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On getting pregnant and Thyroid

By March 4, 2008 - 9:26am
 
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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.

Add a Comment12 Comments

EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous

hi 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 - 9:45am
(reply to Anonymous)

Congratulations 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
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous (reply to Alison Beaver)

thank you for your reply my question was do you think this is safe for me to carry on that dose im on untill the specialist contacts my doctor just over panicking where i have had 3 miscarrges in the past so i just desperately want all to go well this time :)

January 12, 2010 - 1:54pm
(reply to Anonymous)

I completely understand, and am sorry you have had a difficult time previously with miscarriages. Please let us know if you would like any additional information, or to talk about your experiences (or, to talk about your current pregnancy).

We are not able to tell you what is the appropriate dosage for medication for you specifically, as there are too many factors that are unknown to us, and only your pharmacist or prescribing doctor are able to confirm what the appropriate dose is.

However, I can tell you that Thyroxine is labeled as a "Category A" drug used during pregnancy, which is the safest category by the FDA, "controlled human studies have demonstrated no fetal risk". These drugs for thyroid conditions include: Thyroid hormone and Levothyroxine (Synthroid ®, Levoxyl ®).

You can read more about the dosage possibilities (wide range of safe doses, from 25-300 mcg) at: University of Maryland Medical Center, levothyroxine

Does this help? Are you able to make a quick phone call to your doctor, to confirm that you should continue on your current dosage of this medication (and any other medications and supplements, as well as vitamins), as this is a question they will prefer to answer now rather than later!

January 12, 2010 - 2:47pm
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous

Thanks 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 - 9:52am
(reply to Anonymous)

Sarah,

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 - 9:51am

Sarah,

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 - 9:33am
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous

i 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 - 5:00pm
(reply to Anonymous)

Anon,

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 - 9:10am

I 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 - 9:02pm
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