ivf and underactive thyroid

[LouBoo85]

Hi ive had 3 unsuccessful transfers and 1 that was successful but unfortunately resulted in a miscarriage. Ive had further investigations and have been told today that I have an underactive thyroid. Has anyone else experienced similar or had any success after starting levothyroxine??

[Jaygee]

What was your result? They should have really checked this before x

[LouBoo85 in reply to Jaygee]

they checked for it before i started chlomid and ivf apparently so it must be a fairly recent thing i think. She said my result was 12 point something?? she said thats pritty high and has started me on 50mg of levo x

[Yammie1973]

Hi

I have had an underactive thyroid for most of mylife aonly diagnosed 15-16 years ago. I was told very recently (not by GP) that this has resulted in me not falling pregnant earlier. I am currently on 200mcg's a day but Consultant wants me to drop to 175mcg's. I am about to start T3 which I haven't old my consultant about, so knowing im he will nutsoid about. I'm also in the process of doing my 1st FET...not that I am hopeful or anything....what will happen will happen...watch this space!!!

[Orla9298 in reply to Yammie1973]

Gosh I think I need to start T3 too as my TSH gets really suppressed and my T3 stays at rock bottom, so I really have terrible conversion of my levo. But my consultant has said definitely don’t take it, but I keep reading that low T3 prevents implantation and that T3 is needed for early embryo development so I’m so worried his may be the missing part of the jigsaw! Are you self medicating with it??xx

[Yammie1973 in reply to Orla9298]

Hi, I went private and saw a functional medicine specialist who said that I wasn't converting T4 to T3, due to the gene polymorphism inherited from my mother (DNA). She has got me on T3 as the NHS endo didn't want to know and advised my GP that there was no such thing as a gene that prevents conversion - hence why I don't trust my GP with anything vaguely related to mythyroid. The T3 is being sent over from a pharmacy in germany privately and my FMS will monitor my introduction of T3 to my system. She is a GP as well as a FMS and also a fellow thyroid sufferer (which is always a bonus in that she understands exactly how we feel as undermedicated patients)

[Blueskyyy in reply to Yammie1973]

Hi

How much t3 are you actually taking ?

And how are your ft3, FT4 and tsh before and after ?

Thx

[LouBoo85 in reply to Yammie1973]

thanks for your reply! bit confused about what t3 is...is that something seperate vto levothyroxine? the dr i saw today didnt mention anything other than levothyroxine. sorry if ive gotthe wrong end of the stick haha x

[Yammie1973 in reply to LouBoo85]

Oh WOW, where do I start telling you about the issues that the NHS have with T3.... First of all NO NHS Endo will ever prescribe T3 for patients unless absolutely and unequivolently desperate for it, and is based on clinical need only, as it is too expensive to prescibe for every patient in the UK at +/- £300.00 for 28 tablets.

You will have to go private to stand a chance of getting T3 and then you will have to self fund. T4, in the normal human body coverts to T3 in the organs of the body and in my mind is the most essential hormone that keeps the body functioning at optimal including fertility.

Your GP will most certainly not mention it as they are told not to...not necessarily their fault, they can order the blood tests for the full thyroid panel but the labs are told to reject the requests for anything other than TSH and T4 if you are lucky.

Others on this forum are much better qualified and experienced to give you evidence of the importance of T3....good luck, you are going to need it!!

[LouBoo85 in reply to Yammie1973]

ahh ok thanks for explaining! i will do some research, what a shame the nhs dont fund if its really helpful in conceiving 😟😟

think id be too scared to order/take it without my dr knowing though so 😬😬 x

[Cinderella5]

Hey, my thyroid has only gotten slightly worse since Ive been doing treatment - my mum had underactive thyroid too. My levels werent bad enought to treat at 4.96 but my clinic told me that for conception they'd want it down to around 2. I actually didnt realise how tired I was and now feel like a new person. I havent conceived since ive had this rectified - my hubby has a very low sperm count. However its at the correct levels to allow me to conceive and that's what matters.xx

[Kiedy84]

Oh my goodness, I am so sorry to hear this.

Right if you can please read my previous posts about Thyroid.

You need to make sure you are tested for TSH, T3, T4 and Thyroid antibodies.

Your TSH needs to be 2.5 and below.

See your GP asap.

Here for you if you have any questions xx

[Yammie1973 in reply to Kiedy84]

HI

My last THS result was 0.051 and I'm on 200mcg of Levothyroxine and my fertility consultant went absolutely nuts...of course he is going of the NHS guidelines...so I am going to have to educate him. Not changing down to 175mcg per day as my FMS is introducing me to T3 when it arrives from Germany

[Kiedy84 in reply to Yammie1973]

This seem quite low...best to have TSH around 1. I went hyper once as my dose was too high and started having heart palpitations it was awful. I have never taken T3 and never bought any drugs online so can't really advise but my only thought is that with a cocktail if FET hormones on too this can potentially be a tricky time to introduce?

Good luck x

[LouBoo85]

what is T3 and T4? totaly lost haha!

[Yammie1973 in reply to LouBoo85]

See my last reply to you

[Sarah_37]

When I had my son through ivf 5 years ago I was just undiagnosed infertility, a few years later after a miscarriage I was diagnosed as being hypothyroid. We have recently undergone a successful frozen transfer and I’m currently 30wks. My clinic just made sure my TSH was below 2.5 before treatment and then my dose was increased by 25mcg as soon as I had a positive test. I have had my levels monitored well throughout too but it seems to have stayed quite stable and I haven’t had to adjust my dose again. Hope it all works out well for you once you have your level controlled. It can take a little bit of time initially x

[LouBoo85 in reply to Sarah_37]

Ahhhhh this is good to hear! congratulations!! 😁😁

How long did it take for you to get your levels under control? so they increased your thyroxine when you got pregnant? wonder why that is, im still doing my research as i know very little about thyroids so excuse me if a silly wuestion lol. xxx

[Sarah_37 in reply to LouBoo85]

My TSH was about 14 initially and it took about 6 months to get to below 4 as they do it very gradually and retest about every 8 weeks after dose adjustments. The problem with my GP was that as soon as it hit 4 they said it was normal so I had to battle to get it lower to 2.5, in the end I got my fertility consultant from the clinic to write to them. It’s important that they increase your dose in early pregnancy as that is when the demand increases but after that my consultant says it usually levels off and mine certainly has and my TSH is now about 0.6 so feeling the best I ever have with the tiredness. Important that they monitor it throughout, my midwife is on the ball with it and regularly does the blood test xx

[LouBoo85]

ahh ok, gosh six months that is a bit of a bummer. fingers crossed its sooner! they have started me on 50mg which i think is a bit higher than what most people start on from what ive heard. Thats annoying about your gp i hope i dont have the same problem!! Im looking forward to feeling like a new woman on the tabs.. i didnt realise i was even feelin crap haha xc