Advice from other IVF people please!

[KirstyC90]

Hi everyone!

On our follow up appointment after 1st failed cycle, doctor and us talked about recommendations to try to get success next time. Basically, I've had at least 4 miscarriages all around the same point (about 5 weeks) which makes me think that there is a problem with implantation.

Doctor suggested endometrial scratch (if anyone has experience of this I'd love to hear!). While this is rather expensive and research is inconclusive, there will be a part of me that will most likely always wonder if it would help. So as I mentioned before, if anyone has experience I'd love to know.

Doctor also suggested thyroid test. Now I have read up on thyroid, I do display some symptoms of hyperthyroidism which could potentially be a reason why I keep miscarrying. In a way I wish this had been mentioned to me before our first cycle as it could have helped!

Any info or advice would be most welcome- thank you! X

[Jm82]

Hi, am so sorry to hear of your miscarriages but it's good to hear that they are looking into the reason why this keeps happening. I have had 1 fresh cycle which didn't work and 1 frozen cycle which worked but unfortunately no heartbeat at our 9.5 week scan. I didn't have a scratch for either but from what I know there's no negatives to it so it maybe worth a try.

I don't have any experience with the thyroid problems but I'm sure there are other ladies on here who know more.

I hope you get some answeres soon and good luck. Don't give up xx

[Abaco]

Sorry to hear about your losses, this journey can be so hard and cruel! Your doctor is right to check your thyroid maybe a vitamin D check would be good too. After our first bfn and then later a chemical our doctor ordered auto immune tests plus allo immune tests which have raised a few problems with my immune system so maybe you could look into that too, all the very best to you xxx

[Tugsgirl]

I’ve had 4 scratches out of 5 transfers. Out of the 4, 2 were bfps. I used to be pretty confident that a scratch made a difference but not so much now. However I don’t think they do any harm so give it a try. Good luck Kirsty xx

[Sammy18]

Hi, I was booked in for a scratch, got to my clinic and she said that research had come in that week that an endometrial scratch does not show any increase in results and that i should save my money and it would probably be better spent on accupuncture.

[SeaChange]

Hi Kirsty, I’m sorry to hear of your miscarriages. This journey is such a rollercoaster.

I’ve just had a fresh transfer and because it’s our first and I haven’t had previous miscarriages they said the scratch wouldn’t be necessary, but of the more untested methods this was the one that my clinic have recommended (particularly if you have had previous miscarriages) and said to have seen have an impact in the number of successful pregnancies and births.

I guess the problem is that there are still no guarantees, I hope you come to a decision that you’re happy with and wishing you all the best of luck! Xx

[discobec]

So sorry about your losses. I can't imagine what you must have felt.

I paid for a scratch for my second round of IVF. It worked for me and I'm almost 20 weeks pregnant now. However, it is painful and I know that the research suggests it has little to no benefit. My embryos were also of much better quality on my second cycle too, which may be why it worked. Has anyone said anything about embryo quality to you?

Wishing you the very best of luck whatever you decide to do. Xx

[pinklad]

Hi Kirsty, what you have to do is to do research why you keep on having miscarriages, look up on glow app you will get information, go to fertilityclinicsabroad.com go to ivf cost calculation then read 8 of the best tips to keep lid on ivf abroad you will find it useful in relate endometrial scratch. You also get more information when you go to google The truth is that research done in regarding scratch did not say 100% it help but we only do what we ask to do and keep our fingers cross. I believe what you should do first is to find out the cause of miscarrying and solve that before you start again, you can try to get advice from another doctor during the time I was researching a lot of people that already went through ivf said that when they go to a clinic and is not working out they change another doctor or even clinic. Take your time and do research. Good luck

[pinklad]

Also I'm sorry for your miscarriage you must laugh one day and all this will be a story.

