Thyroid issues

[mk8]

Hello ladies

First off, hope you're all well. Ltttc is no fun so hopefully everybody's in a good mood.

I have a question I hope some of you may be able to help with.

I went for some day 2 Bloodwork recently and the tests included lh fsh and thyroid function and prolactin tests. As well as a host of std checks, I do not get results for a while yet as I am due to meet with the fs after I've completed all tests (incl hsg and the waiting list is long!). I tried ringing up about my blood results but they won't give them over the phone, however the vibe I got was that a result is abnormal (long pause when they pulled up my result and they put me on a priority list for my next appt once everything's been done). I panicked and wondered if it was an std issue, but this would be a surprise as dh and I have been in a monogamous relationship for over 8 yrs and I was tested at the start of it. The nurse said if they picked up infections etc they will def write to me to get me in and get antibiotics. So I'm fairly comfortable this isn't the issue. This leaves a potential prob with fsh, lh or thyroid levels.

I have wondered if my thyroid was a prob in the past- get tired, achy, shedding lots of hair, lighter periods. I put this down to getting older but now I wonder if this is the culprit for my "infertility".

Wondering if you ladies can tell me what the typical symptoms of thyroid issues are and how it may affect TTC. Also what the treatments are? Appreciate I may not even have this issue but would be useful to know and perhaps for other people reading this thread. B

Thanks.

 

[No Doubt]

I have an underactive thyroid, coupled with pcos, and thyroid issues can affect fertility. The bloodwork you had will help to show if there is an issue or not. It can throw some of your fertility hormones out of wack and therefore make it difficult to conceive. Not to mention when you do conceive, you may be considered high risk. My endo told me as soon as I'm pregnant to phone them cause they will have to monitor me all through out my pregnancy and I will automatically be high risk with an increased chance of gestational diabetes.

Hopefully everything came back fine for you. I'm like you though, if it doesn't sound EXACTLY like how I think it should, I start freaking out. When I had my hsg done, the doctor asked me to roll on right hip a bit and I instantly started think great, my right tube is blocked, but it wasn't...lol. I couldn't even see my follies on the intrauterine u/s and the tech couldn't tell me anything so when they called there was a long pause and checking this that and the other, and I started think great, I'm really not Oing even on the clomid, but again wasn't the case. So I hope the pause was really them just checking and making sure of everything.

Wait for the letter, if there is a letter, and then if need be start freaking out. But if it is something with your thyroid, that can sometimes be a simple fix. I take one tiny little pill a day and my levels are regulated and have been for the past two years.

 

[readyformore]

I've had hypothyroidism for 12 years now, and I've had 3 babies in that time. Having hypothyroidism does not put you at high risk in a pregnancy. Provided that you are being monitored prior to pregnancy, it really is not a big deal during pregnancy. You will have your blood drawn each trimester, (once immediately after a confirmed bfp, as your needs for meds will change immediately at that time).

If your thyroid has been off, yes, that can certaintly affect a multitude of things, (honestly, I would just go to webMD and look up hypothyroidism for signs and symptoms). Infertility is a symptom of uncontrolled hypothyroidism. Your cycles would probably be off too.

I have been diagnosed with infertility twice in my life, and hypothyroidism may have played a small role in it, but it's not the leading factor. Once you take the medication and get your thyroid level to where it should be, it should not be an issue at all.

 

[mk8]

Thank you ladies, you have both been very helpful.

 

[longing]

Hi, just wanted to put my penny in, I had hyperthyroidism, which is the other end of the scale. It might have affected my chances but seens as I am still not preggers, there might be another reason. Mine corrected itself again after drug treatment, so don't worry about it until you have heard properly, and even then if it is that it is an easy thing to sort out

xx

 

[mk8]

Thanks longing. Where are you in your TTC journey now?

 

[Gingersnaps]

I am hypo, really easy to correct as long as your doctor is on board. The issue I faced was being told my thyroid was 'normal' as my clinic used the old standards. I had hair loss, was cold all the time, cold hands and feet, weight gain, heavy periods. I think light periods go with hyperthyroidism.
It is easily treated and medicated but you may get a doctor that does not use the new scale and be left out.
It can effect fertility by altering hormones and causing lack of ovulation. Early miscarriages are also common.
I would not worry too much because if it is caught it is easily delt with. That being said you may not even have it

 

[longing]

Yeah hyper is pretty much the opposite! Light periods, weight loss despite eating everything in site and being constantly hungry. Getting shakes and being hot a lot. It needed sorting as it also carries a High risk of misscarrying

My story has come to a standstill at the mo. 2 & 1/2 years of trying. Had the tests you are having, found thyroid problem, was on drugs to sort it, it did, tho I still have to be mointered for it, that was nearly a year ago. No more tests, my OH refuses to do a SA so they have refused any help or more tests until he does, nothing I say will make him budge.

 

[No Doubt]

Sorry he won't longing. It sucks, I know...they get to pleasure themselves into a cup while we get poked, prodded, looked at, looked IN...my husband was the same way. I think a lot of hubbys are like that. I gave him a pass the first three months we did clomid, but when I had to do my hsg I made him have the sa.

Unfortunately this is true most places. Doctor's won't go any further until all the preliminary tests have been done, and this is one of them. Have you tried explaining it from that point? Well I guess he would know that. If he has a problem with going in and doing it, they will let him do at home as long as he can get it there in time.

 

[Sizzles]

I too have hypothyroidism and have been medicated for I guess towards 5 years now. My symptoms were mostly feeling cold and getting lots of colds, very dry skin and extreme tiredness. I am slightly unusual in that I do not suffer from weight gain (have been warned my current bmi of 19.8 shouldn't go too lower in case we need ivf) and I do have very light periods. So symptoms can be misleading.
Hope your results come back normal, or if not quite, then hope they can be easily remedied.

 

[Amber3]

Dear Longing

I just read this thread and I thought that I would give you an advise. My husband certainly would also not have been willing to do a semen analysis had it not been because we got something called a "male factor pack". With that you do not have to go and masturbate into a cup but the semen can be collected during a normal intercourse at home with a medical condom. Then you put it into a collective devise and immediately bring it to the place (clinic) for testing. This might be an option for you if he is not willing because of how semen alalyses are usually made.
Amber

 

[Amber3]

Can you possibly have a hyroid problem which affects your fertility if your tsh is 2,1-2,6???

Amber

 

[mk8]

Hi Amber, sorry but don't know regarding those tests. Will find out more when I see the fs for results and can post the info here.

Have you all had the other usual tests done? Scans, all blood work, hsg, sa.

Longing- hope your dh changes his mind soon. How long have you been TTC?