Thyroid/ Autoimmunity and IVF advice

[Rox1388]

Hi ladies,

Me and my husband did two rounds of IVF last year, both of which failed. We are due to do another round in April/May so I decided to privately get my thyroid/autoimmunity checked to give myself piece of mind that everything was the best it could be.

All of my thyroid results came back within normal range however my thyroid peroxidase antibodies came back really high. I’ve done a little research and this is basically my own immune system attacking my thyroid gland.

We added steroids into our last cycle but would this have been enough to stop a negative result?

I just don’t feel comfortable paying for another round if it’s going to fail because of an autoimmunity issue. Is this something that would potentially affect things?

Any experience or advice with this would be greatly appreciated x

[hifer]

Hi there, what did the clinic that tested your results say? Is this a sign of Hashimoto’s? If so it’s not treated by steroids but by levothyroxine I believe. That’s not to say it is the reason that you got a negative result but it’s possible. I have an under active thyroid and have to take levothyroxine to manage my thyroid levels. Your doctor should be able to check this and prescribe the necessary drugs if so. Just say you want an antibody blood test as you are trying to conceive and are worried about your thyroid levels. They may not even need to do another blood test if you take your private blood test results to them. Worth getting checked out I think xx

[Rox1388 in reply to hifer]

Thanks for replying, I appreciate it! I got the test done through Medichecks so they just give a description of what it can mean. I’ve made an appointment at my local gp for the end of the month so I’m hoping they will maybe retest and suggest something. It’s so frustrating that everything takes such a long time though xx

[hifer in reply to Rox1388]

Ah right they will do another blood test then I’m sure (I would def push for this as I’ve had mixed results with medichecks so worth getting checked). Can you not get an appointment sooner? Also don’t get fobbed off. Some doctors can be resistant to test if you don’t have symptoms but be firm with what you want and the fact you’re having fertility treatment. My original doctor was dismissive and it was my first IVF clinic (also a hospital) that picked it up and first diagnosed me. Good luck xx

[Arlie123]

Hi there, sorry to hear about your failed cycles. High antibodies along with other thyroid results out of range can suggest Hashimoto's which can increase the risk of miscarriage if not treated. So you're doing the right thing to make sure everything is ok before continuing.

Do you know what your results are exactly? Can you post them here or over on the Thyroid board (they are very helpful there). The guidelines say if TTC your TSH should be under 2.5, my endocrinologist says aim for under 1. The 'normal' range is usually somewhere up to 4.2 depending on the lab. So normal isn't necessarily optimal for TTC. And many GPs here aren't very good and knowing about and treating thyroid issues. I would really recommend getting your full results and posting them over on the Thyroid forum hth

[Rox1388 in reply to Arlie123]

Hi, thanks for that information I wouldn’t have even thought to do that! I’ve posted my results over on there so hopefully someone can maybe give me a little more insight

[Florencenightingale]

Hi. I was found to have thyroid antibodies too when checking at fertility clinic for first time. TSH and all other results were normal.

As my partner has 2 children she sent me on my way to get GP to follow up. So they advised GP to start me on levothyroxine to settle my periods (26-36 days)

GP started me on 25mcg levothyroxine and periods settled to 28-29 days.

Started those and 2 years later I was pregnant. No info given on thyroxine so I stopped them as I was told it would settle my periods and TSH was normal, even at combined antenatal and endocrinologist clinic at 6 weeks nothing was mentioned...I later MC at 10 weeks.

Have kept on 25mcg and it's now been 4 years.

They dont do repeat bloods for the antibodies as if they are present, they are present, it wont change anything. Other bloods I get checked yearly. TSH has went from 3.2 whilst pregnant, down to 2.72 last year and now 0.81.

Fertility doc wanted under 2.5 and said to keep on meds and monitored closely if I fallmpregnsnt with IVF.

Thyroid disease can wreck havoc on pregnancy and fertility so it's really important you get it looked at.

I would advise going to GP with peroxidase results and asking to start on thyroxine.

Give me a shout if you need anything. Good luck xxx

[Rox1388 in reply to Florencenightingale]

Mine is 76.8 so doesn’t seem high in comparison to yours but the results showed it at the higher end of the scale. Everything is so complex I feel like there is always something! Thanks for all your information, I definitely think I need to be a bit more outspoken when seeing my GP etc, it’s my biggest fear finally getting pregnant after all this time and then having a miscarriage so if this is one thing that can potentially affect it in the future I’ll definitely keep an eye on it! X

[Florencenightingale in reply to Rox1388]

They didnt give me much info either tbh, just put me on thyroxine and sent me away. They did said inwill develop under or over active at some point tho. My sister is underactive.

It's definitely worth speaking up to your GP and asking them about progesterone levels and endometrial thickness.

Are you trying naturally or having IVF xx

[Florencenightingale in reply to Florencenightingale]

Sorry just re read about IVF xx

[Florencenightingale]

Ps. What was your peroxidase result? I think mine was 167 x