Can you have children after having total thyroidectomy?

[SPencak]

I am 30 yr old female with hyperthyroid. I'm not sure if I want to do RAI or surgery, but was wondering if anyone knows that if I decide to have my thyroid completely removed - will that affect my chances of having children? I have no children & of course, as soon as I was ready for babies, this thyroid thing developed....very unfair.

[KelDC]

I am a 34 year old woman with no children who just had her thyroid removed and RAI for papillary carcinoma. My doctor (endocrinologist) told me I had to wait 1 year after the RAI to conceive, and that it was very important to make sure my thyroid levels are spot on.  I've also heard 6 months after RAI is fine, too - it is a matter of getting your levels right and not the RAI, according to my nuclear medicine doctor.

I intend to begin trying come the first of the year!   Good luck to you, as well!

[utahmomma]

My youngest sister had a total thyroidectomy for thyroid cancer.  She also had three recurrences (distant spread) and three doses of RAI.  After all of that she is the proud mother of a beautiful, healthy 2 year old daughter.

[Shari4]

I am 42 and married 1 year.  Same thing. No children and ready (with practically ZERO time to waste) and all of a sudden, I am Hyper.  Talk about unfair!  From what I've learned, if you have RAI Treatment, you must wait 6 months before you try to conceive.  With surgery, the wait could be shorter.  Why is it that surgery is an option for you?  What tests  did you have, and what were the results?  

[MyndiLynne]

I am 24 and told my doctor that I want to hav children, he told me that he would not suggest have RAI done because there isn't enough research to say how it will effect your body in relation to pregnancy