Fertility & thyroid cancer: I've got questions

Posted by ViaCH @nani95, Sep 21, 2021

Hey guys, how many of you tried to get pregnant/got pregnant after having your entire thyroid removed (papillary cancer) and using levothyroxine/other medication? How was your journey? I'm having my thyroid removed in a few weeks and this is what actually scares me in this whole thing...

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Thyroid Cancer Support Group.

Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Sep 25, 2021

@nani95, I'm tagging @ljcarper on this discussion in case she has experience to share.

I found this Q&A here https://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=53712
"MEMBER QUESTION:
I will be having a thyroidectomy in October. How will this affect the possibility of getting pregnant in the future? I've been diagnosed with fibromyalgia and reactive hypoglycemia. The nodules on my thyroid, reason for removal, are due to Hashitmoto's thyroidism.

DR. AMOS:
Women after a thyroidectomy are usually placed on thyroid medication, and if your thyroid hormones are improved then your chances of ovulating and getting pregnant are significantly improved. You may want to continue to be under close observation of an endocrinologist."

Nani, have you talked to your surgeon about your wish to be able to conceive in the future? Or perhaps you could talk to an oncology social worker for more information and resources?

ViaCH | @nani95 | Sep 26, 2021

In reply to @colleenyoung "@nani95, I'm tagging @ljcarper on this discussion in case she has experience to share. I found..." + (show)

Thanks for your reply! I do not plan on getting pregnant at the moment, but for sure it is something I will be dicussing with my OBGYN and endocrinologist during my post-op in the next few months.

catealexis | @catealexis | Feb 1 12:45pm

How long has anyone waited to try to conceive after surgery? I feel about 50 percent myself not ideal but not the worst and we want another child but not sure if it’s worth waiting to feel “normal” or if we should just go for it because I have read it can take up to a year to feel like yourself again! Would love to know if anyone did get pregnant after surgery and what it was like for you?🫶

Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Feb 10 12:14pm

In reply to @catealexis "How long has anyone waited to try to conceive after surgery? I feel about 50 percent..." + (show)

Hi @catealexis, I moved your question about how long to wait to get pregnant after surgery for thyroid cancer to this existing discussion that @nani95 started:

- Fertility & thyroid cancer: I've got questions https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/fertility-x-thyroid-cancer-especially-papillary-cancer/

I did this so you can read the previous posts too.

Alexis, did you have any other treatment beyond surgery? Did you talk to your doctor whether you should wait and for how long?