TSH: 3.49 & Fertility

[LabFan31]

Hi there,

I am hoping someone might be able to offer an insight/advice on this.

I have had a blood test come back with TSH at 3.49, which according to the NHS is in the normal range (0.27-4.2). I obviously spotted that it was on the high end, so started doing a little research, and have found that 'normal' looks more like 2.5. I also found that anything above 2.5 may cause fertility issues, and that the level shouldn't be above 3 in pregnancy.

We have been trying to conceive for 6 months with no luck so far, which I know isn't that long, but feel it's better to try and get on top of any issues sooner rather than later. Just wondering if anyone has any experience of this, or advice please?

[Catlady101]

Hi LabFan31,

Hope you’re okay. Your gut instinct is right on this one, most fertility consultants would want your TSH under 2.5 (closer to 1 usually makes most feel well) but also you’ll need to look at your T4 and T3 levels.

My hypothyroidism was picked up after I was referred to a consultant with fertility issues as we had not conceived in a year and my TSH was 28 🤢 then. I would definitely try and get it lower if I was you but as I say have a look at your other levels and vitamins to see if there is something else you could do to help with lowering it as well.

I know far more experienced members will send some help your way too. This forum is so helpful 🙂.

Good luck with everything x

[LabFan31 in reply to Catlady101]

Hi,

Thanks so much for your reply. Feeling pretty low about this as I'm sure you can imagine. My worry is it won't get taken seriously as my GP called about the results yesterday and said 'all perfectly normal'.

When you say your TSH was 28, do you mean 2.8? I suppose if the later is right then mine is much too high! I'll look into additional testing privately perhaps x

[Catlady101 in reply to LabFan31]

Unfortunately not it was 28, no wonder I was having no luck. I know GP’s unfortunately don’t have much of a clue, I was lucky that the instructions came from a consultant. I know a lot of members have got some reading materials that show TSH should be under 2.5 for conception so hopefully if you go armed with that they may listen. I know it’s so disheartening but you’ll get there, it does take a bit of pushing x

[LabFan31 in reply to Catlady101]

Oh gosh, I didn't even know that was possible! You must have felt quite unwell with it that high? Thanks so much, I best go back to them and see what can be done x

[RoseofEngland]

Hi LabFan31,

I'm in a similar position to you and was wondering if you had any luck with your doctor.

My levels have actually gone down to the NHS "normal" from being 5.1 a few months ago, but they're still 3.7 so it's not exactly great and like you, I'm not sure what to do about it.

[LabFan31 in reply to RoseofEngland]

Hi

So it's been a few months since I got my results and it's taken me a long time to decide whether to take action/what to do, as I feel like I'll be dismissed by the GP. Just when I decided I would approach them, lockdown was announced and I feel like they'd be even less likely to offer help. I've decided to get a private test done so that I have antibody, T3 and T4 results too, as well as retesting TSH, so that I have a better picture of what's going on. If TSH comes back any higher I will go to the GP with the results and see what can be done. We have been TTC for 7 months now and I feel like I should really take action now and see if my thyroid might be stopping us from conceiving.

What are you thinking of doing? Out of interest, how did you get your TSH down, were you given medication, or just managed to get them down yourself? x

[RoseofEngland in reply to LabFan31]

It's a bit of a mystery really. If anything I was expecting it to be a little higher as I was more prepared this time and knew not to have breakfast and to stop biotin supplements beforehand. The only thing I did change was I went from taking the Seven Seas conception tablets to taking these ones instead naturesbest.co.uk/multivita... so that may be it.

I'm not sure yet. I kind of want to approach the doctor but I am wondering if it might go down further. I might try the private testing route too.

[LabFan31 in reply to RoseofEngland]

They contain Selenium and Iodine, both of which are meant to help reduce TSH. I'm taking Selenium at the moment for that very reason, I need to look more into iodine though. That's great it's come down by itself though, you never know, it may continue in the right direction. What did the GP say about your initial result and latest result? x

[RoseofEngland in reply to LabFan31]

As it's classed as normal, I don't think the doctor will contact me. The website just says "Normal. No follow-up required." Obviously, I know that it's not right for my situation though. I'll let you know if I do contact them. The only other thing I can think of is I've been doing quite a bit more exercise with the gyms being back open (although that's all over now). Good luck! I was already very frustrated and upset when the 6 month mark passed, and it's really not nice when people make out it's not a long time. Most people have conceived by that point and it is disappointing when that hasn't been the case for you. I hope you get some answers.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to RoseofEngland]

Stopping biotin would only be expected to make any difference if the lab tests used are affected by biotin. Far from all lab tests are affected.

Of course, if you do not know for sure, the only sensible course is to suspend biotin supplementation.

[LabFan31 in reply to helvella]

Is biotin meant to help reduce TSH? Hope you don't mind me asking, am trying to figure out how I can naturally bring mine down x

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to LabFan31]

No. Though if you were deficient in biotin, the effects of that deficiency could be wide-ranging.

Have a look at this site (sorry, a USA site but they tend to be quite comprehensive):

ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/B...

Fundamentally, you bring TSH down by having sufficient thyroid hormone. TSH itself isn't, or shouldn't be, a target except inasmuch as a questionable TSH result points at thyroid hormone issues.

Once you have a raised TSH, you need to look at thyroid hormone levels, Free T4 and Free T3.

[LabFan31 in reply to helvella]

Thanks for explaining I've just ordered a private test to test TSH again as well as free T4 and free T3, so hoping that will explain more.

[RoseofEngland in reply to helvella]

Thanks. Looks like it might not affect these ones.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to RoseofEngland]

Biotin certainly can affect TSH, FT4 and FT3 tests. But it does depend on which technology is used to run the analysis. Some are affected. Some are not affected. And I am not convinced we are always certain in which direction test results would be go.