Undiagnosed and untreated thyroid disease can be a cause for infertility or recurrent miscarriage. If you have not already been tested for a thyroid problem, there are several things you can do.
Difficulty: N/A
Time Required: 5
Here's How:
- Ask your doctor for a TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) test, along with a full thyroid panel to evaluate thyroid levels, including tests for Free Thyroxine (Free T4), Free T3, and Thyroid Antibodies.
- Find out the actual numerical result for the TSH level. It's important that you not accept "the result was normal," as a test result or answer. You want the exact numbers.
- Look at the TSH level. At most labs, normal range is approximately 0.5 to 5.5. But as of Spring 2003, .3 to 3.0 is considered the narrower normal range that many experts are using for diagnosis and management. Note that some endocrinologists believe that a percentage of women may find it difficult to get pregnant -- or maintain a pregnancy -- at a TSH above 2.0.
- If your TSH is "high-normal" and/or you had elevated antibodies, and your doctor is not willing to treat you, find a doctor or endocrinologist who has a good success rate working with thyroid-related infertility.
- Ensure that you are ovulating, by using a fertility awareness method, and/or ovulation predictor.
Tips:
- To maximize fertility, try a fertility awareness method such as the one outlined in the excellent book, 'Taking Charge of Your Fertility,' by Toni Wechsler.
