I have a Hypothyroid issue and am planning to try to get pregnant with in a few months. This will be the first child for my husband and I. I am 28 years old and have because of Synthroid gotten my Thyroid from a 4.62 to a range of 1.5-2.0. I am currently on 88 micrograms.
I was told by a doctor once that I should make sure my Thyroid is between 0-1 when trying to get pregnant or else I would have a hard time with it.
Is this true? Is that a dangerous range or a safe range? Is there anything else I should know about my Thyroid problem and getting pregnant?
I want to put the least stress possible on my body and my life while we try...I just want it to be a loving and fun process with little worry.
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Thanks for your post. You may want to get a second opinion from another doctor to determine what specifically will affect you. You can find a list of thyroid specialists at the American Thyroid Foundation.
http://www.thyroid.org/patients/specialists.php
If you haven't already, you may also want to contact The Thyroid Foundation of America. Their address is One Longfellow Place, Suite 1518, Boston, MA 02114. Their phone number is 1-800-832-8321.
Please let us know what you find out.
March 4, 2008 - 11:00amThis Comment
Sarah DG,
I agree with Tina T, and hope you were able to get a second opinion--we're interested to hear what your doctor said!
I found a few other pieces of information, both from a credible site (Mayo Clinic) and from the drug laboratory website (makers of Synthroid), regarding the safety of taking levothryroxine during pregnancy.
According to the Mayo Clinic, the majority of risk with hypothyroidism during pregnancy is if the hypothyroidism is left untreated (which your's is not). Your TSH level can change during pregnancy, and it is recommended that you get this re-checked every 3 months (or more often if recommended by your doctor) during pregnancy. The target range for TSH level (so that it's not too high or too low) is 0.3 to 3.0 mIU/L. Your doctor said it should be 0 to 1, and I would also get a second opinion from another doctor on this---go with what your doctor says, as the Mayo Clinic website's target range is not based on your personal health history, and is used as a guide.
According to synthroid.com (makers of levothryoxine): thyroid medicine is safe during pregnancy (and I haven't seen any other credible sites that refute this). The main risk when having hypothyroidism and being pregnant are your TSH levels being too high or too low (meaning your hypothyroidism is not appropriately being treated).
April 8, 2008 - 12:38pmI appreciate the help here and when we're ready to start trying (which is probably a little further out than when I had asked the question), I will get second and third opinions for sure! The info you have provided is great and I will save it! Thanks so much!
September 23, 2008 - 9:02pmi am uncertain, as are my doctors right now the effects synthroid has...let me explain. I have just found out i am pregnant. my last period was july 24. I went for my annual physical and my doctor tested my thyroid and i was hypothyroid. on 8-15 i started synthroid. I havent been on birth control in 5 years. since my last child was born. long story short- i should be 8 weeks pregnant if you go by my last period. however, ultrasound and hcg level test shows i am only 4 weeks. the only thing we can contribute is that the synthroid helped my hormones so much i ovulated 2 times in one month, otherwise i would be 8 weeks and not 4...i didnt have any type, short or long period in august. my normal cycle would have put me at an august period of 8-28...i didnt start therefore on 9-22 i took a pregnancy test...expecting to be 8 weeks, ultrasound only showed barely 4 weeks. cant explain it, but the only difference in 5 years is my synthroid.
September 24, 2009 - 5:00pmAnon,
First of all, congratulations on your pregnancy!! That's wonderful news. And it's really interesting about the synthroid. I'm sure it's been a bit of a rollercoaster ride, finding out you were pregnant, thinking it was 8 weeks, finding it is 4 weeks, and wondering when the baby will actually come! They do have their own timetables, don't they? Take care of the two of you, and write back and let us know how things are going!
September 25, 2009 - 9:10amSarah,
It's been more than a year since you wrote, and we were just interested in an update. How are your thyroid issues going? Have you gone for more opinions, and did you start trying for a baby?
Please post and let us know how it's all going these days, and what your outlook is. We're very interested!
November 27, 2009 - 9:33amThanks so much for your follow up. As it turns out, my husband decided he didn't want to be with me anymore....we're now in the process of getting divorced. Never tried for a baby, thankfully. I will however keep a mental note of the advice here if and when I ever try for a child.
November 27, 2009 - 9:52amSarah,
I'm so sorry to hear this. It must be a very trying time for you. I hope that the divorce has gone smoothly and that your health is good. Take care, and come back and visit us from time to time, please.
Diane
December 11, 2009 - 9:51amhi i have just found out im pregnant..and i have an underactive thyroid...im on medication tyroxine 150mg to treat it but i went for a blood test and my doctor said the upper lim it of normal is 20. but mine is 22.something which he said is slighty over verging onto overactive and now im really worried what do you girls think any input would be great thanks
January 12, 2010 - 9:45amCongratulations on your pregnancy!
I am not sure what your question is, but whether you have hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism, or some other thyroid condition, these can all be safely treated during pregnancy.
In fact, pregnancy can actually affect normal thyroid function (even in women without a preexisting thyroid condition).
Do you currently have any symptoms that are causing problems?
What has your doctor recommended for treatment?
Please know that each lab is different, regarding what they use as their "normal" ranges. I am not sure what the blood test was checking for, and if you are at a "22" for TSH, T3, T4 or something else (when the lab's normal is "20"), but please know there are treatments available (medications), and blood test results can be more difficult to read when you are pregnant, due to the "pregnancy hormones" (hCG).
You can read more about pregnancy and thyroid conditions at: National Endocrine Association
The March of Dimes also provides information on pregnancy and thyroid conditions, and states, "untreated thyroid conditions may be a danger to mother and fetus". There are many medications that are safe for the fetus, as it is important to treat this condition and monitor your levels and symptoms throughout your pregnancy.
Please let us know what specific questions you have!
January 12, 2010 - 1:17pm