TSH affecting fertility?

[kittyb15]

My TSH has been found to be at  an average of 11 which the consultant said was way too high. My blood tests also show that I have been ovulating. Could the TSH still be a cause for my apparent inability to get pregnant?

[jbloomfield]

It could be a factor, but not necessarily. I got pregnant very easily, on my first attempt, and my TSH was at 10 (I didn't know that at the time).

It's very important to get your levels down, ideally to between 1 and 2 like Super_Sally has said, before you try to conceive because there are many risks associated with hypothyroidism in early pregnancy. So it's best to rule it out as a possible condition from the outset. In your case, a lower TSH may even help you conceive. My doctor claims that anything below 4.5 is normal, even in pregnancy (I've heard conflicting things). But I think all doctors would agree that 11 is way too high.

[Super_sally888]

yes, this high TSH (which actually means that you don't have enough thyroid hormone FT3 and FT4) could be the reason why you're not ovulating.

FOr pregnancy, target TSH is usually in range of 1 - 2.

Also, you must be monitoring Ft3 and FT4, which are the active thyroid hormones and which should be in the upper 1/3 of the reference range. FT3 and fT4 levels (plus how you feel) are very important as well.

Optimal levels of thyroid hormone are critical for healthy pregnancy.

Once you get on meds and get levels adjusted things should be more hopeful.  If you do get pregnant you'll need to monitro levels closely and it is very likely that meds will need to be increased throughout the pregnancy.