High TSH Levels And Infertility

[smithville]

Feeling frustrated and looking for a bit of help or advice. We have been going through the infertility cycle for a few years now.

clomid, 5 failed IUIs, One Cancelled IVF

After the latest issue (cancelled IVF), something came back up. Way back
when we started at our first clinic, they said the bloodwork had come back and showed that I was hyperthyroidism and need to go to my primary doctor to have it checked out. I did this and my primary doctor then came back and said I was hypothyroidism with the anti bodies for hashimotos. She said that I was to continue testing every few months but that there was nothing she could do for treatment.

The TSH levels on the test have been as low as 4.11 and high as 4.56.

I have many of the symptoms of hypothyrodism.

Reading on this message board and others, it seems that many REs are treating patients with high TSH levels until there levels are in the 1-2 range. Is this true? Has our RE or primary doctor missed treatment of this? Does anyone have a similar experience?

Your thoughts and help are appreciated.

[Tango16]

I was sick with hypo symptoms for a long time til a RE diagnosed hypothyroidism.  I started researching the thyroid and found out I should have my TSH at 1-2 in order to conceive.  I went to an endo (reg) in April 06 who diagnosed Hashimoto's.  I fought to get my TSH around 1 and finally got it down to 1.17 in May 06.  I finally got pg for the first time in Sept 06 and figure it was because I got my TSH to where it should be.  Unfortunately the pregnancy didn't last due to Trisomy 15.  This year I had many hypo symptoms return and found out my TSH went up to 3.78 and a month later it's 6.62.  My GP upped my levo dose to .100mcg from .75mcg.  Hopefully this works and I can get pg again!  Keep fighting to get your TSH in the 1-2 range!  I lost 10 lbs quick once my TSH was around 1.0, and my hypo symptoms disappeared.

[smithville]

Mark,
Thank you so much for the help. I have made an appointment with a Thyroid Specialist in the Detroit area. Hopefully, it will easy to clear everything up. I am also coming armed to the meeting with information and research that I have done.

[Mark Lupo, M.D.]

This is an emerging research area -- recent evidence favors treating a relatively normal TSH (although some may argue that a TSH of >3 is clearly abnormal) in the presence of antibodies in a woman trying to conceive.  This appears to decrease miscarriage rate but has not yet been shown to improve fertility (ie conception).  

I agree with the target TSH of around 1.0 when trying to conceive and given that the risk of levothyroxine treatment is low, would favor treating a normal TSH in the presence of antibodies in this setting.