Egg Freezing
Egg Freezing With Hashimoto's Thyroiditis: 7 Things to Know
She has Hashimoto's thyroiditis and wants to freeze her eggs, asking about OHSS risk and TSH changes. These are specific, important questions that deserve specific, honest answers. Egg freezing with an autoimmune thyroid condition involves specific considerations most clinics don't routinely address unless you raise them first. 7 Things to Know
Your TSH must be optimised before starting an egg freezing cycle A TSH above 2.5 mIU/L is associated with reduced outcomes; most REs want it below 2.5, ideally below 2.0. What to do: Get a current TSH and discuss adjustment with your GP or endocrinologist before starting.
Egg freezing stimulation can temporarily change TSH levels Rising oestrogen increases thyroid binding globulin, which can push TSH up during the cycle. What to do: Ask for thyroid monitoring during stimulation and discuss whether a prophylactic dose increase is appropriate.
Hashimoto's does not directly increase OHSS risk — but the associated hormonal pattern may affect response OHSS risk is primarily driven by AMH, AFC, age, and weight, though atypical autoimmune response patterns are worth monitoring. What to do: Ask your RE if they'll pay particular attention to your monitoring given Hashimoto's.
Autoimmune thyroid antibodies may be relevant if you plan to transfer embryos later TPO antibodies are linked to increased miscarriage risk even with normal TSH. What to do: Ask for your TPO antibody levels and discuss management if elevated, even years ahead of transfer.
Post-cycle thyroid fluctuations are possible — monitor for 6-8 weeks after retrieval The sudden post-retrieval oestrogen drop can temporarily affect thyroid function. What to do: Book a TSH test 6-8 weeks after retrieval and share results with both your RE and endocrinologist.
Fatigue after egg freezing with Hashimoto's may be more pronounced than average A higher baseline fatigue burden can make the post-retrieval crash more significant. What to do: Plan a more conservative recovery timeline and check TSH if fatigue is notably worse than baseline.
Your endocrinologist and fertility clinic need to communicate directly — not just through you TSH monitoring and dosing during stimulation requires active coordination between the two specialties. What to do: Ask both providers if there's a direct communication mechanism, and create one in writing if not. Egg freezing with Hashimoto's is safe and achievable — with appropriate preparation, active monitoring, and coordination between your fertility and thyroid care. Flavia: The fact that she had to ask the internet rather than having these answered proactively says something about how fertility clinics communicate with autoimmune patients. That needs to change. If you are navigating egg freezing alone, Sopotion was built for you. Start at calendly.com/sopotion-info.