My partner and I (both 30) have been TTC for 14 months now and no luck. I am starting to look into factors contributing to this so recently had a full blood panel done (private). My thyroid levels are:
- TSH: 1.1
T4: 15.32
T3: 3.92
Anti - TG: 43.1
Anti TPO: 168
My anti TPO was the only thing out of range. I also have a goiter (thyroid cyst) which has been monitored over the years and is benign and as I have "normal" thyroid levels there has been no further treatment. I have been told I have early markers for hashimoto's but again no need for medication at this time.
Is it possible this anti TPO level could be contributing to infertility? I have always had a regular cycle and ovulation so I am trying to look for other health factors.
As western medicine hasn't offered much I am going to start taking vit D and selenium and introudce an anti-inflammatory diet to see if this helps.
Any information or experience would be appreciated, thanks!
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Sunflower_Girl12
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Aim to improve ferritin to at least 70 by increasing iron rich foods in your diet
With serum B12 result below 500, (Or active B12 below 70) recommended to be taking a separate B12 supplement
A week later add a separate vitamin B Complex
Then once your serum B12 is over 500 (or Active B12 level has reached 70), you may be able to reduce then stop the B12 and just carry on with the B Complex.
If Vegetarian or vegan likely to need ongoing separate B12 few times a week
Igennus B complex popular option. Nice small tablets. Most people only find they need one per day. But a few people find it’s not high enough dose and may need separate methyl folate couple times a week
Thorne Basic B recommended vitamin B complex that contains folate, but they are large capsules. (You can tip powder out if can’t swallow capsule) Thorne can be difficult to find at reasonable price, should be around £20-£25. iherb.com often have in stock. Or try ebay
IMPORTANT......If you are taking vitamin B complex, or any supplements containing biotin, remember to stop these 5-7 days before ALL BLOOD TESTS , as biotin can falsely affect test results
In week before blood test, when you stop vitamin B complex, you might want to consider taking a separate folate supplement (eg Jarrow methyl folate 400mcg) and continue separate B12 if last test result serum B12 was below 500 or active B12 (private test) under 70
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.
A trial of strictly gluten free diet is always worth doing
Only 5% of Hashimoto’s patients test positive for coeliac but a further 81% of Hashimoto’s patients who try gluten free diet find noticeable or significant improvement or find it’s essential
A strictly gluten free diet helps or is essential due to 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 and may slowly lower TPO antibodies
While still eating high gluten diet ask GP for coeliac blood test first as per NICE Guidelines
The predominance of Hashimoto thyroiditis represents an interesting finding, since it has been indirectly confirmed by an Italian study, showing that autoimmune thyroid disease is a risk factor for the evolution towards NCGS in a group of patients with minimal duodenal inflammation. On these bases, an autoimmune stigma in NCGS is strongly supported
In summary, whereas it is not yet clear whether a gluten free diet can prevent autoimmune diseases, it is worth mentioning that HT patients with or without CD benefit from a diet low in gluten as far as the progression and the potential disease complications are concerned
Despite the fact that 5-10% of patients have Celiac disease, in my experience and in the experience of many other physicians, at least 80% + of patients with Hashimoto's who go gluten-free notice a reduction in their symptoms almost immediately.
Similarly few months later consider trying dairy free too. Approx 50-60% find dairy free beneficial
With loads of vegan dairy alternatives these days it’s not as difficult as in the past
Welcome to the group. If you could complete your profile it helps members understand your thyroid journey so far and be able to advise you better. Click on your image icon to start. Fill out the free text box at the top.
Please add reference range for each test - numbers in brackets after your result.
What time of day was this test taken? Suggested time is 9am or earlier for highest TSH. test fasting & no biotin supplement for 4-7 days before.
Raised anti TPo confirms autoimmune hypothyrodism aka Hashimoto's. Numbers can fluctuate for many years before finally falling completely out of range.
Your FT3 by most ranges looks very low which might be causing you issues. Its the active form of thyroid hormone and required by every cell in the body.
Sometimes low vitamin levels can affect TSH result.
Have you recently or could you ask your GP to test levels of ferritin, folate, B12 & D3? Private tests are available, see link for companies offering private blood tests & discount codes, some offer a blood draw service at an extra cost. thyroiduk.org/testing/priva...
There is also a new company offering walk in& mail order blood tests in London, Kent, Sussex & Surrey areas. Check to see if there is a blood test company near you. onedaytests.com/products/ul...
Only do private tests on a Monday or Tuesday to avoid postal delays.
Many with autoimmune thyroid disease aka Hashimoto's benefit from a gluten free diet. A smaller percentage of those also need to remove dairy from their diet to feel well. These are intolerances and will not show up on any blood test.
Thanks for your response. I have filled out my bio.
Private company stated the following as "optimal"
- TSH: 1.1 ( 0.351 - 5.5)
T4: 15.32 (11.91 - 21.6)
T3: 3.92 (2.26 - 5.63)
Anti - TG: 43.1 (< 11.50)
Anti TPO: 168 ( < 34.0)
It was taking in the morning but not that early. I had also worked out in gym but no food.
Those vits were also tested:
Vitamin D: 65 nmol/l (sufficient but still low)
Folic Acid: 7.3 ug/l (optimal but lower end)
Ferritin: 48 ug/l (optimal)
B12: 479 ng/l (optimal)
It also came up my iron levels were normal but my iron saturation levels were low.
It seems overall I can improve some areas of my vit levels but it might be more of what I am eating causing the inflammatory response. I will take gluten out of my diet to see if this helps.
These free levels are on the low side but with your TSH at 1 no doctor will treat you.
In future, always test early morning and fasting.
Vitamin D should be around 100 - 150. Buy one that includes vit K2 to help it go to your bones. Some are available in oil or you can take it with an oily meal for better absorption. Many members like the ‘Better You’ range of mouth sprays that contain both bit D & K2. Use this calculator to work out how much to take to get your level to 100-150. Most people need a minimum of 3,000iu per day.grassrootshealth.net/projec...
B12 - aim for 550++
Suggest you start a good methyl B complex to keep all the B's in balance.
Recommend taking an active/methyl (should say on label) B complex which contains 400mcgs folate (also B12).
B complex suggestions: Slightly cheaper options with inactive B6:
Ferritin should be around 90 - 100 for best use of thyroid hormone. Suggest increasing iron rich foods in diet and eating them often. Chicken livers, pate, red meat etc
Yes, elevated thyroid antibodies can be thought of as a contributory factor of infertility. I haven't read these exact papers, but just offering some examples so you can research further yourself.
Also a good read is "Your Healthy Pregnancy With Thyroid Disease" by Dana Trentini and Mary Shomon.
Prevalence of thyroid autoantibody positivity in women with infertility: a systematic review and meta-analysis bmcwomenshealth.biomedcentr...
Relationship between anti-thyroid peroxidase antibody positivity and pregnancy-related and fetal outcomes in Euthyroid women bmcpregnancychildbirth.biom...
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