Hello all 💛
We are due to start IVF with DE next month but my TSH result has come back at 2.90. I know that most clinics like it to be below 2.50. Our clinic has said they are happy with the result and happy to continue with treatment but I just want to ask - has anyone had successful IVF with a TSH above 2.50?
Thank you 🙏🏼
Hiya, I’m currently on my TWW but when I first started treatment my TSH was slightly high before (think it was near 3) and the clinic prescribed me Levothyroxine to lower that number which has worked. If you’re feeling anxious about it, maybe you could ask about being prescribed a low dose of Levothyroxine? I was started on 25mg but now I’m on 50mg and have been on it since and it’s keeping my numbers below the higher level of recommendation for IVF. No harm in asking I imagine 
best of luck to you on your IVF journey as well x
Hi! Thank you for you response. Do you mind if I ask how long you were on Levothyroxine before you started IVF? And how long did it take to bring your levels down?
I always find the TWW agonising!! I hope it hasn’t been too bad for you! x x
sorry for late reply! Was at work.
I was on it for a few months but my first round of treatment was delayed slightly by covid. I think it took a couple of weeks to start lowering the number but it has to be monitored by blood tests. If they find that it’s not lowering as much as they like after a month or so, they will probably up your dosage. Hope this helps in some way!
Aw thank you, I’m only on 2dpt so still have a bit of wait and I know it always feels like the longest two weeks ever! xx
Thank you for your response! I will talk to our RI next week and follow his advice. Just nervous about adding another medication into the mix. We’re doing so many things different for this transfer 🤞🏼 I hope you get your BFP!! Try and stay busy and as hard as it is, try not to focus on it and symptom spot! (Almost impossible I know 😄) Best of luck 🤞🏼 x x
No worries! Thankfully I didnt notice any side effects from the Levothyroxine when I started it as they do tend to start it off on a low dose, try not to worry if they do prescribe you it 🤍
Aww thank you 🤞🏻 this is my only embryo from this cycle so there’s a lot riding on it. Trying just to just continue living life as normal and not dwell on any symptoms that arise 🙈 xx
I think that’s the best way! Just carry on and take your mind off it, and be kind to yourself!! Best of luck! Let me know how you get on 🤞🏼 X x
HI
I have an underactive thyroid condition and use both T4 and T3 medication. Having spoken with a consultant today (17/02/2023), he has said that they require a TSH of 0.2. It needs to be suppressed.
That sounds very low. Clinics have previously advised us between 0.2 and 2.5 and ideally around the 2 mark.
My clinic (big not for profit NHS and private clinic in London that featured on a TV show recently) actually recommends TSH below 4.5 for treatment which I found crazy. In the end they agreed to put me on a low does of thyroxine (25) after begging which took my TSH from 4 and I got pregnant that round of IVF. Could be coincidence but for the sake of a small dose of thyroxine I think it is worth pushing for. I recently went back for a fet and requested to be put on thyroxine again. Within 3 weeks of taking thyroxine again it I had my first natural pregnancy ever. Could be a coincidence again but I am insisting on staying on it through this pregnancy again. Good luck x
Hello! Thank you for your reply! That’s really interesting that you got pregnant naturally after lowering the TSH (and huge congratulations! ☺️). My understanding is that once you start Levothyroxine you have to stay on it forever? Have you heard that at all? Also, apparently the guidelines have changed so where 2.5 was the ideal now they want under 3.5 🤷🏻♀️ My TSH has never been above 2 but after a recent miscarriage (through IVF) it started playing up. We have about 5 weeks until transfer, do you think that’s enough time to start Levothyroxine and see a difference? x x
Thank you. Was a big surprise.
I had heard that you had to stay on thyroxine forever too but after I gave birth my GP tested my TSH and said I could come off it. Maybe it was because I was on a low dose to start with. The NHS don't care about TSH unless it is well over 4.5 but if you are going private with the fertility clinic (I went private after my first NHS round failed) I find they are a lot more open to prescribing thyroxine.
Both times I started thyroxine my TSH had dropped significantly within 3-4 weeks. As I said before, it all may be a coincidence but if there is anything you can do that may help put your mind at ease then I would push for it. My GP didn't want to keep me on Thyroxine but I got so upset and they said they didn't want me to have a MC and then blame that so I think they agreed just to put my mind at ease.
I would say that at 2.9 your TSH isn't too worrying. I think mine was over 4 first round but slowly going up over time which was worrying me. xx
Thank you, that’s really helpful. I’ve got an appointment with our RI next week so I’ll get his opinion. I have a feeling mine may be rising (it’s higher than it was in Dec and Jan) so it maybe he thinks it’s for the best to go on it, especially as early pregnancy can see TSH increase anyway. We’re doing so many things different for this transfer - Prednisolone, Clexane, extra progesterone, I’m just worried about adding another medication into the mix! My poor body! 😬We’re desperate for our babies tho 🤞🏼x x
sending you lots of luck for this next round xx
My TSH fluctuated above and below 2.5. My consultant put me on levothyroxine after a failed FET and we've just had a BFP - obviously don't know if this made a difference as we tried lots of other things, but the side effects are minimal so it might be worth a shot.
Thank you for your reply. Did your consultant say you had to stay on that forever or just temporarily? Congratulations on your pregnancy!!! You must be thrilled 🥳 x x
Thrilled and anxious! No, definitely didn't say I needed to take it forever - as my levels are well within normal range, just not optimal for fertility, the plan is just to take it through pregnancy then wean off. I am on a pretty low dose (25g).
babymagic37 if the reason you go on levothyroxine is fertility related - to keep numbers below 2/2.5 then you will be able to come off meds when you want. The lifelong offering on levothyroxine is for those people who benefit from keeping symptoms at bay from hyperthyroidism. I have been on levothyroxine for 3 years (fertility related) in that time my dose has been changed several times (usually took just a cpl of weeks to adjust the levels). I am currently pregnant and my hospital consultant has advised that 6wks after baby is here to have a blood test but that I’ll likely come off it. I actually first got it prescribed by my gp after my gynae doc recommended it when we were first having fertility tests, so before I had even gone to ivf clinic.
Hello! Thank you for your reply, that’s really helpful to know and reassuring!! Congratulations on your pregnancy! 💛
Hi,
I had lots of conversations with different doctors from different countries and 2 said my TSH was too high at 2.5. I panicked as my nhs doctor wouldn't even give me an appointment as it's within normal levels. My current clinic said as long as it's under 4.5 it's fine and I'm now pregnant, so I guess they were right.
Good luck.
X
Hello! That’s really good to hear, thank you 🙏🏼 I’m hoping our RI will just tell me what’s best to do. It’s so hard to navigate all this!! Huge Congratulations on your pregnancy!! 🎉
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