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Levothyroxine & irregular periods/fertility

Posted , 35 users are following.

hkl
hkl

Hi there, I'm new to this and completely at my wits' end. All advice gratefully received. Here's my background... I'm a 29 year old female, relatively healthy, no other medical conditions. 5 months ago I was diagnosed with an underactive thyroid; TSH at 18. I was put on levothyroxine 50mg to start with. Follow up meeting, this was increased to 75mg as TSH was 4.0. My latest reading showed TSH of 1.4 so no change to dosage.

Here comes the strange part. All my life my periods have been like clockwork, even when I was not receiving treatment. I'm 29 and desperately want to start a family, so much so my partner and I purchased a fertility clearblue fertility monitor 9 months ago. All the way through up until 3 months ago, my periods were regular and my fertility peaked and troughed as it should. But now, it's all over the place. My periods are complelty irregular, ranging from 18 days to 35+ if at all. My fertility doesn't peak, and this all started 2 months after starting Levo.

I double checked the patient leaflet, noticed it asked to call the specialist if menstrual cycle changed, did so and I really really feel like I've been fobbed off. Basically told "under no circumstances is it the tablets and there's nothing more i can do for you".

Given I want to try for a family so badly, not sure what I'm supposed do. Has anyone else experienced this? I'm 29 and based on what the specialist has said, I'm majorly concerned I'm now going through early menopause!! In my mind, there's no doubt it is the tablets, but if the specialist doesn't believe me / think so, what am I supposed to do?

If you've made it this far, thank you for reading! I'm so so worried we won't be able to have a family because of these stupid tablets. Feel very much rejected by the system - take the pills, original symptoms cured, not the specialists problem anymore.

again, thank you xxx

1 like, 52 replies

52 Replies

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  • bucketroyal
    bucketroyal

    Posted

    Hi HKL, This is interesting, my periods stopped a few years after i was diagnosed with underactive throid and yes it was early menopause (well I was 37) but it could have happened earlier than I was diagnosed. Ask your doctor for a blood test to check for early menopause, they can check the levels of your hormones and give you some answers. The problem is you need the Throxine, if you don't take it, it can be really dangerous for you. I suggest you get back to the doctors. Personally, I would not think it was the Throxine, early menopause runs in my family so I do not think they are connected. But good luck.
  • hkl
    hkl

    Posted

    Thank you bucketroyal. I'll be calling the doctor first thing Monday for an appt. my mother hit the menopause in her 50s, and my eldest sister is 40 and showing no signs either, but neither of them have an under active thyroid. Really really hoping it turns out to be something else. I can't tell you how much we wish for a family! X
  • anita68112
    anita68112

    Posted

    Hi HKL,

    I am in the exact same position as you...

    I had a blood test yesterday after calling the doctors as my period is now 50+ days over due. and before this was gradually getting further and futher apart. This has most definitely started since i begun to take Levothyroxine. Although, i fear the doctors will completely disagree.

    I wondered if you have an update?

    x

  • stuart00303
    stuart00303

    Posted

    Hi. Long shot but have you asked the endo about abolation? Sorry if that's spelt incorrectly but I know that it sounds scary,however is another option for stopping heavy periods and the risk of low iron levels due to heavy periods.
  • stuart00303
    stuart00303

    Posted

    Sorry just re read tour post what I said would not be good for you especially if you are wanting to have children. Sorry sad
  • buddhaken
    buddhaken

    Posted

    In my experience if you find an you have an arrogant doctor and you don't feel strong enough to get tough with them - get a second opinion - you're entitled to it, you might even be able to save a bit of money and get a private consultation at a local private Hospital. Just tell your doctor the name of the consultant you want to see and that he must refer you. It's worth spending what you might spend on servicing your car (it doesn't cost as much as you think) to get a diagnosis you can trust. Problem is of course, that it might be the same, but at least then you will know where you stand.
  • clairelouisemiles
    clairelouisemiles

    Posted

    Hi,

    just wondering if you'd had any improvements? I recently got diagnosed with under active thyroid after TTC for 8 months without a single positive ovulation test. I've been on 100mg Levothyroxine for three months and my cycles are just getting longer (42 days last month) with still no positive ovulation tests. I have no idea if this is normal and am still waiting for my first endocrinologist appointment. Situation complicated by endometriosis if this changes anything?

  • hkl
    hkl

    Posted

    Hi there! Warning... This is a long post!...

    Some improvements for me - They're no longer getting longer. they fluctuate between 24 and 46 days! In terms of is this normal, I think the profession have a blind spot when it comes to these "non critical" side effects.

    I've been to my GP countless times and also to a private endo - both have said 'are you feeling better now... What would you rather have... Crippling tiredness or irregular periods'. Shocking. The private endo said to me that I have no choice - I have to take the tablets to stay well, so I'll just have to live with irregular periods. It's a shame that some (admittedly only two!) are ignorant to the stated side effects of these tablets and can happily tell a 29 year old woman that she could be menopausal, rather than support a patient who's sat in front of them worrying sick! ( rant over... I'd brushed my frustrations under the carpet for a while!)

