Expert: Scott Roseff, MD, FACOG - 2/13/2007

Question
I actually have a few questions.  I hope that is okay.

1.  My doctor ordered some blood work done for part of a fertility workup which included TSH.  Shouldn't the whole thyroid panel be checked, or is that normally only checked when the TSH comes back abnormal?  

2.  Can decongestants, expectorants, or other over-the-counter medications cause any problems in either me or my husband when trying to conceive ?  

3.  I have heard that miscarriage is more likely if implantation occurs later than 10 or 11 days after ovulation.  Is that true, and if so, how can it be diagnosed and treated?

Thanks for your help.

Answer
1. You'll have to ask your doc why only a TSH was ordered (I can't speak on his/her behalf), but I can tell you as a broad generalization that a TSH is the single most sensitive indicator of thyroid function.

2. Antihistamines can potentially affect female fertility.

3. We can't tell when someone's pregnancy implants (except perhaps with IVF).  Therefore, we use ovulation timing and subsequent cycle length as a rough indicator.  For example, if someone has 39 day cycles and ovulates on cycle day 17 then there's a possibility of late implantation.  I hope this makes some sense....


Dr. Roseff, Director - Palm Beach Center for Reproductive Medicine
PERSONALIZED/Individualized Successful care by a Board Certified Reproductive Medicine specialist in a warm and caring setting....  Visit us in Wellington, Florida!
www.reproendo.com/different.htm
===============
Since I don't know your entire history and haven't examined you, any medical information given to you may be incomplete
or inaccurate.  Therefore, Dr. Roseff and his staff can not be responsible for any actions taken or not due to the information contained within these communications.  These communications are for educational and informational purposes only, and should never be used to replace the information and care rendered by your own doctor.  No part
of this message may be reproduced, printed, or posted anywhere else without the express written authorization of Dr. Roseff.
===============