hi I am G/C but I saw this on the front page so thought I would come and say that I have a under active thyroid and I am on pills that I have to take every day :roll:but I fell pregnant on my first month of TTC sadly last week I suffered a M/C but we will be trying again very soon. I know it can be hard to fall when you have a under active thyroid but I done it on my first month of trying just sadly it did not last.

    I already have a DD who is 17 months

    do not give up hope xx

    Gem xx

    [Modified by: xGemx on July 07, 2010 09:45 PM]

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    rachieblonderachieblonde
    HI Wannabubba, I have an underactive thyroid which was diagnosed when I was 18. I have taken thyroxine ever since and get it tested every 6 months. I have had huge problems conceiving but none of that has been linked to my thyroid, and when I had my first initial appt my consultant said as my thyroid is well managed it wouldn't have an affect on my fertility. My issues were acute PCOS and a tilted cervix and a blocked tube. I am pregnant now (through IVF). If your Thyroid is well controlled that shouldn't cause you too much of concern. Good luck hun. xx
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    WannaBubbaWannaBubba
    Thank you all you lovely ladies. Feel much better now even though I know next af is on way image

    Hope you get on ok at doctors Mafia Princess. xx

    So so sorry to hear about your M/C Gem - I think that's got to be worse than struggling to concieve. Hope you fall again soon and get on better this time. xx

    Rachie - IVF must have been a drag but I'm so glad you're pregnant now - it gives us all hope. xx
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    HJSHJS
    Hi WannaBubba,

    I have had an underactive thyroid since I was about 18 years old. My dose has been the same all of that time 125.

    It took me 12 months of trying but I have my little boy seven months ago - so don't give up.

    They had to increase the dose during pregnacy, but all went well. Iike you I also had short cycle about 26 days, so OV early in each month.

    I was worried that it would really affect my chances, so read a few books and stuff.....
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    WannaBubbaWannaBubba
    Thanks HJS x
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    mrsmermaidmrsmermaid
    WannaBubba if your thyroid function is only slightly abnormal, it may not have any significance for day to day life but i certainly do think it could be affecting your fertility. Go back to your GP or another in the practice and ask to be referred to an endocrinologist or an obstetrician with a special interest in endocrinology, I wonder if actually a small dose of thyroxine might help with the fertility issues.

    Also it is very important for anyone with thyroid problems to have it well controlled before getting pregnant and it is crucial that they are monitored and are taking the correct dose of thyroxine during pregnancy, especially early pregnancy as the foetus cannot make any thyroxine of its own until about 12 weeks. Thyroxine is required for normal brain development. In the first few weeks the body's requirement for thyroxine increases and so often the dose of thyroxine has to increase to compensate and if this isn't done properly the foetus is at risk.

    SO my advice would that if your blood tests for thyroid function are abnormal then ask your GP for a referral and personally i would want to discuss this with a specialist before i became pregnant.

    Hope this helps. x

    [Modified by: mrsmermaid on July 16, 2010 04:49 PM]

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    WannaBubbaWannaBubba
    Thank you mrsmermaid, I'm going back to the doctors soon and am going to ask for a different doctor and take hubby for support (and I don't think doctor will fob hubby off like he does me). Can I ask how you know all that you've told me? Might help me back it up when I go to see the doctor.

    Thanks again. x
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    mrsmermaidmrsmermaid
    Hello WannaBubba, lets just say its my job to know a little about a lot of medical problems! Most of it i know through training for my job.

    Actually, though, i also went to a lecture about thyroid problems by a professor of endocrinology....

    http://www.ncl.ac.uk/biomedicine/research/groups/profile/s.h.s.pearce

    ......to keep up to date for my work. It was a little while ago but he was talking about thyroid monitoring in pregnancy and he told the story of someone whos thyroid was only very slightly abnormal and so she hadnt been seen by an endocrinologist. This wouldnt be unusual as many GPs don't refer unless the thyroid hormones reach a certain level. This is normal practice and there is nothing wrong with just monitoring the blood levels and i expect that that might be what is happening in your case. Anyway the prof giving the lecture said that he saw one such young lady who had been trying for a successful pregnancy for some time and he gave her a small dose of thyroxine and she conceived and carried the baby to term.

    Now, i cant remember all the details as it was nearly a year ago but most of us who attended the lecture were a little suprised as the lady's blood tests weren't really that abnormal.

    From what you have said, i don't think your GP has actually done anything wrong and in many areas there are guidelines as to when GPs should refer to fertility clinics so i don't neccessarily think he his "fobbing you off" however i do understand your frustration.

    My personal opinion is that if your thyroid has corrected itself, you will probably have to wait but if it is still abnormal, even slightly so i think it would be reasonable to ask to se an endocrinologist because firstly it may be the cause of the infertility and secondly it may or may not be an issue in early pregnancy irrespective of whether it is causing the fertility problem.

    Go and speak to your GP again...most do want to help. Although all your notes are there, he may not have connected the 2 problems especially if the thyroid results don't appear on the summary page of his computer notes. Also, GPs don't always know a lot about everything and most have more of an interest in one area or another. Most GPs know a lot about serious/dangerous health problems but there are loads of things that they don't know much about - its not possible to know everything but the main thing is, if you have a good GP, he will listen to what you have to say and either agree to the referral or explain the reason why it isn't appropriate. There is no harm in asking. x

    PS i would say, if you want to get the most out of the consultation, stick to this one problem, note 3 or 4 main points that you want to tell him (so you dont forget), remind him about your thyroid results and mention that you've heard it might be related to fertilty and ask him if he'll refer you to endocrinology. Good luck.


    [Modified by: mrsmermaid on July 21, 2010 10:14 PM]



    [Modified by: mrsmermaid on July 21, 2010 10:14 PM]

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