IVF with Hypothyroidism and PCO: After failed... - Thyroid UK

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IVF with Hypothyroidism and PCO

erda20 profile image
14 Replies

After failed IVF #1 am on 2ww FET. I would like to hear your stories if being Hypothyroid affected your IVF or if you had success and what was the measure your RE took to make it successful. Any experiences appreciated.

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erda20 profile image
erda20
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humanbean profile image
humanbean

Err... Could you explain what 2ww FET means. And what is an RE?

Suzannah1985 profile image
Suzannah1985 in reply to humanbean

2ww is the 2 week wait, the time between embryo transfer and doing a pregnancy test.

FET is a frozen embryo transfer.

RE is reproductive endocrinologist (I think!).

Commenting as I can provide clarity and also interested in any responses.

Erda.I had clomid to conceive having been diagnosed with PCOS, thank fully did not need togo down the IVF route. I now know that I had undiagnosed thyroid issues and all the low vits and minerals associated such as low Vit D and ferretin. I personally doubt that PCOS is a separate condition from underactive thyroid, that like chronc fatigue it emerged as a group of symptoms after the TSH test started to be used widely.

I have two lovely boys but both of them have developmental coordination disorder, my elder is faceblind and my younger has chronic fatigue and an awful weight issue despite hardly eating.

I imagine that had I been on this forum earlier I would have had two healthy boys and would not have needed any kind of fertility treatment to force the issue.I imagine lotsof eople go down the fertility treatment route with poorly treated or undiagnosed thyroid issues especially in the uk.

If you had not alreadydone so canI suggest you post your latest blood results and current symptoms so we can help optimise your health.I am sure we could help you conceive with IVF or otherwise.

erda20 profile image
erda20 in reply to

Sorry that happened to you. My recent Tsh was 0.87 and I take 62mg of eutrox(started at 100mg). I have no symptoms, antibodies or other vitamin problems. Everything was checked last year when I was first diagnosed. The doctors say if its treated there should be no problem of conceiving. Do you think you had hypothyroid prior conceiving? what was your symptoms?

in reply to erda20

It does sound like your TSH is fine but I am wondering about your T3 levels and who decided your vitamins were OK. I was checked for all of this stuff before I had fertility treatment and accepted the common understanding of medics that within range equated to good health. I have since found that the levels of vit D and ferritin were far from optimal.

erda20 profile image
erda20 in reply to

All the test are evaluated by my endocrinologist all came back in a good range. i had a test for B12,vitD iron, ferritin, TPO,t3,t4 and some other stuff. I do have a regular blood test every 3 months Tsh and ft4 but not t3 anymore after the first investigation. Did you get your thyroids meds up when you got pregnant?

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

PCOS and Hashimoto's are linked, so despite no thyroid antibodies it's probably Hashimoto's

pcosdiva.com/2015/08/got-pc...

heyhashi.org/hashimotos-low...

What are you most recent blood test results and ranges for TSH, FT3 and FT4

Essential to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12. Always get actual results and ranges. Post results when you have them, members can advise

Low vitamins can affect development of baby, especially low B12 or folate

Hashimoto's affects the gut and leads to low stomach acid and then low vitamin levels . Low vitamin levels affect Thyroid hormone working

Poor gut function can lead leaky gut (literally holes in gut wall) this can cause food intolerances. Most common by far is gluten. Dairy is second most common.

According to Izabella Wentz the Thyroid Pharmacist approx 5% with Hashimoto's are coeliac, but over 80% find gluten free diet helps, sometimes significantly. Either due to direct gluten intolerance (no test available) or due to leaky gut and gluten causing molecular mimicry (see Amy Myers link)

Changing to a strictly gluten free diet may help reduce symptoms, help gut heal

amymyersmd.com/2017/02/3-im...

chriskresser.com/the-gluten...

thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...

scdlifestyle.com/2014/08/th...

drknews.com/changing-your-d...

thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...

But don't be surprised that GP or endo never mention gut, gluten or low vitamins. Hashimoto's is very poorly understood

erda20 profile image
erda20 in reply to SlowDragon

My recent Tsh was 0.87 and I take 62mg of eutrox(started at 100mg). I have no symptoms, thyroid antibodies or other vitamin problems. what does it mean to have Hashimotos without thyroid antibodies? I lose weight as easy as I gain it before and after diagnosis.

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply to erda20

Always get actual results and ranges on all blood test results

Far too often "within range" is not optimal

Essential to test FT3 as well as TSH and FT4

Just testing TSH is completely inadequate

Ultrasound scan of thyroid can diagnose Hashimoto's, it will look granular on scan

Trying strictly gluten free diet helps many thyroid patients

Ideally get coeliac test first just to rule it out

HealthyEmski profile image
HealthyEmski

Hi Erda 20, just had a 2nd failed FET ( Frozen embryo transfer) with low dose steroids, and am deliberating what to do next. I was not diagnosed for years with thyroid problems and was trying to conceive all that time. Long story short, I started IVF and was eventually diagnosed with Hashimotos.

It's very hard to separate it all out: is the Hashimotos? blighted embryos? my age? my previous myomectomies affecting the uterus?(I still have fibroids too but have been told they don't affect the uterus).

I'm currently seeing a NHS endocrinologist but all he says is take levothyroxine, is only concerned with my TSH and thinks there's nothing I can do to mitigate the Hashimotos. The only useful thing is that I get regular blood tests .(My gut instinct is that he thinks there's no chance I could conceive as my embryos are from 44 year old eggs. Yes, the odds are against me but there is a chance.) I'm considering seeing a reproductive endocrinologist privately as have only 1 embryo left. More costs and uncertainties.

erda20 profile image
erda20 in reply to HealthyEmski

Sorry to hear that. It is very frustrating process the uncertainty of what is happening. May I ask why you needed the steroids for? Its good to find a good doctor who is willing to try new things and I wish you good luck. keep going.

HealthyEmski profile image
HealthyEmski in reply to erda20

After doing some reading ( Dr A Beer, is your body baby friendly?) I suggested I try steroids and (my fertility doctor did not dissuade me) as they can suppress the autoimmune activity. My endo said he wouldn't recommend steroids as they can cause other complications but wouldn't recommend anything else. Good luck to you too.

I had not heard the term 'clomid kids' before, made me cry.

I think it is and it isnt a result of the clomid.I think the problem for me was that the clomid forced by body to do something it was not well and fit enough to do,ie carry a child and the children sufferred.My infertility was my bodys fail safe to stop me conceiving when it would cause harm to both me and the unborn and clomid over can my bodys own protection for us.

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