Tests for recurrent miscarriage

[hindonly]

Scarlet - Do they have a recurrent mc program in Qld that you know of?
I would defineately check in with them. I'm so tired of not knowing why I cant hold a pregnancy:-(

[Inanna]

Hindonly,
Not that I am aware of. I am in Qld though and there are a number of folk that I would recommend you seeing.
Where in Qld are you located (if it's okay to ask)

[hindonly]

Flowerchild. I'm located in Brisbane and am currently seeing afertility specialist but feel sometimes that I haven't had enough tests done after 4 mc's:-( Im at that point of needing to know some answers. there must be a reason why! So I have an appointment with him late May so will have a v good chat to him about what more we can do...

[Inanna]

:hugs: I know this is really hard my love.

Have you had a little look here

What I would do is to take some time and sit down quitely and write down any little bitty health issue you have ever had. A rash, aching joints, whatever. Write it down. Question your maternal and paternal sides with regard to any of those as well.

Write it all down in chronological order.
Write down each of your pregnancies, experiences in that pregnancy and about the birth of your daughter. Document everything. It's important. It gets it clear for you and it jogs your memory to things that may seem irrelevant at the time but can be very important.

I have discovered that many cases of recurrent miscarriage (of course not all but many) are caused by an immunological issue. I would highly recommend seeing an obstetric immunologist. Firstly though write your history.
If you can get all of your blood work released to you by freedom of information. Take these with you to your appointments.

Don't stick with just one doctor. This is important. No matter how much you like someone you need several opinions. You may go back to your doctor but you need to interview doctors. You need to seek opinions. I made this mistake.

I would highly recommend either seeing Dr G Sacks in Sydney or doing a phone consultation with him. He is an obstetric immunologist and many of the BB women have had wonderful experiences. To make the consult worthwhile though I would seek out face to face opinions first. Tell them you have a time booked for a phone consult (or face to face if you can get to Sydney) with Dr S - this shows you mean business!

Remember you are a health care consumer. You are the customer.
If you need any support or more information I would be happy to help. I truly understand how this feels. :Hugs:

[scarlet]

Hindonly, I am sorry I do not. I used to live on the North Coast of NSW so would have looked in Qld at some point, but I am currently living in Sydney. I found the program when looking at IVF sites. I would try that. Although Flowerchild has given some very good advice! Good luck. I do apologise that I did not answer your question earlier, I haven't been on here much lately.

[scarlet]

I just wanted to add that today I had a genetic panel. This tests for Factor V Leiden, MHTFR, they do a karotyope (I think that is the chromosome one) and there was another genetic test too (can't remember now - Prothrombin maybe??). DH and I both had the same genetic panel. (Yep, they test your partner too).

I have had two confirmed (three probable) very early miscarriages (4-5 weeks) and after speaking to my fertility specialist we are wondering about an implantation process. I plan to have the gammet of bloods for recurrent miscarriages and was wondering if anyone knows how long it takes to get these results back? I'm pretty anxious about knowing if there really is a problem!

[Inanna]

Hi Skipping Girl,
Most of the tests have quite a short turn around. The chromosomes (karotype)will take a few weeks...
Wishing you luck with your journey...

[scarlet]

Hi Skipping Girl, sorry to hear of your losses. The bloodwork shouldn't take long, but some of the immune tests like lupus can take about two weeks. It took two weeks for the genetic panel. Istrongly recommend this ---- I was diagnosed with the MTHFR thrombophilia. After three m/c's you should definitely have all these tests run.Wishing you all the best.

[Megsy]

What is considered 'normal' for homocysteine levels? I have had 2 miscarriages this year and I had my levels checked Feb 2005 (for unrelated family history of cardiac problems) and it was 12.8 which apparantley is on the high side of normal. I have only just done some research on homocysteine today because of something someone mentioned over lunch today and I am wondering if 12.8 could be part of the reason why I miscarried. Do you ladies think I should get my levels checked again by my GP?

[hj1981]

OH MY GOSH - i have had 2 MC this year - i didnt know that there was soooo many reason that could cause it all! now my hopes of carrying a bub to full term has been put aside! i think i may be in for a loooong wait to becoming a mum!

[tempus moriendi]

This question may be too in depth for a forum, but you ladies are so informed that here goes:

Does it make a difference if you have had healthy pregnancies before your problems started?

I had a healthy son and a healthy daughter. Then miscarried. Then another healthy daughter. Then three miscarriages.

I guess what I'm asking is, wouldn't some of these conditions show up early in your reproductive life? Or in other words, would I be able to skip some of these tests since I do have healthy children already?

[Jules_P]

Thanks for posting this information!

I have had 4 losses this year. One at 6.5 weeks, 2 chemicals at just over 4 weeks, and the last one at 5 weeks.

