Hypothyroidism & trying to conceive

[cat4720]

Hello

My husband and I have been trying to get pregnant since April 2010. I stopped taking the pill in March 2010, however I didn't get my period until June 2010. We didn't get pregnant, and in August 2010 I went to the doctor because my period had only come once since getting off the pill. My doctor took a bunch of blood tests and things seemed fine so he started me on progestrone to onset my period and put me on Clomid to help with ovulation. The med to get my period worked, however Clomid only worked once in the five months I took it (August-December). I decided in December that I didn't want to take the Clomid anymore even though I wanted a baby more than anything. Unfortunately the Clomid was making me so irritable, sad and very crabby. It not so great words, I felt crazy! My behavior and stress was taking a toll on my husband and I. Therefore I decided to see a Holistic doctor instead. After a two hour consultation with him and my life medical history, he suggested that I have my thyriod checked. I had my TSH levels checked in August 2010 originally when I went to the doctor. My level was at 2.96, which was in range. However I just went back this past week (March 28th, 2011) and my TSH level came back 47.8. That means in 7 months my TSH level sky rocketed! Needless to say my doctor diagnosed me with hypothyroidism because my anti-bodies came back in normal range. Is there others out there that didn't know their thyroid was the cause of their infertility? (At least that is what I hope is the problem) If so, how long did it take for you to get regulated? How long before your period started to come back more regularly? Any insight would be so helpful since I am new to this whole endeavor....

[LosingMyMindInGA]

I gave birth to my 6th child back in September '10.  I stopped breastfeeding at the end of February of this year.  I have NOT had my first period yet, but I was irritable and ALWAYS tired..no matter HOW much or how little sleep I got.  I was having really weird cramping/back pains that felt like a cross between severe diarrhea and menstrual cramps but neither happened.  I went to my doc and he said it sounds like my thyroid.  He put me on Levothyroxine for hypothyroidism and drew blood to check.  I have to call him back wednesday for the results.  We aren't TTC but I'm really hoping this thryoid thing is the cause of my issues.  Now if I could just get AF to come back I could start tracking my cycles again.

[waitn838]

thank you for sharing....i have a doc appt on tues and hopefully this doc will listen to me....im sure i will get more bloodwork done but im so amazed how quickly the body can change...i literally just had a baby 8 months ago and didnt think anything about not getting a bfp until my cycles went irregular....sigh....hopefully my doc can find something and help fix it

[cat4720]

I am sorry to hear that your doctor's are not listening to you. How frustrating! I would definately keep looking for a doctor who will listen. Another suggestion would be to see a holistic doctor who is accredited. Before I knew my thyroid was messed up, I had been seeing an OB from August 2010-Feb. 2011 doing progestrone & Clomid treatments to try and conceive. Unfortnately the Clomid was not helping me ovulate. After about five treatments and so much frustration, I decided to go see a holistic doctor that my friend had recommended. I had a two hour consultation with him and the end result was for me to get my thyroid checked because all signs pointed to something being wrong with it, even though I wasn't having severe symtoms and my TSH levels where checked by my OB in August and they came back in normal range of 2.96. Needless to say I went and had my TSH level, FT3, FT4, glocouse, insulin, vitamin D and antithyroid peroxidase checked. My FT3 and FT4 came back .4 below normal and my TSH level sky-rocketed to 47.8. The doctor concluded that it was my thyroid. However I wouldn't have probably known this if I hadn't seen the holistic doctor, because I don't think my OB would have checked my levels again. Now I am taking a med for my thyroid, but I am also taking some supplements from my holistic doctor on top of that to help raise my progestrone and estrogen levels, which were low as well. I think checking and utilizing all avenue's out there can be helpful.

[waitn838]

i have 2 children and after my last have thyroid issues that are causing irregular cycles....my problem is that both my levels are elevated so they cant treat me as hypo or hyper because if they do it will offset the other....

i am going to my family doc this tues to talk to her and see if she recommends another test or doc to help figure this out

my period is so irregular now too....out of nowhere my cycle is much longer than it used to be....my periods are much heavier too...i literally could not walk anymore on my first day of my period because i felt like i gave birth and ran a marathan at the same time....tears were coming out of my eyes by the end of the day because of the pain

my husband and i want to try for our final baby and we have been for 8 months with no luck...seems like when i think things are going to get easy they get harder

my husband is starting to get to the point that he wnats to give up because he feels my health is not where it should be and what if this happens again....im frustrated because i know i have a thyroid issue but they wont treat me....hopefully my family doc says something else on tuesday

good luck to you

[JoyRenee]

Thyroid problems can cause fertility complications. I do not have a thyroid problem so I cannot speak to experience. I hope someone else has more knowledge and experience. You may want to also post this in our Fertility Forum:
http://www.medhelp.org/forums/Fertility/show/96