Welcome to EmpowHer, and thank you so much for writing.
If your TSH levels are indeed still above 11, you are way above "normal" and may still have increased risk.
The MOST important thing for you to remember in trying to get pregnant is that if you conceive, you need careful and close monitoring of your hormone levels. Don't wait -- make an appointment with your thyroid doctor as soon as you get a positive pregnancy test. Here's what thyroid-info.com says about hypothyroidism and pregnancy:
"The key in dealing with your thyroid condition during pregnancy is close monitoring of your TSH and T3 and T4 levels and compliance with your treatment regimen. Many guidelines say that a pregnant woman with hypothyroidism should have her thyroid function checked during each trimester. In particular, it's known that the thyroid hormone dosage requirement can increase in the early part of pregnancy due to the increased estrogen levels of early pregnancy. Since many women aren't even sure that they are pregnant until four to six weeks after the last menstrual period, many women don't even get in to see their doctors -- and test their thyroid function -- until the first trimester is more than half over.
"Interestingly, if you call to schedule a first visit with an obstetrician, they often aren't that concerned about getting you in that early in the pregnancy, because they may not be particularly knowledgeable about hypothyroidism in pregnancy.
"My suggestion is that you try to make sure that you find out you are pregnant as early as possible, and get in for thyroid testing as soon as possible after finding out you are pregnant.
"I tested positive in a home pregnancy test 10 days post conception, had a blood test to confirm pregnancy at 3 weeks post conception, and was seen by a ob-gyn at a little less than 5 weeks. At that point, my TSH had already risen from 1.2 to almost out of the normal range. My dosage was adjusted. I was tested again a second time at around 9 weeks, and again, my TSH had risen, and a dosage adjustment was required.
"You must continue to take your thyroid hormone replacement (i.e., Synthroid, Levoxyl, Levothroid, Armour, Thyrolar) and it's extremely important that you do, now and throughout the rest of your pregnancy. You are your baby's only source of thyroid hormones at this point - your baby's thyroid gland isn't fully functional until after 12 weeks of pregnancy. If you don't have sufficient thyroid hormones, you are at an increased risk of miscarriage, and your baby is at increased risk of developmental problems."
Money.Sinha, your TSH level is still high. Are you and your doctor working on this? A "normal" TSH level is from approximately .5 to 5.0, and many experts would like to see that range change to be approximately .3 to 3.0. Are you taking medication? Is your doctor satisfied with your progress?
Here is an article about normal TSH levels during pregnancy:
And I don't want to worry you unnecessarily, but here is an article about the slightly elevated risk of second-trimester miscarriages in women with elevated TSH levels:
http://www.pslgroup.com/dg/1ebb22.htm
What does your doctor say about you getting pregnant at this point?
Comment Reply
Hi, Money.Sinha,
Welcome to EmpowHer, and thank you so much for writing.
If your TSH levels are indeed still above 11, you are way above "normal" and may still have increased risk.
The MOST important thing for you to remember in trying to get pregnant is that if you conceive, you need careful and close monitoring of your hormone levels. Don't wait -- make an appointment with your thyroid doctor as soon as you get a positive pregnancy test. Here's what thyroid-info.com says about hypothyroidism and pregnancy:
"The key in dealing with your thyroid condition during pregnancy is close monitoring of your TSH and T3 and T4 levels and compliance with your treatment regimen. Many guidelines say that a pregnant woman with hypothyroidism should have her thyroid function checked during each trimester. In particular, it's known that the thyroid hormone dosage requirement can increase in the early part of pregnancy due to the increased estrogen levels of early pregnancy. Since many women aren't even sure that they are pregnant until four to six weeks after the last menstrual period, many women don't even get in to see their doctors -- and test their thyroid function -- until the first trimester is more than half over.
"Interestingly, if you call to schedule a first visit with an obstetrician, they often aren't that concerned about getting you in that early in the pregnancy, because they may not be particularly knowledgeable about hypothyroidism in pregnancy.
"My suggestion is that you try to make sure that you find out you are pregnant as early as possible, and get in for thyroid testing as soon as possible after finding out you are pregnant.
"I tested positive in a home pregnancy test 10 days post conception, had a blood test to confirm pregnancy at 3 weeks post conception, and was seen by a ob-gyn at a little less than 5 weeks. At that point, my TSH had already risen from 1.2 to almost out of the normal range. My dosage was adjusted. I was tested again a second time at around 9 weeks, and again, my TSH had risen, and a dosage adjustment was required.
"You must continue to take your thyroid hormone replacement (i.e., Synthroid, Levoxyl, Levothroid, Armour, Thyrolar) and it's extremely important that you do, now and throughout the rest of your pregnancy. You are your baby's only source of thyroid hormones at this point - your baby's thyroid gland isn't fully functional until after 12 weeks of pregnancy. If you don't have sufficient thyroid hormones, you are at an increased risk of miscarriage, and your baby is at increased risk of developmental problems."
There is more information from that site here:
http://www.thyroid-info.com/articles/pregnancy.htm
Money.Sinha, your TSH level is still high. Are you and your doctor working on this? A "normal" TSH level is from approximately .5 to 5.0, and many experts would like to see that range change to be approximately .3 to 3.0. Are you taking medication? Is your doctor satisfied with your progress?
Here is an article about normal TSH levels during pregnancy:
http://thyroid.about.com/od/hormonepregnantmenopause1/a/tshbytrimester.htm
And I don't want to worry you unnecessarily, but here is an article about the slightly elevated risk of second-trimester miscarriages in women with elevated TSH levels:
http://www.pslgroup.com/dg/1ebb22.htm
What does your doctor say about you getting pregnant at this point?
Is he or she still adjusting your medication?
February 11, 2010 - 8:37amThis Comment
Reply