TSH is 5.99, will it impact the process of conceiving

[sumity]

Will it impact the process of conceiving (getting pregnant)?

Hi, we are planning for a child and hence we started having non-protected sex as per the guidance provided by our doctor. The advice given by the doctor is to have intercourse every alternate days starting 12th(counting from first day of menstrual cycle) until 20th day. We are following this process rigorously for last 4 months by still my wife didn’t conceived. So we consulted our doctor again and doctor suggested for blood test. The test result was as follows:
• FREE T3 BY ECLIA 2.67 PG/ML
• FREE T4 BY ECLIA 1.10 ng/dl
• TSH (Ultrasensitive) 5.99 ulU/ml
This shows that FT3 and FT4 are within normal limit but TSH is above normal limit. To control the high level of TSH, our doctor prescribed “THYROXINE SODIUM TABLET I.P. 25 mcg(ELTROXIN)” for life long.
Now I have following questions:
1. Will high TSH impact negatively on the chances of my wife getting pregnant?
2. Is this medicine prescribed my doctor is correct?
3. What special diet is required for my wife? What food to avoid and what food to have?
Please help us by providing suggestion.

Thanks in advance

[sumity]

Thanks a lot. This really helps. God Bless You

[ahmee]

Being hypothyroid will likely make it harder to conceive, yes. But more importantly, once she does become pregnant, low thyroid hormones will definitely impact the developing fetus. The earliest stages of fetal development is the time when it is most critical for the mother to have sufficient thyroid hormone.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24015847

"Conclusion: Early TH [thyroid hormone] insufficiency from maternal hypothyroidism affects offspring hippocampal development and memory."

[flyingfool]

Your wifes thyroid hormone levels are off.

You are better off holding off a while to conceive until you get your thyroid levels stabilized.  It is possible to get pregnant but it is better for you and your baby to have proper thyroid levels first.

While your FT4 is in range, it is low in the range we would normally see.  Please post the reference range for each the Free T4 and Free T3.

25 mcg of T4 medication is a common starter dosage. But do not expect that this will be your optimized dose.  It takes 6 weeks for the T4 to stabilize in the blood stream.  And then you need to be re-tested and if a new dosage prescribed wait an additional 6 weeks etc.

Diet has NOTHING to do with Thyroid for the most part. having little to no effect.

I know this is not what you wanted to hear. But that is what my opinion is.  Understand I'm not a Dr and it is only one person's opinion.

Hormones go crazy when pregnant.  So it is far better to try to get things sorted out with her thyroid and other hormones PRIOR to the craziness that occurs during pregnancy.  Also best for the health of the growing baby in the womb.