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Immune testing and protocols when doing IVF

Skittles11 profile image
9 Replies

Hi

I'm interested to learn more about how immune protocols work alongside IVF treatment. It's probably me overthinking it but I don't get it! I'm interested in knowing:

- Did people get immune testing done at their IVF clinic or at a separate clinic (if your clinic didn't offer it perhaps)?

- If separate clinics were used and treatment was needed how did it work following IVF protocol alongside immune clinic protocol?

- How do you know which immune tests to get? My clinic offer natural killer cell blood test, I don't know if this alone is sufficient as some places seem to offer many more.

Thanks all as ever for sharing your knowledge and wisdom, I learn so much on this forum!

Xx

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Skittles11
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IVFat40 profile image
IVFat40

Hello hun, my clinic don't do any kind of immune testing, so I referred myself to the research project funded by Tommy's at Coventry hospital/Warwick University (Dr Brosens), where they do uterine biopsies to test for natural killer cells - mine were high so they recommended (in writing) steroids and also the scratch. I took their report/recommendations to my clinic who then prescribed the steroids (and I had ERA which also acts as a scratch).

For me my first transfer (FET) with the steroids resulted in my son (I'd had 7 embryos fail prior to that), so I'm a really big fan of immune testing and the study run by Dr Brosens.

Star3129 profile image
Star3129 in reply toIVFat40

Your message has given me so much hope, I have had few failed transfers and after you mentioned yours 7 failed and then you had your son is kind of hope I want.

You made my day,truly thankful for your reply🙏

Could you please tell me what was the protocol you were on and your meds please if you don't mind

IVFat40 profile image
IVFat40 in reply toStar3129

I'm so pleased this has helped to give you hope hun, I would definitely recommend Dr Brosens and his team, especially if you're struggling with implantation failure and/or early losses.

Dr Brosens recommended prednisolone (steroids) which I started the day before transfer and took till 12 weeks.

I did a natural modified FET, so I used an Ovitrelle trigger (to make it easier to time the transfer just right) and cyclogest pessaries (Progesterone).

Good luck hun, this can be such a tough journey.

Star3129 profile image
Star3129 in reply toIVFat40

Thanks for the luck,need the most. Xx

How with the trigger transfer could be timed ,if I may ask?

IVFat40 profile image
IVFat40 in reply toStar3129

I also did the ERA test (which came out receptive), so I replicated the same amount of time between trigger and transfer from my ERA cycle for my FET cycle

Skittles11 profile image
Skittles11 in reply toIVFat40

Thank you for your reply to my post and many congrats on your son after what sounds like a turbulent time. I have sent you a private message xx

Skittles11 profile image
Skittles11 in reply toIVFat40

Hi, I know this was from a while ago but I remembered you'd mentioned it and I am currently in a bit of a pickle. Did you have your NK biopsy done at the same time at the ERA or were they done in different cycles?

I have been told two different things and now totally confused!

Thanks x

IVFat40 profile image
IVFat40 in reply toSkittles11

I had mine done separately, unfortunately my clinic didn't offer the uterine nk cells testing so I had to go elsewhere for that, to the Tommy's clinic (they do two biopsies, in consecutive cycles), and then I has ERA done at my clinic (the ERA was done the cycle before transfer so it also acted as a scratch). It was all a bit of a faff with the three biopsies but worth it in the end.

Millbanks profile image
Millbanks

Hi Skittles,

I had the full immune profile done at the clinic I was with. It’s called the Chicago bloods. It tests everything not just natural killer cells but they are the most likely culprit which I assume is why some clinics only offer that one.

I had my first intralipid drip done at a different clinic due to covid but after that it was done at mine. The steroids were prescribed by my clinic.

I was offered a uterine biopsy for NCK but after my ERA I opted for the bloods instead.

Xxx

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