Anyone had a successful embryo transfer with a TSH higher than 2.5 mIU/L?

[Babymagic37]

My latest TSH result is 3.66, it’s slowly been increasing over the last month or two. I’ve been taking 75mg Levothyroxine for around a month. We are really hoping to transfer an embryo soon. Some doctors say it needs to be lower than 2.5, some say it’s fine as long as it’s lower than 4 - help! Don’t know what to do!

[Gerbear22]

Hi there.My endocrinologist would not give the go ahead for both of my ivf cycles unless TSH was between 0.5 and 2.Had success on second ivf cycle(second transfer).Currently 31 weeks pregnant.x

[Babymagic37 in reply to Gerbear22]

thank you for your comment and congratulations! You must be thrilled ☺️ Was your TSH ever above the 2.5? x x

[DreamingOfTwo79]

Hello! My very first TSH levels ahead of starting IVF came to just under 2.5 but my consultant put me on 25mg Levothyroxine anyway just to ensure it stays well below as my clinic want to see less than 2.5 for transfer. Are you taking Alpha lipoic acid as a supplement at all? I was advised by my consultant that that reacts with Levothyroxine and could push your levels up again. I took it during my egg collection cycles but stopped after my last one and my TSH levels have subsequently gone down again. Good luck to you! x

[Babymagic37 in reply to DreamingOfTwo79]

hello! Thank you for your comment. I’m not taking lipoid acid but my clinic have said the estrogen I’ve been prescribed for my protocol will have increased the TSH. The thyroid is affected by so much! I’ve never had a problem with mine until my chemical last year. Our clinic is advising us to transfer on TSH 3.66 and said the levels will probably change again once I get pregnant. It’s so hard to know what to do!

[Tarasunny]

Mine was 3.9 ish before my 2nd round, got it checked after my bfp and it was 5.5 started on levothyroxine but did end up having a MMC at 9 weeks. Docs say it probably wasn't related but who knows. I would say it's better to be lower as it can shoot up after a bfp. Mine has been sitting around 2 since then but haven't been pregnant since so can't really comment.

[Babymagic37 in reply to Tarasunny]

hello! Thank you for your comment 🙂 I’m so sorry to hear about your miscarriage. It’s heartbreaking. This journey is truly horrendous 😔 Do you mind if I ask what level your TSH was at 8/9 weeks? Were you regularly testing it? Our clinic is happy to go ahead on a TSH of 3.66 and said the estrogen has probably increased it. We are so confused about what to do. The problem is if we wait, it could take months for my TSH to go back down and even then, like you say, it can shoot back up upon BFP. When I was pregnant last year it dropped to 0.01 so I have no idea this time if it will shoot up or shoot down! 😅

[Tarasunny in reply to Babymagic37]

I never had my TSH checked again till after my miscarriage by which point it was back down to 2 with thyroxine. My old clinic believed levels only needed to be less than 4 too.

[Pnw2020]

Hi. I would personally wait until TSH is stable and under 2 as would need to be monitored when pregnant. Under 4 is the normal range but not for fertility and generally TSH is less than 2 in those without thyroid issues. Medication can take a few months to work and levels need to be re-checked. Really important to ensure optimum vitamin levels as well. Have a look on thyroid UK forum for further advice.

[Babymagic37 in reply to Pnw2020]

Hi, thank you for your response. I’ll have a look at the forum and see what people are saying! Thank goodness there’s forums like this available!! ☺️ x x

[Marisa32]

It needs to be below 2 ideally closer to 1 when ttc or pregnant. The general guideline (ok until 4) only applies to general population NOT to women who are pregnant or ttc. Good endocrinologist will explain why that is. You should increase your dose immediately and TSH should come down in 2 weeks or so.

[Babymagic37 in reply to Marisa32]

Thank you for your response. I’m now taking 100mg Levothyroxine on advice of RI. We’re still left with the decision of whether to transfer on TSH of 3.66 as clinic is fully supportive of continuing with transfer. They said the TSH dropped to 0.01 last time I got pregnant so I may have the opposite problem of it decreasing rather than increasing. So hard to know what to do and which advice to follow! x

[Marisa32 in reply to Babymagic37]

These things are complex. They also have to monitor T3 and T4 etc. As long as you have someone competent checking it, you should be in good hands. My IVF clinic wouldn't even start stims until the endo sorted out my thyroid.

[Bonaire]

Hey

Funny enough I just had a check up appointment with my endocrinologist, he seemed quite knowledgeable about fertility and IVF. My level has been sat at 3 & I think I’ve been on 25 thyroxine but he’d told me to double it to be on the safe side, as like someone said above some consultants will say different levels is good for conception. He said if I feel rubbish or have pulsations etc just to bring it back down. I said I’d had to failed and he said, it may be a factor and worth trying x

[Babymagic37 in reply to Bonaire]

Hello! thank you for your comment. I’ve just upped my dose from 75 to 100mg Levothyroxine and hoping that will help to lower the TSH level. Clinic is happy to continue with transfer on a TSH of 3.66 so we are trying to making the agonising decision of whether to carry on or wait until TSH has dropped. Problem is that could take months! And right now, my lining etc is perfect. The joys of IVF!! 😅

[Bonaire in reply to Babymagic37]

No problem and absolutely go for it if that lining is ready and rearing 😃

The endocrinologist said not to get my hopes up that it’ll help, but “every little helps as Tesco would say 😂” he’s a really nice funny chap, always gives me hope for fertility even though he’s not a gynaecologist i guess he understands the hormones side of things!

Good luck xx

[Babymagic37 in reply to Bonaire]

it definitely helps having someone quite positive and funny! This is a gruelling process, any pockets of joy are welcome!

