Is my throid stopping me from having a baby?
I'v been trying for a baby now for 5yrs now, I fall pregnant then miscarry before reaching 8 weeks, getting me down as happens at least twice a year, doctors no help, just saying she has no children & maybe thats the way it should be, need help as now 40 & no children. I read a book called understanding thyroid disorders that mentioned could have problems maintaining a pregnancy, if so, has anyone got any suggestions, or maybe a doctor who deals with thyroid can help.
User Comments
- Yes, one of the difficulties people with hypothyroidism have is difficulty staying pregnant. Your endocrinologist or GP should have been through this with you.
See http://thyroid.about.com for a comprehensive group of support forums, including ones for pregnancy and trying to conceive.
- I have also been told that I have very small fibroids but was told they are not a problem, have taken fertility drugs which have not worked, just made me put on weight, just looking at all avenues, no joy, time running out, any more suggestions.
- things are not clear from what you have written. In thyroid disease you have difficulty in conceving, here you are able to conceive but not able to carry on, first see if you have torch infection or not. other thing may be abnormalities in endometrium of uterus. I t can be hormonal problem, you have not mentioned u were treated with beta hcg injection or not. How ever thyroid function test should be checked. better consult your doctor properly as pregnancy is very complecated issue
- There are any number of things that could be the cause. If you suspect you have an underactive thyroid because of other symptoms go to the doctor and ask for a test. If you already have a diagnosed underactive thyroid and are receiving thyroxine treatment it probably won't be that, as they tend to keep you right with regualar blood tests.
- right I have thyroid borderline I cant get any medication as I'm not low or high also I have pcos poly cysts ovaries syndrome thyroid cant make you have this I'm over weight been trying for 5yrs had a miscarried 3 yrs ago so I really do no where your coming from I'm losing weight now about too if I say so hehehehe plus I went to Dr's and said I'm sick of this etc anyway got sum clomid which makes you ovulate more eggs I'm not sure which medication you have tried but I will tell you something they is more you can do don't give up now get to the Dr's tell them you want something done there is loads the medication may not work for you but there is also ic something the Dr puts the sperm in to the womb its not ivf but you could try ivf please see Dr and please email me so I know how you getting on thanks you for listening xxx
- It sounds completely possible. I think that the most positive thing you can do is arm yourself with as much information as possible and go back to your doctor. If your doctor is completely unhelpful, ask for a second opinion. Your doctor should have no problem referring you to a specialist.
You need to be pro-active and argue your corner! You're entitled to answers about your health and you're entitled to help with your fertility issues.
Good luck!
- The thyroid has nothing to do with getting pregnant. Some people just have a harder time like me. I never used birth control and my kids are 25,16 and 9. That's just how it happened to work out for me. I developed a hyper thyroid problem after my 2nd child and now just 3 years ago I went in the opposite direction, now I have a hypo thyroid.
- Thyroid disease is not common during pregnancy. This is because the immune system, of which the thyroid is a part, is depressed in pregnancy in order to protect the developing fetus. However, untreated hypothyroidism during pregnancy may impair full and normal development to at least a slight degree.
As a result of the loss of this protective effect at the end of pregnancy, there is a tendency for thyroid disease to occur in those women who have had previous thyroid disease.
Thyroiditis is particularly common after pregnancy. In most cases, so called "post partum thyroiditis" tends to get better after a few weeks although recurrence in subsequent pregnancies is highly likely.
Fertility
Women who have been treated for Graves' disease or Hashimoto's thyroiditis can become pregnant, since normal fertility is restored after treatment. Graves' disease should be treated with radioactive iodine or by surgery before pregnancy can occur. However it is recommended to wait six months after radioactive iodine treatment before becoming pregnant.
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Graves' Disease and Pregnancy
Treatment of Graves' hyperthyroidism during pregnancy is different from that in non pregnant women, since radioactive iodine cannot be given and surgery should not be performed (particularly in the first and third trimesters of the pregnancy for fear of inducing a miscarriage). Because of the immunosuppressive effect of pregnancy, antithyroid drugs can be given in doses lower than with non pregnant patients. Overtreatment of the hyperthyroidism with antithyroid drugs can affect the baby's thyroid since the drugs cross the placenta into the baby's bloodstream.
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Thyroxine Treatment in Pregnancy
Very little thyroxine crosses from the mother's circulation into that of the fetus - so there is no contra-indication to taking thyroxine throughout pregnancy. Many specialists do increase the dose slightly during pregnancy because they feel that pregnancy increases the requirements for thyroxine and TSH does rise.
Breast Feeding and Thyroid Disease
Radioactive isotopes are secreted in milk and no isotope tests or isotope scans should be performed on someone who is breast feeding.
Propylthiouracil can be used when breast feeding, as only negligible amounts actually get into the milk. Thyroxine is also secreted in the milk, but providing the dosage in the mother is in the physiologic range, it appears to be quite safe for the mother on thyroxine to breast feed.
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Infertility
Patients with either hyper- or hypothyroidism tend to be infertile, although it is certainly possible to have these diseases and still get pregnant. Once the diseases have been treated, it is important to recommence birth control (if desired), since fertility is restored quickly once the patient's thyroid function is normal. In addition, both men and women with untreated thyroid disease often have decreased sexual desire (libido).
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Menstruation
Menstruation tends to be increased in hypothyroidism and decreased in hyperthyroidism. The effects of thyroid hormones on menstrual periods, ovarian function and the endocrine system in general are complicated but important, so that with too much or too little thyroid hormone a variety of effects on the reproductive system can occur. Girls who become hyper- or hypothyroid during puberty may have delayed menstrual function.
Male Infertility
Hyper- or hypothyroidism is also a cause for male infertility since sperm development requires normal thyroid hormone levels.
Female Infertility
One other cause of infertility in patients with thyroid disease is the uncommon condition of primary ovary failure. This is an autoimmune disorder, like Graves' disease and Hashimoto's thyroiditis, caused by proteins and white cells in the blood which attach proteins in the patient's ovaries. This leads to shrivelling of the ovary, failure to ovulate, premature menopause, and infertility.
Relationship Between Thyroid Disease and Iodine Treatment for Fibrocystic Disease of the Breast
For unknown reasons, the breasts, like the thyroid gland, trap iodine from the blood. Furthermore, it is found that iodine treatment for various breast conditions markedly improves these abnormalities. For example, iodine is frequently given for fibrocystic disease, a lumpy nodularity of the breast common in middle-aged women.
In normal amounts, iodine is necessary for thyroid hormone production. Large amounts can produce goitre and various forms of thyroid disease. Women taking iodine for breast conditions must, therefore, be aware of the posssibility of goitre and thyroid disease, paticularly if they previously had thyroid disease or have a family history of thyroid abnormalities. Doctors treating breast conditions carry out thyroid blood tests and clinical examination every 6 months
- I doubt it, please consult a doctor for better advice.
- Hashimoto's syndrome (severely hypo) since 2000
- Look forward to hearing from anyone