When I went to my ob/gyn here in Canberra after the 3rd loss, he was very positive and said there was a good chance it was bad luck as I am 39 and some of my eggs may not be of great quality. He had me tested for lupus syndrome, progesterone (at day 21) and some other things, and my husband and I also had our chromosomes tested. Everything came back normal. And then a month or so after that last appointment, I miscarried again (whole overseas) at 5 weeks.

I have another appointment on 17 December and I feel that I will have to be firm and assertive about getting more tests done. At this point, we may give up ttc no matter what the outcome. I personally feel that I am getting older than I'd like to be with a newborn, but more importantly I don't think I can face more loss. I also worry about having a sticky baby and then discovering that it had massive problems when doing routine testing... I think it would completely break me. Also DH and I at first did not want any children, so we have always been slightly on the fence so now I am getting back on the fence again after all of these losses. It's been devastating.

Anyhow, I appreciate this post more than I can tell you!! I have copied all of the info into a document and I will bring it with me to my appointment.

Hi Jules,
Your story sounds very similar to mine. I have had several very early miscarriages. My husband and I had all of the tests for this including karyotyping and clotting disorders- all came back normal (which I was warned about). Although my progesterone blood levels have been normal, my FS wonders whether my levels locally are too low after implantation; hence the early losses. As a result she has started me on hormone support to help keep my progesterone levels up. Fingers crossed this helps. The next step would be IUI but I'm hoping we have some luck prior to that.

So this is something worth addressing with your doctor.
Good luck!

Skipping girl

[Jules_P]

Originally Posted by skipping girl

Hi Jules,
Your story sounds very similar to mine. I have had several very early miscarriages. My husband and I had all of the tests for this including karyotyping and clotting disorders- all came back normal (which I was warned about). Although my progesterone blood levels have been normal, my FS wonders whether my levels locally are too low after implantation; hence the early losses. As a result she has started me on hormone support to help keep my progesterone levels up. Fingers crossed this helps. The next step would be IUI but I'm hoping we have some luck prior to that.

So this is something worth addressing with your doctor.
Good luck!

Skipping girl

Hi SG - it makes me so sad that there are so many who have gone through this. It's so unfair! I hope you have luck with this new approach. I am curious, if you have been able to get pregnant on your own, why would you go to IUI? I don't know much about IUI. I hope you have some luck regardless and are blessed with a sticky baby soon!!

[satya]

Hey ladies, I've also had 3 early miscarriages and I am pregnant again and have got as far as 10 weeks 5 days so far. I'm 41. I spent hundreds of dollars on testing only to have the FS to say he wouldn't offer any further treatment until I had a lap (which I'm still waiting for on the public list after about 6 months). He said I would keep having early m/c's as he thought I had a fibroid (from a scan) which did not show up on my scan last month. Doctors don't always have the answers. I fell pregnant again 2 months after stopping taking Vitex and it looks like this one might be a sticky one. I was on Vitex with the last two and I have read that there could be a link to early m/c & the taking of Vitex. If you happen to be taking it I'd suggest to get off it. Good luck for the future.

[hj1981]

Goodmorning Everyone - i have had 2 MC this year - all early!
im currently going through a whole heap of BT with a FS at the Mater to try and find out what is wrong!
they seem to think it may be low Progesterone Levels!
im hoping its nothing too bad! and that we will be 3rd time lucky!

Hi everyone,

I had a m/c yesterday and been bleeding with pain and cramp. My doctor told that I am normal with genetic problem but she will send me some blood test to confirm if everything ok. I did ICSI in Aug this year and had the fresh embryo transfer end of Sep, then I got m/c only 15 days later, with HCG 34 on the bleeding day. I did not use any support medical treatment except they gave me progesterone cream. In Nov I did thaw cycle and I was get pregnancy easy with HCG 335 at 18DPO, this time they did not give me any medical treatment at all. Then I had the first ultrasound yesterday but nothing inside my u/s, my dr supposed to see the sac and heart beat, she sent me to special ultrasound to make sure I am not ectopic preg, lucky I did not. I went home couple hours and started bleeding, today is second day and hope all gone in next few days. Please tell me why I am get preg easily but the embryo can not develop or I have problem with genetic or something else, most reason is chronosome abnormal, is it? One thing, my DH had 2 kids before and he had vasactomy then we decide to go through with ICSI. Is that problem come from me or just I am bad luck with percentage of miscarriage. The first time ICSI is hard to success as i know and that was a chemical preg (i knew the day they put in embryo but for nature preg, people can not know and most end up with m/c, about 70%). I was excited and happy when I know I am preg but it changed the whole picture and concerned me to have baby again. Would you please advise which test do I need? At this moment, I am not thinking the preg until next year, at least I will get my next normal cycle, this year may not lucky to me and I did a second time too hurry.

I am bad mood now, please show me what to do? Thanks