Our fertility patients often arrive at our office already knowing that there is a link to hypothyroid and infertility. The frustration usually comes from having some thyroid tests done, typically TSH and maybe T4, and it coming back within normal range and then doctors investigating any further and don’t consider treatment necessary.
Here is a study published in Endocrinology that explains why more testing is warranted, and maybe even treatment. This study found:
- Infertile women with subclinical hypothyroidism treated with T4 Thyroxine had a shorter duration of infertility
- 84.1% of they thyroxine group became pregnant while the untreated group remained infertile
- 42% of all patients had anti-thyroid antibodies identified
- TSH values ranged from 3.1 – 13.3 before treatment and were reduced to 0.02-3.75 after treatment (median values of 5.46 pre treatment and 1.25 post treatment)
In another study investigating subclinical hypothyroidism, thyroid autoimmunity and miscarriage rates, subclinical hypothyroidism was defined as a TSH higher than 2.5.
What does this mean for you?
Ask for further investigation with regards to your thyroid antibodies if you are struggling to become pregnant. If you TSH values are at the high end of normal, ask your doctor to try a course of thyroxine with you.
An Ontario ND can do further blood work for you if you cannot get it done through your regular doctor but cannot prescribe thyroxine.
Print off the study and ask your doctor to take a look at it for you.
Want to learn more about how we can help you? Book a free fertility assessment today.
Yours in Health,
Dr. Kerri Fullerton ND & Dr. Whitney Young ND
