High TSH for IVF

[Gentleblue]

Hello everyone,

I always had TSH around 2.5, but after taking Gonal F, Ovitrelle and Utrogestan something must of have triggered the levels, in a month it went from 2.5 to 6, the 10. I was put on ltyroxyne 50mg.

We had IUIs which were not successful, maybe it was not worth doing with high TSH? Doctor did not stop from trying.

Last week I have done blood test again before IVF and it was 3.4, doctor said it is too high and suggested to increase does to 100mg for thyroid meds.

The TSH should be ideally below 2.

I wonder if this is a common reaction for otherwise normal thyriods, anyone else experienced the same or have to take ltyroxyne while trying?

I am on a wait with IVF until TSH is about 1..

[JA-fnuk Partner Nurse Fertility Network UK]

Just wanted to wish you good luck when you restart treatment and hope it is not too long before your levels are below 2

Sending a hug

Janet-Partner

[Gentleblue in reply to JA-fnuk]

Thank you so much, hope it won’t take a long time too

[Tamaa]

Hi. After two failed transfers, my clinic tested me and TSH was found to be 3.6 (upper normal limit is 4). I was started on a small dose of Levothyroxine that achieved the required level of TSH being below 2.5, and then I had a cycle after that.I had never tested thyroid hormone levels before, so no idea if fertility meds could have elevated the TSH.

I have never had any symptoms.

[Gentleblue in reply to Tamaa]

Hello Tamaa, thank you for sharing! This gives me hope, once it is under required level to try again. Just going to wait and re-test in a couple of weeks.

[Kerry1487]

Hi, I’ve had one cycle of ivf where my TSH was not tested. It was then tested by my GP for a separate matter and they discovered my anti bodies are high but my thyroid function was fine. My levels have always been over 3. I discussed this with my ivf clinic and they told me they want it <2.5 so they are writing to my doctor to prescribe me medication. I hope this helps my next cycle. Good luck.

[Gentleblue in reply to Kerry1487]

Hello Kerry, this is a very valid point you have mentioned about antibodies. Something I also want to test, but it was not included under NHS fertility blood for some reason. Thank you and good luck to you too!! We will keep on trying xx

[Kerry1487 in reply to Gentleblue]

It’s very important to have these tests. I possibly have an auto immune condition which will attach anything foreign so that’s something I want to rule out before proceeding with another transfer. Maybe ask if your GP will run the test or enquire about it privately xx

[Rubylou01]

Hi Gentleblue - For the past 3 years of treatments I've had TSH ranging from 2.2-2.5 and last month after a cancelled cycle due to poor response (after COVID) it's gone up to 2.79 and so Ive also been put on low dose Levothyroxine as well to bring it back down. I don't know whether its the stims (I was on Gonal F, Dexamethasone, Progerveris, Meriofert and Fyremadel), the stress of putting our selves/bodies under this pressure or lingering effect of COVID as I haven't changed my diet, supplements or exercise regime. But am making sure am eating my leafy greens, walnuts and Brazil nuts and supplementing with iodine as well. Hopefully yours will come down fairly quickly xx

[Gentleblue in reply to Rubylou01]

Hi Rubylou,

Thank you so much for sharing. Yes the Brazil nuts I have also added to my diet, source of selenium for thyroid. I have read that vitamin D, B12, selenium and iron levels can affect thyroid system, but also I need to check the antibodies TPO it is called I think.

I did not change anything but added the stimulation and after two rounds the levels just catapulted to 10 in a month time.

I do need to stimulate my follicles otherwise they just don’t grow at all.

I also spend more time on sun, added brazil nuts, meditation, rose tea. Will re check around end of august.

Good luck xx

[Whartdog86]

hi, I had a couple of cycles where TSH were not tested. One was successful in pregnancy but unfortunately ended in a 16week TFMR. The following summer I ended up at my doctors thinking I had hit perimenopause and panicking and they found my TSH levels to be 8, was put on Levothyroxine for 6 weeks which brought it down to 3.2…..which is fine for NHS standard, however fertility prefers it below 2.5, so then my clinic took over monitoring levels and prescribing levothyroxine. Similar to you I had never had issues with thyroid before but as it was never tested pre starting IVF, so I may have always had elevated levels. I’ve stayed on levothyroxine now and my levels always stayed around 0.75-1.2 on 75mg, I was put back to being monitored by my doctors after my third successful transfer, which thankfully went to a full term pregnancy.

I currently have a 2 week old son and put back and doctors are keeping me on levothyroxine to possibly attempt bringing dose down slowly.

[Gentleblue in reply to Whartdog86]

Hello, thank you so much for sharing this (I feel more hopeful) and congratulations!I am on 75mg now from 50mg.

[Lilly287]

Hi, before the IVF procedure I went to my endocrinologist because I have been taking levothyroxine 75mg for years and my TSH was kept on 2.5. I thought it was ok. But for the IVF procedure the recommendation of TSH level is around 1. My doctor increased my levothyroxine dose to 125. It seemed a lot to me, but at the Clinic they confirmed this recommendation and tested my TSH. It is actually 0.9. Now I have had my 5th attempt and each time I have my TSH tested before stimulation and one cycle after. Once I did a TSH test right after occytes collection and it was very high, above 4. I got scared, but the endocrinologist reassured me that during hormonal stimulation TSH increases a lot, the important thing is that it drops to a good value - that is why it is tested after a month or two, not immediately.

Regarding ATPO, to keep it low I recommend checking your iron, ferritin, D3 levels and supplementing if they are too low. I would be careful with selenium, it is better to maintain a good diet. I also recommend all antioxidants in your diet like blueberries, acai etc. and meditation or yoga.... it depends what works for you the best to avoid stress. For me all of these lower ATPO. I wish you luck!

[Gentleblue in reply to Lilly287]

Hi Lily, thank you so much for sharing. I have checked iron , b12, D are all good, but very valid point. For selenium I just eat couple of brazil nuts, if I remember. Otherwise as you said, it is meditation, going for walks. I also thought about iodine, maybe I eat some quality seaweed salad once a week. I found listening to the brain waves music (alpha waves) keep my moods more stable.

Hang in there! We keep on trying! Wishing you all success too x

[Lilly287 in reply to Gentleblue]

Hi Gentleblue, That's great that you have good vitamin levels, it is crucial for thyroid and pregnancy. Iodine is a different story. In my country, there is a recommendation of 150-200mcg for pregnant women and planning one, but salt is iodized here. WHO recommends 220-250mcg. Since iodine in too high doses causes an increased autoimmune response of the thyroid (how about your ATPO?), my endocrinologist was very cautious and recommended an additional supplementation of 100mcg before and during stimulation and 200 after a successful transfer. If I had a healthy thyroid, I would focus on iodine in my diet, without artifical supplementation. Stay in good mood and keep going 🌴🧘🌴🙂

[erinmalison]

I've never heard of TSH being affected by stims. I had my thyroid removed due to thyroid cancer in 2021, and did IVF in 2022-2023. My TSH was not affected at all by my stim meds. I used Gonal F and Ovidrelle as well as a couple others. My endocrinologist as well as my fertility dr kept an eye on my thyroid levels throughout my entire IVF journey but my levels never went above 0.5 at my regular dose of synthroid. When i do fertility treatments or I am pregnant my endocrinologist keeps me as close to 0.0 as possible, she said even 2.0 is a bit high for fertility.

[Megrumpy]

I just wanted to add that as someone who has had to take Levothyroxine for years. Your TSH levels will change throughput your cycle, so they would definitely change throughout an IVF cycle. They can even vary depending on the time of the day.