Advice - NK cells

[Kat_15]

Hi fellow warriors,

I hope you’re all okay. I haven’t logged in for a number of months as I needed a break from all things IVF after our two failed cycles last year. I hope there have been lots more BFPs and happy news for you all.

We are currently planning our next cycle and potentially my last cycle with my own eggs. My poor hubby is having an extraction op for this cycle (he has fairly high DNA fragmentation) and I’m going to take growth hormone/testosterone and steroids for my eggs.

We recently had a series of blood tests to discount other issues such as genetic problems and high NK cells. It turns out I have 24% NK cells and it should be below 20%. They have recommended I have an intralipid drip on my day of egg collection then every four weeks (for 12 weeks) if I was lucky enough to get pregnant. This would reduce my NK cells to 13%. Picture of results taken during a video call so sorry it’s not that easy to read! My result is the first one.

Has anyone else had a similar result and treatment for it? I understand it will suppress my immune system so I will need to self isolate/be cautious during treatment. I have had my first dose of my covid jab (I work in the NHS) so I’m worried it will reduce my immunity to COVID too. 🤔

Any advice would be really appreciated. Just conscious it’s an evolving area of research and treatment still. xxx

[Millbanks]

Hi lovely, hope you’re feeling better and rearing to go after your break. I think it helps a lot!Still no BFP for me but I have also had immunology tests done and will have intralipids and steroids for our next transfer. So I’m with you! I asked a similar question last week and it seems, like you say, a still developing area of research and some believe it helps, some not!

No advice from me just wanted to wish you both luck and keep us updated xxx

[Kat_15 in reply to Millbanks]

Hi hon, lovely to hear from you too but sorry to hear you’re still on your journey too. Sending big hugs. 🤗

Sorry I hear you have been diagnosed with the same thing. Do you mind me asking what your result was? Completely understand if you would prefer not to say.

Wishing you lots of luck for your next cycle. Do you know when you’re going to be starting? xxx

[Millbanks in reply to Kat_15]

Thanks lovely, it sucks but there we go! I’m actually not sure what the levels were, the full report isn’t back yet, I just had a quick chat with my consultant who said the levels were high and she recommended steroids and intralipids… I’m actually quite pleased to be honest because I needed to know there was something that was possibly stopping this from working…. I had an ERA too which showed my window of implantation was out by 24 hours. We’re waiting on PGS results then hopefully we’ll be ready to transfer maybe in June🤞🏼🍀🤞🏼🍀Do you have a plan going forwards? A fresh cycle after your hubby’s op? Xxx

[Kat_15 in reply to Millbanks]

Hi lovely, that’s great that they have got to the bottom of a couple of things to help with your next cycle. What does the ERA test involve? I haven’t had that one yet.

Yes we are hoping to do our next cycle in July/August time. If that doesn’t work then I think we will be moving on to an egg donor. We have joined the waiting list now which has filled me with all the emotions but it feels like the right next step and I feel lucky it’s an option for us.

Wishing you lots of luck for next cycle. Xxx

[Millbanks in reply to Kat_15]

So the ERA tests the endometrium on day 5 of your progesterone (it's a mock FET) and they can tell from the biopsy how receptive you are at that time. Some women need a little longer on progesterone and some less - to be at optimum transfer time. So I had my biopsy on day 5 and it showed that I wasn't yet receptive until day 6 (specifically 137 hours +/- 3 after starting progesterone)

Aw I bet it is a difficult decision and emotionally a lot to take in - I'm of the camp that if my own eggs weren't a possibility I would definitely opt for donor eggs. I know a couple of people who have had babies through donors and the love and happiness is the same. Once you've grown that little one inside you for 9 months there's no denying they are yours.

I've also seen a lot of people on here recently have success after treatment for NK / immune issues - they seem to be more commonly treated now so fingers crossed for your next cycle xxx

[Hidden]

Hey Kat. Good to see you back ! Im a step behind you and waiting for a blood test for nk cells. Did you do a blood or biopsy? Xx

[Kat_15 in reply to Hidden]

Hi lovely, good to hear from you too but sorry to hear you’re still on your journey too. Keeping my fingers crossed that your test results will be okay. 🤞🏻I had a blood test. Xx

[Ivfgotadream]

Intralipids (if it’s the egg based one) are still relatively untested and no scientific evidence at the moment that they work on NK cells so I’d query how they can be so specific about bringing the level down to 13%?Have they discussed prednisolone instead which is a much more common way of treating NK?

[N-A-58 in reply to Ivfgotadream]

They add intralipds to the blood and test for nk cells with it in.

[Kat_15 in reply to N-A-58]

Thank you, yes that’s my understanding too. 👍

[Kat_15 in reply to Ivfgotadream]

Hello, yes the consultant explained my blood was tested with various treatment options and the intralipid option got the best response for me.

[Catlady12345]

Hey, I just wondered if you can get these bloods done on the Nhs or if they are private? Xx

[Kat_15 in reply to Catlady12345]

Hello, I think it’s only available privately. We had ours done privately. Xx

[Ivfgotadream in reply to Catlady12345]

Yes private only unless you are super super lucky. Even my NHS recurrent miscarriage clinic although they made the referral it was still chargeable and cost £350-500 - there are different rules though - one is a blood test and the other is a biopsy

[Simba786 in reply to Ivfgotadream]

Can you self refer to the nhs miscarriage clinic?

[Ivfgotadream in reply to Simba786]

No it has to be via a GP x

[Hope_4_2017x]

If you follow mrstorcook on insta she had a bad case of nk cells, but now has twins from ivf. Shes always talking about it all and giving advice x

[Kat_15 in reply to Hope_4_2017x]

Oh fab, thank you. I have followed her. 👍xx

[Simba786]

What’s the turnaround time for the results? And price to if you lovelies don’t mind sharing. My clinics saying around £2k?