Advice after first post stimulation scan - response and thyroid

[Kat_15]

Hi fellow warriors 💪🍍💛

I had my first monitoring scan today following a week of taking a dose of 300iu Gonal F shots for six days.

The sonographer said my lining was developing well and my follicles were beginning to develop but were still small. They have increased my Gonal F dose to 375. My oestrogen was also low at 226. It’s over a year since I went through stimulation so have forgotten if this is normal! Any advice?

Also, I have had issues with my thyroid for over a year and was diagnosed with silent autoimmune thyroiditis earlier this year. I haven’t been on Thyroxine since last year as the endocrinologist recommended I stay off it as my body was correcting my thyroid itself. Pre IVF my TSH was 3.55 (the endocrinologist recommended my threshold was 4) but I found out today it is 4.38. Panicking a bit now that they might not let me go to transfer in a couple of weeks time. Speaking to the endocrinologist on Monday but now I am going to be worrying about it all weekend. Back on the IVF rollercoaster of emotions! 🤪😩😱

Any advice/experiences really appreciated.

xxx

[ceepank81]

I have an issue with my thyroid too. My NHS consultant put me on Levothyroxine at the beginning of the year because my TSH level was 3.5. For fertility it needs to be below 2.5, you’ll find a lot of information about this online if you want to verify it. Mine got below 2.5 then crept up again, am now with a private clinic who said the same thing (the threshold being 2.5) and have increased my dose of Levothyroxine to get the TSH back under 2.5.

I haven’t read anything that suggests TSH levels impact follicle growth particularly, however it is suggested thyroid problems impact the success of IVF and also increase the rate of miscarriage.

I think do some research and go back to your consultant. I’m surprised they have taken you off the thyroid medication and have recommended a TSH threshold of 4. Go armed with your research!

Good luck with your cycle, it doesn’t sound like anything is necessarily wrong with your progress so try to relax and enjoy your weekend.

[Kat_15 in reply to ceepank81]

Hello, thanks for reaching out and for your kind your message. Sorry to hear you have issues with your thyroid too.

Yes sadly I’m a bit of a special case! I was diagnosed with silent autoimmune thyroiditis following my FET last July so was taken off all meds for a year to let my thyroid recover. My TSH fluctuated between 0.02 and 22.5 within a couple of months. It eventually started to stabilise and was 3.55 in June this year which was why I could start looking to start treatment again. I have seen two endocrinologists and they think for me (due to my autoimmune response I had last year) that my threshold should be 4 rather than usual 2.5.

I spoke to my endocrinologist yesterday and I’m back on 50mg of levothyroxine and he said it should be fine by the time we get to transfer (fingers crossed!). Was so relieved!

Wishing you lots of luck too. xx

[leah30]

When’s your next scan ? I’m on day 5 of 375 gonal f that’s what I was on my previous cycle . My thyroxine Levels were slightly off they like it to be a certain number I can’t remember but they upped my thyroxine 25 mg . Try not to worry lovely talk to consultant xx

[leah30 in reply to leah30]

So I’m on 100 thyroxine , they didn’t adjust my thyroid med at all last time x

[Kat_15 in reply to leah30]

Hi Leah, thank you for your thoughtful message. It made me feel better when I read it. 😊My scan went better yesterday, I have one follicle that is 11mm now and the rest were about 7mm. They are keeping me on 375 dose of Gonal F and I think they will probably extend my stims to allow them to grow a bit more over the next few days. I have always been on short protocols before so being on a long protocol and Gonal F is all new. This is my first private cycle at this clinic, I was at a different clinic for our NHS cycles last year.

Spoke to my endocrinologist and he is putting me back on 50mg and it said it would be fine by the time we get to transfer (fingers crossed we get to that point!). I was so relieved!

How are you feeling? What day of stims are you on? I’m day 11 today. Going back for another scan tomorrow, hoping things have started moving a bit more! 🤞🤞🍍🍍

Sending positive vibes and lots of luck to you. Xx

[leah30 in reply to Kat_15]

Hi Hun , thought I’d replied must of not sent 🤦‍♀️Glad they have upped gonal f and things are progressing . I’m on Day 7 and I’ve a scan on Friday then Monday . I’m a bit achey so hopefully that’s a sign I’m getting some big juicy ones lol. Lots of positive vibes to you too xx

[Kat_15 in reply to leah30]

Hi lovely, thanks for your message. Hope everything goes well with your next scan. Will be keeping my fingers and toes crossed for you! 🤞Ha ha, sounds like a good sign, hope so! I felt really tired at times on Gonal F and bit achey now too. 🤞🍍Lots of positive vibes back to you too. xx

[leah30 in reply to Kat_15]

Let us know how tomorrow goes xx I’m glad I’m not the only one ! I’ve felt shattered x

[Kat_15 in reply to leah30]

Definitely will! ☺️Glad it’s not just me too!I’ve felt shattered at times. 🤪😴I’m on synarel nose spray too which gave me lots of hot flushes at first too! Xx