[Lizzielizzielizzie]

Have you had recurrent miscarriage testing on the nhs? Maybe the Tommy’s website would be helpful for you to find out all the tests you could have done and I think you should be able to have them done on the nhs before shelling out more on ivf. Tommy’s do have a recurrent miscarriage clinic themselves I think which is in the West Midlands.

[Lindababy]

Hi Dear,

I love your attitude and I’m 100 % sure that you will become a mommmy soon, I want to share my story and hopefully it helps in some way to seek for the best help and take the right decision, I’m from L.A and all the procedures here are out of pocket, When I began my journey I had what is called 3 chemical pregnancies, finding out there was no baby by week 8, only enough hcg levels to read that I was pregnant, after the regular test; thyrodes, hormonal levels, egg count, hysteroscopy, etc, the dr suggested for my husband to have a sperm test and we found out he had extremely low sperm count and terrible morphology, so we went out to seek the best IVF Dr here in L.A. Webt we sat down with the Dr he review our case and said; You guys dont have to worry about anything this is a simple case you will have your baby asap, after our first round I ended up with 4 beautiful blastocyst and 6 4 days embryos, he said they were great quality so no need for PGD or PGS testing, for us that was music to our ears, so first transfer; 2 blastocyst embryos; chemical pregnancy, second transfers 2 blastocyst embryos BFN, at this point the Dr suggested, full blood panel from me and my husband, genetic studies, killer cells, you name it we did it, all results came back negative, then he suggested uterine scratch we did it, hysteroscopy we did it , chiropractors, alcopuncture, i means I was going crazy all this things and no answers, we did another transfer with him this time 3 embryos and we gat a ugly result of a BFN, my self esteem was below the floor I had lost hope and I was so exhausted, we went back to talk to him about the next plan and he suggested to get a surrogate and I ask him why? There is nothing wrong with me, he had no answer for that, we were devastated and we have gone through a lot of money at this point,so I went to see another super Famous Dr, and he gave me a basic answer, no different protocol just a highly cost of 40,000dlls, to do a cycle with them, at this point I was so depressed and my family that leaves in Cancun Mexico had call me and told me about this clinic that assures you to give you a baby or you will get your money back, I was like that’s not possible, so I had to see it with my own eyes, we went to Mexico, to my surprise the clinic was amazing even better that the ones here in L.A, I mean they had the equipment the labs everything there, the attention to detail was incredible, my Dr treat me like a real patient even to this date, he personally answers all my text all my phone calls all my questions! I was in cloud nine, we went for the full package, that included 4 rounds of IVF and PGS testing, that’s a lot of rounds and lots of chances to get pregnant and since this is a numbers game we just want a baby we couldn’t care less for our money back, ( same price as doing 1 round here) so before starting the Dr put my husband in hormone medication and both of us in a healthy diet, we are both in shape but changing some eating habits never hurt anyone, we did this for 3 months before the retrieval in result we had 6 beautiful blastocyst and those were sent to PGS testing and they all came back normal, 3 boys 3 girls, we did our first tranfer in September and today I’m 9 weeks pregnant, I know there was much more positivity this time around; the sweet warm Caribbean water, being close to my family, the different medicine protocol, no more progesterone shots in my back made it so easy and of course testing our embryos knowing that they were all fit for life was a huge relief, there is more details to my story and I will love to answer any of your questions, just know that you are not alone this is a extremely painful path, I’m finally starting to believe that I’m pregnant and I can enjoy this baby, I have a long way to go but I’m happy to share my experience with you, just remember that you are so strong for walking this path and go for the best you deserve it!!

[Dunla]

Kirsty I’m so sorry to hear you’ve had such a painful journey up to this point.

I’ve had a couple of endometrial scratches. Simple procedure and not all that expensive when compared to the thousands already spent on the IVF itself. I couldn’t see the harm in it.

I think I had a thyroid test done through the NHS at the earlier stages of our fertility investigations. I’m sure it would be worthwhile for you to have it done to help find some explanation for your miscarriages.

Very best wishes going forward xx