[deliberating]

Anybody with thyroid problems - can you tell me how this impacts infertility issues? I know that low thyroid production can reduce milk supply for breastfeeding but I hadn't realized that it could also cause infertility issues. What does it do?

[cynthiaong]

Hi,

I started with hyperthyroid (graves disease) and went on to hypothyroid. TTC for 3.5yrs without success. Was diagnosed with PCOs and endometriosis last dec 04 through laboroscopy. Had been unsuccessful in pregnancy too. Read some research and think it probably has to do with our pubituary gland, not too sure if i'm right.

Regards

Cynthiaong

[ke2150]

Low thyroid production (High TSH) causes high prolactin. High prolactin causes you to not ovulate. No ovulation = no pregnancy.

[darksnape]

The thyroid gland is involved in almost every bodily process, which makes a thyroid test almost a necessity. A hyperthyroid person may have a rapid heartbeat, hand tremors, sweatiness, anxiety, weak muscles, and may eventually lead to osteoporosis. A hypothyroid person may have fatigue, slower mental processes, or rough, dry, thick skin. If you have noticed any of these problems, have your doctor perform a thyroid test.

[macandyvonne]

Does anyone know if a hypo-thyroid effects FSH levels??

[J9yinyang]

Haven't heard anything about FSH, Yvonne, but I do know that it effects your uterus, making it toxic to an attaching fetus. I just found that out yesterday, when checking out my blood tests. Or, at least, high thyroglobulin antibodies does, anyway.

[slobin]

About thryoid and infertility: I am struggling with this as well and there are two main things to consider:

1) Being hypothyroid interferes with all bodily funtions including ovulation and your ability to sustain a pregnancy, so if you are hypothryoid you must be on thryoid meds to bring your thyorid levels to normal for conception and holding a pg.

2) However, that being said, unfortunately for many of us that's not enough. What Jenine was referring to about testing positive for thryoid antibodies (either of them- there are 2 types) indicating that the uterus is "toxic" is true for many women. The reason for this is: It is not these thyroid antibodies themselves that interfere with pg, rather that having them indicates that your body is in an autoimmune state, meaning your body attacks it's own tissues. So having thyroid antibodies is a MARKER for having underlying immune conditions which cause IF and m/c. For example many women with thyroid antibodies (including me) test positive for elevated NK (natural killer) cells which are cells that attack developing embryos, causing implantation failure and m/c. So these underlying problems must be treated, rather than just taking thyroid meds which will not change the autoimmune condition. You must see a reproductive immunologist (RI) to deal with these problems. There are some websites where you can read more about this: www.repro-med.net or www.millenova.com This is a difficult diagnosis to have because treatments are controversial and expensive. Hope this helps.

oh, and a p.s. about thyroid problems affecting FSH-- this goes back to the autoimmne state. Many women with thryoid antibodies test pstive for another autoimmune condition- AOA- anti-ovarian antibodies which cause women to go into premature ovarian failure- thus elevated FSH. This can be addressed by an RI and can be reversed.

[macandyvonne]

Would thyroid antibodies present in a fashion to make you exhibit traits of hypothyroid?

I wish I would of seen this earlier... I probably should ask about having the antibodies tested when I go in tomorrow for blood work to test the TSH level. TSH level is not off by alot... however my general doctor did a full thyroid panel and every other test... he said something that I could possibly be hypo- I just want my IVF to go without a hitch...

What is the treatment for thyroid antibodies? How long does the treatment take?

[slobin]

Yes, thyroid antibodies would present as hypothyroid b/c the antibodies attack the thyroid. The antibodies never go away, so treatment is not aimed at getting rid of the antibodies, but rather testing for and treating any underlying the underlyin immune problems (if any). About 50% of women with thyroid antibodies have underlying problems and the other 50% can just treat the hypothyroidism (if present) with meds and get/stay pregnant. The first step is testing for the antibodies. Also be sure that your TSH is below 2 even though your doctor will most likely say that anything up to 5 is notmal (it's not normal for fertility). Good luck with this and keep us posted with your results.

[Hannah111]

HI I havn't been on this forum for some time.
I, too have thyroid issues but I have age working against me now ttc.
I do know of some women(with thyroid issues) who have managed to fall pg. I don't exactly know why they can and I can't or "we" can't.
They say, once your levels are stabilised(through med) you should be able to conceive but it's never happened to me.
Do you have auto-immune issues - is your thyroid caused by too many thryoid antibodies.
i think when our thyroids are under or over active they tend to affect our other hormonal cycles.
I have heard that diminished ovarian reserve is associated with SOME thyroid problems, but not all.
I think I am one of those cases.
Maybe someone else might be able to properly explain - i wish you well.... I know how painful it can be.

[Hannah111]

HI I havn't been on this forum for some time.
I, too have thyroid issues but I have age working against me now ttc.
I do know of some women(with thyroid issues) who have managed to fall pg. I don't exactly know why they can and I can't or "we" can't.
They say, once your levels are stabilised(through med) you should be able to conceive but it's never happened to me.
Do you have auto-immune issues - is your thyroid caused by too many thryoid antibodies.
i think when our thyroids are under or over active they tend to affect our other hormonal cycles.
I have heard that diminished ovarian reserve is associated with SOME thyroid problems, but not all.
I think I am one of those cases.
Maybe someone else might be able to properly explain - i wish you well.... I know how painful it can be.

[slobin]

I just posted this thread yesterday and realized I should put it here for those of you following thyroid info:
-------------------------------------
Hi Ladies,

I just saw this response from a doctor on the SIRM site (SIRM) and I thought it was a good concise summary of the connection btwn hypothyroidism/ATAs/IF. I know a lot of questions have come up about hypothyroidism and IF and I thought this would be helpful:
---------------------------------------

Positive ATA is common with hypothyroidism. Please read below:

IMMUNOLOGIG IMPLANTATION FAILURE AND THYROID AUTOANTIBODIES.

About 50% of women who have autoantibodies to their own thyroid tissues (antithyroglobulin and/or antimicrosomal antibodies) regardless of whether or not there are clinical signs or symptoms of reduced thyroid hormone activity (hypothyroidism) have activated Natural Killer cells (NKa+ and/or activated T-cells in their blood. Such women often present with reproductive failure manifesting as infertility, recurrent IUI and IVF failure or repeated pregnancy loss. The antithyroid antibodies (antimicrosomal and/or antithyroglobulin antibodies) do not cause the problem. They act as markers pointing to an underlying immunologic implantation problem that occurs when NKa or T-cell activation is present. . Here, as soon as the embryo starts to burrow into the uterine wall, "toxins" are produced (locally) that impair implantation. In some cases, the pregnancy is lost before a blood test can detect it, while in other cases a miscarriage occurs. [Some pregnancies escape the "toxic gauntlet" and proceed.
One of the most significant hints that a non symptomatic woman might have antithyroid antibodies is a family history of hypothyroidism (under performance of the thyroid gland requiring thyroid hormone therapy).
We were among the first to demonstrate that women who have reproductive failure associated with antithyroid antibodies and NKa+/T-cell activation can have successful IVF outcomes following administration of intravenous gammaglobulin (IVIG) . Women who are antithyroid antibody positive who do NOT have NKa+ and or T-cell activation do not require or benefit from IVIG therapy.
__________________

[slobin]

Bumping this up too for the "newbies" asking about hypothyroidism and IF.