Assalamualikum. I just want to know that can increase thyroid level be the cause of not getting pregnant. I am trying to conceive for 3 years. My thyroid level is 3.68 and the normal level is till 4.5. My doctor said its in the normal range but I have heard that if you want to conceive your thyroid must be below 2. One of my friend conceived after lowering her thyroid level below 2. Anyone has any advice regarding this.
Re: Thyroid level and ttc
you should see an endocrinologist for the best opinion regarding this. as far as i know, thyroid levels MUST be good when you concieve, not just to help concieve, but the fetus depends on mother’s thyroid for brain development. untreated hypothyroidism in mother can be bad for baby’s brain development. some people have antibodies to thyroid causing hypothyroidism and they need medication, but sometimes TSH can fluctuate and it’s normal. do you have hypothyroidism in your family? if so, it would be a good idea to get tested for thyroid antibodies. see an endocrinologist they will probably order all the necessary tests to see all aspects of your thyroid function. it’s a good idea that women check thyroid levels before even getting pregnant.
in your case seeing endocrinologist might be a good idea to also check for all other hormones that could possibly be a reason for problems in conceiving.
Re: Thyroid level and ttc
^but once on proper medication, all is good for the fetus, right?
Re: Thyroid level and ttc
yes. thyroid levels should be checked throughout pregnancy in someone who has known thyroid problem.
And the newborn should be tested for thyroid function tests at birth, I know in US all newborns are tested for thyroid levels while they are still in the hospital.
Re: Thyroid level and ttc
thanks girly
Re: Thyroid level and ttc
Thank you very much for replying my question. I actually live in Uk and I talked to the doctor several times about my thyroid level but he said that your thyroid is in normal range and they won’t give me any medicine to keep it below 2 because they don’t believe that thyroid level should be below 2 if you want to conceive. Also they won’t refer me to an endocrinologist. My all fertility tests are okay Alhamdulilah. Only just worried about thyroid test. Inshallah Allah will make easy for me to conceive and healthy pregnancy too. (Amen)
Re: Thyroid level and ttc
If your thyroid hormone levels are within normal range then how can you keep it below 2? I didnt understand the point behind cut off level of 2 that you’re mentioning?
Also bella88 unless someone is having trouble conceiving or has known hyper/hypo thyroidism, there is no indication to check thyroid hormone levels before getting pregnant.
Thyroid level and ttc
I was seeing a reproductive endocronologist who said a female of reproductive age should have a TSH (thyroid hormone level) below 2.5. Mine was 5.25 when she tested me and put me on medication right away. It’s very important not only for you but also for any child you conceive that your TSH level is optimal. I would see another doctor and try to get a referral to an endocronologist.
Re: Thyroid level and ttc
I have heard from ob/gyn that it’s important to check thyroid if you have a family history of hypothyroidism if you are planning on conceiving. sometimes symptoms of hypothyroidism are not obvious. and even if you do not check it before pregnancy, once pregnancy is confirmed, most doctors do order thyroid function tests, regardless of family history.
Re: Thyroid level and ttc
Fair enough. In your first post you mentioned women should get it checked before getting pregnant,that’s why I said its not an indication.
If a couple come to primary care (UK) for initial investigation, we don’t routinely check for thyroid function tests in the first instance unless otherwise indicated (NICE and RCOG guideline, will check again if its been updated)
Maybe its done differently in US.
Re: Thyroid level and ttc
Cite your doctor the following reference with recommendation 19.1
https://www.aace.com/files/final-file-hypo-guidelines.pdf
Re: Thyroid level and ttc
Maybe it is different here because I went to an ob/gyn few weeks ago. not trying to conceive yet but will in soon, in couple of months. He ordered a bunch of tests to be done before i TTC, including TSH, free T4, Thyroid peroxidase Ab, thyroglob Ab. i dont have any hypo or hyperthyroid symptoms, or nodules. i don’t have any family history of thyroid problems either but he just wanted to test for it anyway. I think they do far more tests in US than UK, just to be on the safe side.
Re: Thyroid level and ttc
Maidah if you’ve been trying for three years and there is no known medical problem with either you or your husband then maybe a referral to a specialist would be helpful. If your current GP is unwilling to refer you , can you see a different doctor at the surgery?
I can only advise you not to worry about the levels of your thyroid hormones in the absence of any other hormone related problem.
Re: Thyroid level and ttc
I can understand the point in doing base levels of hormones but to go in so much detail of checking the antibodies,we don’t do it routinely ever unless otherwise indicated.
Re: Thyroid level and ttc
I have hypothyroidism. I take synthroid to bring my TSH and t3 levels into the normal range.
A lot of doctors are reluctant to put their patients on medication because they are still using the old guidelines where the normal range went up to 5. Some doctors won’t even put their patients on medication when their tsh is 7! That’s ridiculous.
I also had a doctor that didn’t want to put me on meds. I switched doctors and demanded that I be put on medication. In order to conceive your levels should be somewhere between 0.5 and 2.0 with 1.0 being the ideal level for conception.
You need to take your health matters into your own hands. Doctors aren’t always right! Any fertility doctor will back up what I am saying. Your tsh levels have a direct correlation with your fertility. If they are out of wack, it WILL affect your ability to conceive a healthy baby.
Re: Thyroid level and ttc
Thanks for everyone’s advice again. Thinking to go to another doctor this time and ask for referral to a specialist. Problem is that NHS in Uk have their own guidelines that says that as long as thyroid level is below 4.5 it’s normal. My friend had the same thyroid level as I have then doctor gave her medicine to lower her TSH and after few months she got pregnant. Even fertility clinics here don’t think that thyroid could be the problem.
Re: Thyroid level and ttc
^ It seems odd that even a fertility clinic doesn’t think that thyroid levels can affect fertility. Have you checked out more than one fertility clinic?
Re: Thyroid level and ttc
Actually here they refer you to the nearest fertility clinic which should be run by NHS while others are private and quite expensive. I went through all the test in fertility clinic even thyroid and the doctor didn’t say anything about thyroid.