TTC with autoimmune (Celiac/Hashimotos)

ocmonkey0126 · October 2015

My husband and I are TTC and actively have been for a few months. But to be honest we have never prevented pregnancy. We have been together for 15 years with not as much as a serious scare. At 16 I was diagnosed with a thyroid condition which my OB/GYN said could be the reason behind my lack of conceiving. Fast forward to this year (now 29) I just found out I have Celiac disease, Hashimoto's thyroiditis and Fibromyalgia.

A few months ago, before my diagnosis, we had my husbands sperm levels tested. It was so easy and our primary did it so no specialists was needed! The test came back great! He's at a 48/52 ratio which means we shouldn't have trouble. The doctor said with eating healthier, changing underwear styles and working out he could increase that level in no time! This was great news but really discouraging to me.

So my question is, does anyone else suffer from these issues? If so how long did it take to conceive? Both side of both of our families are super fertile! So much so that my parents, there parents and part of his family has to get their tubes tied or vasectomies because not even condoms or birth control helped! It's heart breaking to keep telling people "we aren't ready" when in secret we are trying everything to get pregnant! I am growing concerned that with our age and my auto immune issues we may never be parents.

letyourheartbeyourguide · October 2015

I don't have personal experience with any of those diagnoses, so I'm sorry I can't speak to them directly. But I have two questions/thoughts:

1) Are you working with an OB or an RE? Depending on how long you've been TTC and your diagnoses, you may want to talk to your OB about getting a referral to an RE.

2) Are you temping to confirm ovulation? If not, this might be a good thing to start before pursuing an RE appointment. It could be that you're not ovulating regularly, or that you're ovulating earlier/later than you assume and missing your fertile window.

If you're not temping and want more info, the ultimate newbies guide pinned at the top has a lot of resources. The book Taking Charge Of Your Fertility is also great.

Good luck!!

goldie987 · October 2015

I don't have hashis but I do have celiac disease. I can't offer much help because we're on our first cycle TTC. I know untreated thyroid issues can cause issues, but if youre being treated, that should remedy the problem. I talked to my Gyn a few months before we started TTC and he didn't seem concerned about my celiac disease and TTC. Best of luck, welcome and hope your stay here isnt too long

AL_TwinCities · October 2015

I also have Celiac but none of the other conditions. My cousin who was diagnosed with Celiac years before me needed IUI and injections to get pregnant with her first two children, one before her diagnosis and the other 4 years after her diagnosis. But her last 2 kids were conceived without any assistance. I have been TTC for 17 months, though only temping for 5, with one chemical pregnancy in there over a year ago. I just was retested (blood test) for Celiac to see if gluten is still in my system even though I stopped eating gluten 5 years ago. I will also be having an infertility consultation soon, so am pursuing both avenues.

I would definitely read TCOYF if you haven't already and start temping. It's a good first step and then you can be armed with that information when seeing an RE, whenever you decide to do that.

jennifer0428 · October 2015

You may want to post this again in the 1st - 3rd trimester boards where people are pregnant and may have success stories of getting pregnant in similar circumstances. Everyone here is still TTC and many trying for their first. I hope you find some answers!

happycamper22 · October 2015

Hey! I'm really glad I found this thread! I have Celiac and my husband and I are TTC#1. He has two children from his previous marriage and I've never even once had a pregnancy scare. We've been actively trying for a few months and I began using an OPK in Seotember. If we're not pregnant now I'm going to keep track of my BBT next cycle as well.

He had a vasectomy reversal 12/2014 and his sperm count post-op is high so I feel like it falls on me now. I don't know how long to try before seeking professional help and I'm not sure how to even begin down that road.

I eat strictly gf and am very conscious about the lotions, soaps etc I use. It's frustrating being unsure if my autoimmune issues are what keep us from easily conceiving.

R0824H · October 2015

I second what a PP said and oodt on the trimedter boards.

in response to your question, I'm TTC #1, I have Hashimotos and my levels are where they should be being treated. It's been 4 months, 3 cycles and 0 success out of 2 bfps. Could it be the autoimmune disease? Maybe, but that's for an RE to figure out. My fertility has no bearing on your fertility, but I have read many success stories about people with Hashimotos and that keeps me positive

rmkolodzie1 · October 2015

*****LOSS MENTIONED*****

I have Hashimotos and definitely feel your pain. I was diagnosed 3 years ago and never once had consistent, consecutive good labs. But this summer I finally did! I've found the name brand medication is better than genetic albeit way more expensive, it doesn't have the fillers and junk that generics do. Plus I never got good lab results before trying the brand name. We took the good labs as a sign to start TTC. I had a chemical pregnancy in August and have my fingers crossed I get my BFP on Sunday! Auto immune diseases are just horrible because your body is just attacking itself for no reason. It's a hard thing to deal with. We've been lying to family and friends too. We've been married for 6 years so people are getting suspicious. FX for your BFP soon!

marajay6 · October 2015

*** pregnancy mentioned

I have a fairly severe case of hypothyroidism brought on by hashimotos. My medication levels are near full replacement level. Shortly after I started TTC#1, I switched from having my GP monitor my thyroid levels to having an endocrinologist. The first thing he did was have me stop TTC. That was aggravating but he wanted to run some tests and to determine that there weren't other underlying causes to my thyroid levels being so bad. I didn't make the switch because of TTC, but I am glad I did. After I got the go ahead to TTC, I got a rather quick BFP and my endocrinologist did an excellent job monitoring my levels through pregnancy. I had to get labs done monthly - that seems pretty normal with hypothyroidism.

If you have your hypothyroidism monitored and properly medicated, it shouldn't be a problem. With TTC and pregnancy, I think the biggest worry with hypothyroidism is that, if not properly controlled with medication, it is associated with higher miscarriage rate.

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TTC with autoimmune (Celiac/Hashimotos)

Re: TTC with autoimmune (Celiac/Hashimotos)

TTC #1 --- BFP #1 5/15, loss at 5 weeks --- BFP #2 12/15, loss at 4+3 --- RE testing 3/16 normal, still trying for our rainbow

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