    My advice is to track all your readings - when your period starts, if you're using clearblue fertility monitor, when you move from one to two bars, how heavy your periods are, how long they last... Keep a diary of it all as evidence. Some months i do get a peak, some months I don't. Before the thyroid tablets, I was regular and peaked as I should. We're still TTC though. I will be going back to the doctor soon regarding my fertility - we've been TTC for quite a while now.

    Do Keep trying!!!! - it could be that the hormones that are released at your peak are not at a level for the monitor to pick up, but you could still be releasing an egg. I havent tried it, but have read upon on women measuring their basal body temp too, which does fluctuate during your cycle. Also, It does take a while for the thyroxine to get into your system, so it could be that it is at its worst now, and will start to settle down soon. It is so so easy to worry yourself about this - I wish I could provide more positive feedback! I completely understand the hope month on month, so I'm not going to tell you to stop thinking about it!!!!

    Do let me know how you get on with your endo - I'm sure you'll have a more positive experience than I did. Without sounding sexist, i have seen two male doctors... maybe there's value in trying to see a female endo / GP who may be a little more sensitive / understanding / considerate towards our situations.

    I do hope the tests improve for you - mine did (ignoring the irregularities!). Keep me posted!

    • tahanibond
      tahanibond hkl

      Posted

      Hello there 

      just wanted to say , I'm 43 yrs old with no period problems , since I started taking euthyrox the same month my period never came and still, it's gone.  No trace.   It was a shock really , from what u wrote ,does that mean it will never come back again and I'm menopausal ?      

    • barbarakovacevi
      barbarakovacevi tahanibond

      Posted

      Hello tahanibond

      Im 40 years and has the same problem like you. My period stopped 3 months after started with Eutyrox ( before was regular). My thyroid hormones are now ok but now im missing my second period. Have you found out what is the reason?My gynecologist gave me Orgametril to try to provoke menstr. but now is the 3rd day im taking it still 12 left. 

    • darla33303
      darla33303 hkl

      Posted

      Yes i think theres something fishy goin on,my dr said same to me,o ur peri medpausal,i keep tellin them im not.total bs,seriously.i was on 88mg w normal peroids,recently since i made it known i wanna ttc they switched me to 75mg to which my peroids have dissappeared today is 47 days.its a conspiracy,i swear....any news on ur end....
  • clairelouisemiles
    clairelouisemiles

    Posted

    Hello,

    Well I finally got a positive from my Clearblue fertility monitor so got pretty giddy this morning (although it is CD23!). I realise that sounds daft but it's the first time ever so feel positive.

    What has your endo said to you? No one has ever told me what they will do for me. I know its a woman so fingers crossed she will at least be sympathetic, here's hoping!

  • hkl
    hkl

    Posted

    Hi there,

    Yay! That's great news! I was exactly the same when I got the three bars!

    After i pushed him for a follow on action, my endo said for me to go back if I haven't conceived in 6months and he will refer me on to a fertility specialist. That's it. No follow up, no alternative tablets, just that I'll be passed on to someone else.

    Really hope your endo gives you what you need! And good luck with the TTC smile

    Keep me posted, H x

  • islandgirldee
    islandgirldee hkl

    Posted

    Hi, I know this is a long shot...I am a 44 (last Monday) year young lass and trying desperately to get pregnant again. I have two gorgeous boys from a previous marriage. The relationship ended badly, i am now with a fantastic guy and we soooooooo wish to have a baby. I have an Underactive Thyroid too. Have had it now for 4 years. I'm also on Levothyroxine. I was fitted with a coil after losing a baby. After the loss i had a D&C done too. We have been trying for over a year to have a baby and no luck. I went to the docs, the male doc fobbed me off and said, "There's nothing we can do for you!" end of conversation....not impressed! So, i called back and spoke to lady doc, she sent me for hormone tests. They came back as not ovulating :-( I have weird mucus like perioids...it is like egg white mixed with blood, usually 3 days worth. They have been like this 2 months after the coil was removed (last August). First month i had floods of blood, couldn't get out of bed...awful! I am soooooooo worried i will not be allowed to have fertility treatment due to my age :-( I guess i would be past the age to adopt too??? I'm perplexed as to what's happening with my body...Any replies greatfully received...thanks. :-) Good luck everyone. :-) xxx
    • HavenFertility
      HavenFertility islandgirldee

      Posted

      Hi Island Girl,

      RE: Your periods like "egg white mixed with blood"

      Whether or not the condition of your periods was in association with the coil or other, as women move through the process of perimenopausal transition, and particularly experience shorter cycles, ovulation can occur DURING menses.

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