Intended Parents

Can I Get Pregnant With Hashimoto’s? [Surrogacy Options]

Yes, you can get pregnant with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, but unmanaged thyroid levels significantly impact fertility, increase miscarriage risk, and can cause repeated IVF failure.

Even with optimal medical management, many women with Hashimoto’s face pregnancy complications that make surrogacy a safer, more successful path to biological parenthood. The key is understanding when getting pregnant with Hashimoto’s becomes medically challenging and exploring all your family-building options.

Get Help from a Surrogacy Specialist

We’re here to help you navigate the complex relationship between Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and fertility, understand why autoimmune thyroid disorders can sabotage even the best fertility treatments, and discover how surrogacy can provide the hopeful path to parenthood you’ve been searching for.

Can I Get Pregnant with Hashimoto’s?

Getting pregnant with Hashimoto’s is absolutely possible, but success depends heavily on proper thyroid management and individual health factors. Many women with well-controlled Hashimoto’s do conceive and deliver healthy babies. However, the autoimmune nature of this condition creates unique challenges.

These challenges can include:

Ovulation disruption from fluctuating hormone levels
Implantation failure due to autoimmune inflammation
Higher miscarriage rates (up to 2-3 times normal risk)
Pregnancy complications including preeclampsia and preterm birth

The frustrating reality is that even “normal” thyroid lab results may not be optimal for conception, leading many women to struggle with unexplained infertility despite thinking their condition is under control.

How Does Hashimoto’s Affect Fertility in Women?

Hashimoto’s thyroiditis affects fertility through multiple pathways that many patients—and even some doctors—don’t fully understand.

Direct Fertility Impact:

Disrupted ovulation cycles, even with “normal” TSH
Poor egg quality due to chronic autoimmune inflammation
Impaired corpus luteum function affecting progesterone production
Reduced ovarian reserve in some cases

Immune System Complications:

Thyroid antibodies may cross-react with reproductive tissues
Increased natural killer (NK) cells that can attack embryos
Chronic inflammation affecting the uterine environment
Higher rates of other autoimmune conditions that compound fertility issues

What TSH and Antibody Levels Mean for Trying to Conceive

Here’s what many fertility patients don’t realize: standard “normal” thyroid labs aren’t sufficient for optimal fertility. While general medicine considers TSH levels up to 4.0-5.0 mIU/L normal, fertility specialists aim for much tighter control.

Optimal levels for fertility are more like:

TSH: Less than 2.5 mIU/L (ideally 1.0-2.0)
Free T4: Upper half of normal range
Thyroid antibodies: As low as possible

Even when TSH appears controlled, elevated thyroid peroxidase (TPO) or thyroglobulin antibodies can increase miscarriage risk and interfere with implantation—explaining why some women experience repeated IVF failure despite having “good” thyroid numbers.

Why IVF May Not Work with Autoimmune Thyroid Disorders

Unfortunately, you can have perfect embryos, optimal timing, and experienced doctors, yet still face repeated implantation failures or early pregnancy losses. And Hashimoto’s can make a difference.

Here are some possible effects of Hashimoto’s on IVF:

Autoimmune rejection: Your immune system may attack embryos as foreign tissue
Inflammatory environment: Chronic inflammation in the uterus may prevent proper implantation
Hormone disruption: Thyroid imbalances affect the delicate hormonal dance needed for pregnancy
Medication limitations: Some fertility drugs can trigger thyroid flares

Many women go through multiple IVF cycles, spending tens of thousands of dollars, only to discover that their autoimmune condition—not their fertility treatment—was the primary obstacle.

When Surrogacy Becomes the Recommended Path

Surrogacy isn’t giving up—it’s choosing the smartest, safest route to your biological child when getting pregnant with Hashimoto’s poses significant risks or has repeatedly failed.