We have to make the decision today so just waiting for hubby to finish work - god I wish I wasn’t so indecisive! I never use to be like this 😅😅

[Melody79]

Hi, You would be best to have TSH as close to 0 as possible or at least under 2. You would also need to check T4 and T3 and RT3 as you can't dose on TSH alone. Levels do rise during most IVF treatments if you have estrogen medication. Have a search on thyroid section as lots of good information on there

[Babymagic37 in reply to Melody79]

Hi, thank you for this. Yes the clinic said my estrogen will have increased the TSH but that they are happy to continue with embryo transfer with a TSH of 3.66. I’ll have a look on the forum but I tend to find it all quite overwhelming. At the moment I’m in a state of analysis paralysis. I really want to trust the clinic but I’m scared! 😅

[Jane8412]

I had a TSH of 3.9 and rising before my second IVF round in 2021. My clinic (a big London clinic recently shown on a TV series) were adamant that their research showed that under 4.5 for IVF was fine. I queried this as everywhere else (google, naturopath, this forum) stated below 2.5 and ideally closer to 1 for fertility. I joined the Thyroid UK board on Healthunlocked and there are so many knowledgeable people on there who provided back-up and research supporting a lower TSH for fertility. I found it all very stressful as I know my clinic is unlikely to suggest anything that would affect their success rates and they had a policy after extensive research that below 4.5 was fine. In the end I found it so stressful that they agreed to prescribe me the smallest dose of thyroxine 25 which i took all my pregnancy and stopped after birth. I then went back on it before my planned FET in Jan. I found it so hard to get my GP to prescribe thyroxine it to me as the NHS is adamant below 4.5 is fine- even after I told them I was pregnant they were still insisting I didn't need it. They even consulted with an endo and told me I basically had no clue what i was talking about and they were the expert. It took 3 calls to my GP before they finally relented and agreed to prescribe to me (probably just to shut me up). I share this to let you know that you may have a fight on your hand if you want to get the prescription through the NHS. I really hope not xx

[Babymagic37 in reply to Jane8412]

Hello! Thank you so much for your comment and information. I had the same problem - my endo wouldn’t prescribe Levothyroxine as he stated my levels were “normal”. I had to eventually get a private prescription through an RI and I’m currently on 100mg Levothyroxine. Do you mind if I ask - what was your TSH before both pregnancies? Did you have your thyroid monitored throughout pregnancy? What sort of levels did it get to once you were pregnant?

Our clinic sounds a bit like yours and basically said they are happy to continue to transfer and would have no issue cancelling this transfer if they were worried about the TSH being at 3.66. They said it’ll all change again once I get pregnant. Last year I was pregnant and it dropped to 0.01 (instead of increasing) so it’s really hard to predict what the thyroid is going to do. It’s a fickle creature! 😅 This journey is so stressful 🤦🏻‍♀️

[Jane8412 in reply to Babymagic37]

So bizarre AND frustrating how all these endos and GPs have conflicting ideas about ideal TSH for fertility. I found info on the Thyroid UK website that backed up a lower TSH for anyone considering pregnancy and they told me it was wrong... Sometimes you just feel like you're bashing your head against a wall.

I can't remember exactly but I think my TSH was about 3 when I started my first round of IVF and kept going up and right before my second round it was 3.9 when they agreed to put me on Thyroxine. Once I started taking it my TSH was monitored by the midwife/consultant and it stayed below 2.5. After I gave birth it was 2.23 so my GP told me to stop the Thyroxine.

I think it was above 2.5 in Dec before I got pregnant. I asked to go back on thyroxine before my planned FET and the fertility Dr prescribed it but once I was pregnant and tried to get the repeat prescription the GP said no. Got there in the end though!

I'm sending you lots of luck. I know how stressful it is! xx

[Babymagic37 in reply to Jane8412]

it is so frustrating particularly as it’s thousands of pounds worth of treatment! It’s not easy in any way to go through ivf, emotionally, physically, financially. Hardest journey I’ve ever done 🫤

So it sounds like you’ve had successful pregnancies when your thyroid has been above 2.5 but you’ve also been on levo during pregnancy and monitored it, which has helped to bring it down. So tempted just to crack on with the transfer and put my trust in the clinic…. 🙄 x x

[Jane8412 in reply to Babymagic37]

It's such a tough call isn't it! I guess because you are already on the levo and you know you are being monitored that it would make sense to go ahead with a transfer if your clinic doesn't think it affects success rates.

Do you take your levo away from food/drink? I found taking mine at night easier but everyone is different. Good luck xx

[Anjalichaudhary]

Hi, when my embroy transferred my tsh was 13. Nd now i am the mother of 1 baby boy. In my case tsh did not cause any issue

[Babymagic37 in reply to Anjalichaudhary]

Thank you for your comment. That’s amazing! So the clinic didn’t see a problem with that? Did they suggest meds to help bring it down?

[Anjalichaudhary in reply to Babymagic37]

Yes that time i was taking thyronorm 75mg, they suggest to increase the dose by 125mg. Nd they didn't see any issue. They told me it will not be an issue. But as i was concerned so they increase the dose and to do thyroid test done in every 15 dats

[Anjalichaudhary]

And after my dose increase in 2nd month my thyroid remained u der 2.5 between .5 to 2

[Babymagic37 in reply to Anjalichaudhary]

Thank you for this - Did you only start the 75mg thyronorm after embryo transfer or before?

[Anjalichaudhary in reply to Babymagic37]

I was taking 75mg before starting the protocol. But after transfer of 2 months increase the dose by 100 mg and after 2.5 months increase its to 125mg.