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Low free t3 cause for my IF
I have been ttc for 8 years with one pg that ended in mc.
Different IF treatments did not bring success.
Last month I asked for my thyroid levels to be tested.
My results are as follows:
normal abnormal reference
Free T3 3.40L pmol/L 3.8-6
Free T4 8.87 pmol/L 7.5-21.1
TSH 1.13 mlU/L 0.34-5.6
The MD said everything was ok even though the free t3 is low. I am now wondering if this could be the cause of my struggle with IF.
I currently live in a remote area in Africa and don't have access to high quality health care. Any information is helpful to me!
Different IF treatments did not bring success.
Last month I asked for my thyroid levels to be tested.
My results are as follows:
normal abnormal reference
Free T3 3.40L pmol/L 3.8-6
Free T4 8.87 pmol/L 7.5-21.1
TSH 1.13 mlU/L 0.34-5.6
The MD said everything was ok even though the free t3 is low. I am now wondering if this could be the cause of my struggle with IF.
I currently live in a remote area in Africa and don't have access to high quality health care. Any information is helpful to me!
TSH is a pituitary hormone. It's the messenger your pituitary puts out to tell the thyroid to produce hormone. It's part of a complex feedback loop that includes the thyroid/hypothalamus/pituitary. So, what happens if there's something wrong in another part of that loop? You don't get the proper information. For example, secondary hypothyroidism is a condition in which the pituitary doesn't put out enough TSH to stimulate the thyroid to produce. The thyroid may be perfectly healthy, but it can't work without TSH.
With your very "normal" TSH, FT4 that's in range and FT3 below, I'd probably go to an IF doctor. The IF doctor might be more familiar with how low thyroid hormones can affect conception and gestation and more willing to start you on thyroid hormones.
Self medication isn't a good idea. You have to monitor meds with regular blood work. The dose we all need is very variable person to person. The problem is that if you take too much, you become hyper, which is even less pleasant and more dangerous than hypo. Could you find a doctor there who would help guide you?
With your very "normal" TSH, FT4 that's in range and FT3 below, I'd probably go to an IF doctor. The IF doctor might be more familiar with how low thyroid hormones can affect conception and gestation and more willing to start you on thyroid hormones.
Self medication isn't a good idea. You have to monitor meds with regular blood work. The dose we all need is very variable person to person. The problem is that if you take too much, you become hyper, which is even less pleasant and more dangerous than hypo. Could you find a doctor there who would help guide you?
Thank you so much!
I have three more questions: How can it be possible that my tsh is fine while my free t4 is boarder line and my free t3 is low?
And would you go to an endocrinologist first or straight to a IF doctor in my case?
I guess self medication is not a good idea? There are many meds available here over the counter. I am just asking because I will only be home in about a year. (I work for an NGO in Africa).
I have three more questions: How can it be possible that my tsh is fine while my free t4 is boarder line and my free t3 is low?
And would you go to an endocrinologist first or straight to a IF doctor in my case?
I guess self medication is not a good idea? There are many meds available here over the counter. I am just asking because I will only be home in about a year. (I work for an NGO in Africa).
It's very hard to recommend meds because some of us do better on one some on another.
T4 is made in your thyroid, and it's the "storage" form of the thyroid hormones. However, before cells can use it, T4 has to be converted by the body into T3, which is the "active" form of the hormones. So, treatment involves one or both of those.
Mainstream medicine typically recommends taking T4 (Synthroid, Levoxyl, generic levothyroxine) first, the theory being that the body will convert the levo to T3 just as it would your own hormones. However, for some unknown reason, some people do not convert well, so they have to take both T3 and T4. This can be in the form of synthetic T3 (Cytomel, generic liothyronine) or desiccated porcine thyroid (Armour Thyroid, NatureThroid, other less popular brands and generics), which contain both T3 and T4.
We all have to be our own guinea pigs and see what works best for each of us.
You should also be tested for the antibodies that cause Hashimoto's thyroiditis. Hashi's is an autoimmune disease and the most prevalent cause of hypothyroidism in the developed world. Ask your doctor to test both TPOab (thyroid peroxidase antibodies) and TGab (thyroglobulin antibodies).
I don't want to overwhelm you with too much information, but feel free to ask as questions arise.
T4 is made in your thyroid, and it's the "storage" form of the thyroid hormones. However, before cells can use it, T4 has to be converted by the body into T3, which is the "active" form of the hormones. So, treatment involves one or both of those.
Mainstream medicine typically recommends taking T4 (Synthroid, Levoxyl, generic levothyroxine) first, the theory being that the body will convert the levo to T3 just as it would your own hormones. However, for some unknown reason, some people do not convert well, so they have to take both T3 and T4. This can be in the form of synthetic T3 (Cytomel, generic liothyronine) or desiccated porcine thyroid (Armour Thyroid, NatureThroid, other less popular brands and generics), which contain both T3 and T4.
We all have to be our own guinea pigs and see what works best for each of us.
You should also be tested for the antibodies that cause Hashimoto's thyroiditis. Hashi's is an autoimmune disease and the most prevalent cause of hypothyroidism in the developed world. Ask your doctor to test both TPOab (thyroid peroxidase antibodies) and TGab (thyroglobulin antibodies).
I don't want to overwhelm you with too much information, but feel free to ask as questions arise.
Thank you for your answer.
I will definitely talk to my IF doctor once I get back home.
What would in your opinion be the most suitable medicine to start with?
This whole thyroid issue is very new to me.
I will definitely talk to my IF doctor once I get back home.
What would in your opinion be the most suitable medicine to start with?
This whole thyroid issue is very new to me.
Your FT4 is only at 10% of range, and that's far short of the 50% guideline. However, TSH is right where it should be, and it can be difficult to get a doctor to treat you when TSH is optimal.
Your IF doctor, however, should understand that low thyroid hormone levels can contribute to inability to conceive. After conception, low levels can contribute to miscarriage and impact fetal development. So, it would be well worth seeing if you could take some replacement hormones and see if that changes anything.
Not only is FT3 below range, but FT4 is way too low in range. I think you should press to be treated.
Your IF doctor, however, should understand that low thyroid hormone levels can contribute to inability to conceive. After conception, low levels can contribute to miscarriage and impact fetal development. So, it would be well worth seeing if you could take some replacement hormones and see if that changes anything.
Not only is FT3 below range, but FT4 is way too low in range. I think you should press to be treated.
No known issues.
The only hypo symptoms I can think off is brittle nails and feeling cold all the time. My muscles are generally weak and I get exhausted fairly quickly when exercising. Recently I realised that I find it quite difficult to concentrate.
The only thing that made me check my Thyroid levels was IF though.
The only hypo symptoms I can think off is brittle nails and feeling cold all the time. My muscles are generally weak and I get exhausted fairly quickly when exercising. Recently I realised that I find it quite difficult to concentrate.
The only thing that made me check my Thyroid levels was IF though.
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