Here are some signs to consider surrogacy:

Medical Indicators:

Multiple miscarriages related to autoimmune factors
Repeated IVF implantation failures with good embryos
Severe Hashimoto’s requiring high-dose medications incompatible with pregnancy
Additional autoimmune conditions complicating pregnancy safety

Personal Indicators:

Emotional exhaustion from repeated pregnancy losses
Desire to protect your health while still pursuing biological parenthood
Recognition that pregnancy stress may worsen your autoimmune condition

Rather than continuing to battle your body’s immune system, surrogacy allows you to work with it by transferring your genetic embryos to a healthy gestational carrier.

How Surrogacy Can Help Hashimoto’s Patients Become Parents

One of the biggest misconceptions about surrogacy is that you won’t be genetically related to your child. With gestational surrogacy, your baby is 100% genetically yours—created from your egg and your partner’s sperm (or donor gametes if needed).

You can use:

Your own eggs (even with Hashimoto’s, egg quality can often be preserved with proper management)
Your partner’s sperm or donor sperm
Existing frozen embryos from previous IVF cycles

How Surrogacy Works

The surrogacy process involves five essential steps designed to protect everyone involved while maximizing your chances of success:

Choose an agency with experience supporting intended parents with medical challenges. We can help you find a reputable agency that understands your unique needs.

Your agency will help match you with a pre-screened gestational carrier who meets medical and psychological requirements.

Comprehensive legal agreements protect all parties and clarify responsibilities, compensation, and medical decisions.

Your embryos are transferred to your surrogate's uterus through a simple medical procedure.

Your surrogate carries your baby while your agency coordinates care, communication, and logistics leading to your child's birth.

How You Can Find a Surrogate Who Understands Your Medical Journey

Working with the right agency is crucial when Hashimoto’s affects fertility because they understand the emotional complexity of choosing surrogacy after medical struggles.

Prioritize agencies that complete comprehensive screening before matching and offer financial protection—this protects your financial and emotional investment.

The best agencies also provide emotional support specifically for intended parents who’ve faced medical fertility challenges, understanding that your journey to surrogacy may involve grief, fear, and hope all mixed together.

Learn about typical surrogacy wait times and how choosing the right agency can significantly impact your timeline.

How Much Does Surrogacy Really Cost?

Surrogacy investment typically ranges from $100,000-$200,000+, including:

Agency fees
Surrogate compensation
Medical expenses
Legal fees
Insurance, travel, and miscellaneous expenses

Smart Financing Options When Medical Conditions Complicate Your Journey

Don’t let financial concerns prevent you from exploring surrogacy after medical fertility challenges.

Multiple options are available specifically for families facing medically necessary surrogacy:

Fertility financing companies offering loans with competitive rates for reproductive medicine
Medical necessity grants for families requiring surrogacy due to autoimmune conditions
Personal loans from banks familiar with fertility financing
401(k) loans or hardship withdrawals allowing access to retirement funds
Family crowdfunding through platforms designed for medical expenses

You’re Not Alone: Finding Support Through Hashimoto’s and Infertility

The intersection of autoimmune disease and fertility struggles creates unique emotional challenges that deserve specialized support.

Consider working with a therapist experienced in both chronic illness and fertility challenges—this combination of support can be invaluable as you navigate complex medical and emotional decisions.

You can also connect with online communities who understand:

Hashimoto’s Community – Support for living with autoimmune thyroid disease
IVF Community – Fertility treatment experiences and advice
Infertility Support – Honest discussions about fertility struggles

Ready to Take Control of Your Family-Building Journey?

If Hashimoto’s affects fertility in your case, and you’re facing repeated IVF failures, pregnancy losses, or medical risks that make carrying unsafe, surrogacy can be a path forward that honors both your health and your dreams of parenthood.

You don’t have to keep fighting your body’s immune system to become a parent. The journey with Hashimoto’s has taught you that sometimes the path to what you want most looks different than you originally imagined.

But different doesn’t mean less meaningful—it might mean more carefully considered, more intentionally chosen, and ultimately, more successful.

Contact a specialist who understands medical fertility challenges and can guide you toward the safest, most effective path to biological parenthood.

This article is for informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Always consult with your healthcare providers before making any decisions about pregnancy, fertility treatments, or family-building options based on your individual medical condition.