Low BBT- Hyopthyroidism?

[pjbjd1007]

My husband and I have been TTC for 7 months.  We are both in our mid-20s and have always lived pretty healthy lifestyles.  After several months of using OPK, I found that I have a luteal phase of 8-9 days.  Recently, I started charting my temperatures and they seemed to be low.  My BBT have ranged from 97.3-96.8 degrees.  I researched low BBT and found that this could be from low thyroid function.  What is my next step?  Before we started TTC, my doctor told me to return in 9 months if we werent successful.  At this time, we didnt have any reason to believe I wouldnt be able to.  Now, I have a short luteal phase and low BBT.

[Mark Lupo, M.D.]

Would at least ask for a thyroid test (TSH) and consider TPO antibodies as well -- but no harm in going ahead and requesting basic thyroid testing (TSH).  It is important to optimize thyroid function before/during pregnancy.  Current guidelines suggest TSH should be no more than 2.0 in most cases.

[Juliet1971]

I'm not an expert at all, but I went through similar problems. I believed that I had a thyroid problem because I had low BBT and when I used the digital ovulation predictor I discovered I was not ovulating very often (got one positive in like 6 mos?). I also felt that my hair was shedding more than normal and that I was colder than I had been. At that point, I asked my OB to test my thyroid and we found that my TSH was 6.something.  Not terribly high, but high enough to cause problems. I started on Synthroid and within several months I was ovulating regularly. I now have a 4.5 mos old son and my TSH is at .1, so I'm having the reverse problems.  I'd take your BBT charts to your OB and ask for thyroid bloodwork. Your GP could also do those tests.