Recurrent miscarriage / implantation failure x 6. Time to give up?

[HelenB]

I’ve had 5 artificial insemination's in 2017, and one IVF cycle embryo transfer last month. On each attempt I have had strong implantation symptoms, had a positive pee stick test or blood test, but miscarried within 1 to 4 days of the positive test result i.e. an immediate rejection / implantation failure. I’ve had an HSG x-ray (all normal), and a hysteroscopy (all normal), tons of blood tests. I have factor V leiden, so have been taking aspirin for all except the first attempt. The IVF attempt was with progesterone pessaries aswell. Because the pattern is so clear and always the same, it certainly doesn’t feel like ‘bad luck’. I am 37 (36 when started trying), and whilst I know egg quality might play a role, don’t believe that would have caused all 6 failures. My gut feel is uterine issues, and it seems the only thing not tested for are immunological causes, and from what I can tell, there’s not much ‘proof’ for effective treatment of these.
I don’t see the point of trying again until something is different i.e. some new treatment tested. So I am trying to decide whether to try again with some cocktail of steroids / IVI-g and stronger blood thinners (herapin), but my clinic says they can’t give me a reason for my situation, and that none of these treatments are proven. If there was some certainty it would work after one or two more attempts I’d pull myself through it. But I know I can’t face another year of trying and another 6 miscarriages.
Thanks for taking the time to read my story. If anyone has similar experience or can offer advice I’d appreciate it.

 

[phonixgirl]

Hi

I just wanted to let you know you're not alone. We've been ttc for years, had 3 IUIs, 1 fresh IVF and 2 frozen cycles. They tell me it's bad luck but I know it can't be. How can every single egg be bad?! I've had one chemical and that's it.

I don't know where you are in the UK but my clinic offers an implantation clinic. It's actually run by a professor at the university of Warwick but is done at the hospital in Coventry. People come from all over the country to have the tests. I can't remember how much it is but I don't remember it being a lot. The main test is for high NK cells in the uterus but they do other tests too. Mine showed to be very high so I need to take steroids... but even with them the next cycle still failed. Worth a try though? If I ever did get preg naturally I'd have to go on them straight away.

I've also done some tests with Serum (Greek clinic) to rule out infection as the cause. This is something else you might want to look into.

I think we are going to use up my 2 cities then head out to Serum to do a fresh cycle. I swore I would never do another after the first one, hmmmm...

 

[LucyC]

So sorry to hear about your losses, sounds like you’ve had a really difficult journey so far.

I am by no means an expert, but as I understand it with blood clotting disorders such as facto v Leiden, sometimes low dose aspirin by itself is not enough and you need a cocktail of things ie heparin, steroids as well as the aspirin. Not sure if this is something you can explore with your clinic? Or I’m not sure where your based but I’m going to see raj rai in London for a consultation as he is a specialist in blood clotting disorders and recurrent miscarriage, not seen him yet so can’t recommend him as such but might be worth looking into. Xx

 

[WinterWolf]

Have you been tested for auto/allo-immune disorders? You're actually getting pregnant, so its probably not an issue with egg/sperm quality. It sounds like your body is purposefully not letting embryos implant, for whatever reason.

I have a friend who shares a DQ-Alpha gene with her husband. So every time she gets pregnant, the body sees the embryo as too similar to itself (due to the gene being the same), thinks it cancer, and sends out killer cells to get rid of it. If you haven't, I'd recommend getting a DQ-Alpha gene test. Apparently 10% of couples actually share a DQ-Alpha gene. My friend had to really fight to find a fertility specialist who would do the test, but she'd had 6 early miscarriages and the IVF clinic didn't want to investigate.

Good luck. xxx

 

[fluffycat]

I don't know much about the medical part but I have heard stories similar to what winterwolf explained.
If you check out Tim and Celeste on YouTube then it's the same thing they are going through.... Might give you some insight

Xxxx

 

[WinterWolf]

Just checked out Tim and Celeste - pretty much the exact same story! See, it's not that uncommon. Definitely worth looking into.

 

[blacksnow]

I am sorry to know yr story. I would recommend doing additional tests (karyotyping) and/or consider PGS NGS (here is more) Chromosomal aneuploidy might be the issue. Good luck

 

[HelenB]

Hi all. Thanks so much for all these kind words and advice. So odd – I only spotted the responses now as I thought this hadn’t posted properly, so posted the same thing twice and only checked the other one!
Phonixgirl – it sounds like we’re having similar experience, I agree there must be a reason other than bad egg / bad luck. I hope it works out for you.
I’m actually now based in South Africa, and haven’t had much support from my clinic. I’m currently visiting in uk and have seen Prof Coomerasamy at CARE Birmingham for a 2nd opinion, who was brilliant. Based on all my results to date, he thinks the most likely cause is blood related (I have factor v leiden, potential protein S deficiency), plus some immunological reason. I was quite surprised but he advised not bothering doing further blood tests (I’ve had most but not all), as immunological tests are >2000 pounds. He recommended trying again with clexane (rather than aspirin) and prednisone injections. I think I’ll start a new thread on advice with prednisone – seems like a big step.

 

[phonixgirl]

The implantation clinic is only about £200 xx

 

[miamia]

great news, good luck with on yr journey