Recurrent pregnancy loss - Thyroid and Family history

Pili

0 Posts
Reply Recurrent pregnancy loss - Thyroid and Family history Posted on: Dec 15, 2010 at 10:01am
I've just been through my third miscarriage this year. I have a healthy 3 yeard old daughter and one early miscarriage before falling pregnant with her. I have an underactive thyroid, but it's being controlled. However, I've never managed to have a test done while pregnant as my losses have all been at 5-6 weeks.
I have two issues on my mind that I just can't shake but my doctor is not taking seriously.

One is wether my thyroid hormone levels could change significantly enough in the very early stages to cause miscarriage?

The second is my family history. My mother suffered multiple miscarriages. I don't know how many, but she had a premature boy that sadly died days old, my sister 9 years later and there're 11 years between my sister and I. My sister has an 11 year old daugher, but was trying for years before and after. Her periods were all over the place and wouldn't have known had she had a miscarriage at 5 or 6 weeks. She didn't even realize she was pregnant with her daughter till she couldn't close her trousers. I can't help but wonder if my miscarriags are down to something genetic.

I'm having tests done in the new year, but it'll be a long wait. While I know I shouldn't get pregnant in the meantime it's so hard not to try, knowing I apparently get pregnant easily I just can't keep them.

Dr. Braverman

2026 Posts
Re: Recurrent pregnancy loss - Thyroid and Family history Posted on: Dec 15, 2010 at 8:41pm
Hi Pili,

I am very sorry for all your losses. Yes the thyroid levels themselves can be associated with recurrent miscarriage(see the last post in my discussion board). As thryoid disease is so prevelant among sisters and mothers there is the possbility that they have the same risk factors. If yours if caused by anti thyroid antibodies , even if they dont have thryoid disease just the undetected prescence of thryoid antibodies in them could lead to miscarriage(also in the discussion board under ANA).
There are a host of inherited disorders that can fly under the radar that can lead to clusters of FISCP in families.
I can test you for all of these, feel free to call me if you would like me to help. I hope I can be of service to you.
Braverman Medical Team
Braverman Reproductive Immunology P.C.

Pili

0 Posts
Reply Re: Recurrent pregnancy loss - Thyroid and Family history Posted on: Dec 15, 2010 at 9:04pm
Thanks for your reply. I understood your post on the discussion board to be more about infertility than pregnancy loss. I have however found a new article supporting the increased risk of miscarriage for woman with a TSH above 2.5 in the first weeks of pregnancy. If my doctor doesn't see the need to increase my dosis with the next (I hope) pregnancy, I'll present him with that. I'll read the other post you refer to.
My sister has not got any thyroid issues. She has many other issues today and has been tested for just about everything, why I can say this with certainty. As for my mother I don't know and I sadly can't ask. I live in Spain now, so very far from your clinic. I'll start testing for any underlying reasons in the new year under the Spanish healthcare system. It just worries me I'll have to sit back and wait for so long before getting answers back.

Dr. Braverman

2026 Posts
Re: Recurrent pregnancy loss - Thyroid and Family history Posted on: Dec 16, 2010 at 12:18am
Be sure they test your sister for thryoid antibodies not just TSH. Also your doctor should know that the absorption of thryoid hormone goes down in pregnancy so many women under control loose the control in early pregnancy. I hope you can convince them of this.
Best of luck to you, let me know if you have any other questions.
Braverman Medical Team
Braverman Reproductive Immunology P.C.

Pili

0 Posts
Reply Re: Recurrent pregnancy loss - Thyroid and Family history Posted on: Dec 22, 2010 at 3:56pm
I hope you don't mind me adding on a little question, but I'm desperate for a qualified guess as to what is going on. As I said in my previous post I went through my 3rd miscarriage this year beginning of December. However, I still feel pregnant with very sore breasts, bloating and occasional nausea. I did a hpt yesterday and it came up faintly possitive.
I went to hospital December 6 when they did a scan and said the uterus was completely empty and appeared normal. HCG came back at 514. Two days later it was down to 300. I seems weird to me that 2 weeks later I still have enugh HCG in my body for a positive test and symptoms to persist. I can't imagine it's a new pregnancy.

Dr. Braverman

2026 Posts
Re: Recurrent pregnancy loss - Thyroid and Family history Posted on: Dec 25, 2010 at 3:24am
You always must be followed until the blood test is negative as an ectopic pregnancy or other abnormal types of pregnancy(molar gestation) must be ruled out. Please be aware however that both of these are unlikely and sometimes it just takes a long time to clear the beta HCG from your system. Please be in touch with your doctor and let them know about the faint positive test you have. Without seeing you of course I cant make that diagnosis and its important that your doctor does. Good Luck.
Braverman Medical Team
Braverman Reproductive Immunology P.C.