testing after miscarriage

[Bee_86]

hey ladies,

I need some advice. Perhaps if you have experience in this testing, or your opinions on it.

I had a miscarriage a month ago. We have one frozen embryo. Before transferring our little frostie I’ve been wondering about enquiring about further testing on me to make sure my body is the safest place for my baby to grow.

I’m thinking vaginal microbiome, nk cell, autoimmune, blood clotting disorders.

I’ve had a free consultation and kind of got a good idea of the costs. Absolutely shocking.

Is it worth spending the money to have it done?! Would love to hear some experiences/opinions. Thank you 🤍

[PRAYINGFORTHISTOWORK]

Hi, I am so sorry to hear about your loss... with regards to the tests you mentioned, absolutely worth it, my daughter suffered 4 losses and decided on the tests you mentioned, and it picked up a few issues and with antibiotics and then a different protocol for NK Cells and blood dis clotting disorder she is now pregnant. Without these further tests she would have kept losing her babies. You can get the tests on NHS( not the microbiome- you can send off for this one and do it at home and send back) but you have to have 3 losses first. She paid to have them done privately for quickness. Her clinic didn't feel it was necessary to have these test but she wanted to rule anything out and with the correct protocol, her first transfer was successful x

[Koala365]

I had all of these tests done but only after I had had one miscarriage from a natural pregnancy and 4 IVF stimulation cycles with 6 embryos transferred and nothing having taken. I really wish I had had this done right at the outset before I started doing IVF but my fertility consultant claimed it wasn't necessary. His answer was always that it would be old eggs with me as I was in my 40s. It was only when I said, "well, what tests would you be offering a 25 year old in the same position as me?" that he mentioned the thrombotic risk profile test and the Emma/Alice test to which I said, "fine I'll have them then". I spent around £1,700 on these tests and the Emma/Alice test came back clear and the thrombotic risk profile test showed that I have the MTFHR gene mutation meaning I should have steroids and low dose heparin injections to help embryos implant. Even then the consultant claimed that this was not my issue! I therefore changed clinics and my new clinic suggested I have the NK Cells test which surprise surprise came back with very high levels of NK Cells and cytokines. Apart from one abortive cycle because the protocol they suggested didn't work, I was only able to have one more cycle for the sake of my mental health, my marriage and because I was 46 and a half now by that stage and painfully aware that both egg quality and numbers were declining and the one embryo we got didn't take even despite all the extra meds and intralipid infusions. I really wish I had had these tests before I started any IVF and I feel very strongly that these should be offered to people before they do their first cycle but with no obligation to do them. I can't help thinking that if I knew about such tests back then, I might actually have had my rainbow baby instead of ending up childless not by choice as I have. If it were me, I would absolutely spend the money on the tests. You don't want to be looking back wishing that you had! Wishing you all the very best for everything and sorry for your loss Xx

[MrsOrangejuice]

I think it depends. Was this the first/only transfer you've had, and have you had any prior losses? Do you have any frosties? How long have you been ttc? That's not meant to be insenstive, it's just I had two around 5 and 6 weeks on fresh transfers and panicked something was fundamentally wrong. I made my consultant go through every test, investigation, cause, option... with me as I didn't want to do another transfer if I was 'wasting' good embryos because there was something wrong with the environment or my hormones, or equally if the embryos were not good enough to ever last. He was very patient and helpful and explained why it was unlikely to be an embryo quality issue and why anyway it probably wasn't worth testing the frosties. Plus I'd had bloods done for 'sticky blood', had two laparoscopies in the past and a hysteroscopy when I was about 18, which he said would have shown major structural issues. He said it's very often just numbers and unexplained has the same odds as natural pregnancies. He also said it was promising that I'd had two implant as it meant loads of issues were ruled out. We changed progesterone form and added more, plus aspirin, but he didn't really think these would made a difference and it was just a case of keep going. The next one was successful. So I'm glad I didn't delay further or spend more doing tests, but that was after a thorough consultation and very specific to our situation. I'd equally be kicking myself if I'd done another 5 unsuccesful transfers and then had investigations to find something that could have been treated earlier. It's a very hard decision. Is you consultant helping or can you push them a bit, or even get a second opinion? - that may cost but often not too much in the scheme.of IVF.

[Glaedy]

Hi Bee_86 I'm sorry for your loss, I hope the next transfer will work 🤞🙏 I'm after quite a few natural miscarriages and my clinic has done all the tests you mentioned before starting treatment (the cost of them was just painful 🥲) indeed we found some answers because before we thought it was just hormonal imbalance + male factor, and they found I have ANA (anti-nuclear antibodies) which basically means my body is treating embryos as a threat and it's rejecting them - and I was put on immune suppressants during my treatment + post transfer, and my friend had an issue with blood coagulation disorder and her clinic managed that too. Before we started the IVF journey we had recurrent miscarriages + unexplained infertility and this was an indicator to do the tests. But even so, I always think testing is a good choice because it will either show you if there is something there that could prevent a successful pregnancy or not.

Good luck!

[SMBCnewbie]

I'm so sorry for your loss. It's so devastating. I hope you have the support you need. X

I'm in a very similar position. I had 3 embryos. 1 failed to implant on a fresh transfer. The 2nd took and I had a missed miscarriage in November at 12 weeks, baby stopped growing at 9 weeks. I have 1 frozen embryo left.

I asked my clinic about some testing and they have 2 miscarriage pathways; I probably don't need it but I'd have more comprehensive testing following the package than just doing odd tests separately for similar cost. It does delay things a lot, I had to wait 6 weeks from completion of miscarriage (which took 5 weeks because of retained tissue) and I'm now waiting for my period day 1 to book for tests for day 10 onwards. Then I think it's an 8 week wait for results and consultation. It might not come up with anything, it might not test the specific thing that could be wrong (they have an extended pathway after 3 losses). But even if the next embryo doesn't work, I wanted to just feel I gave it the best chance.

I am considering microbiome testing, I did have lots of antibiotics during the miscarriage so i immediately started having high strength kefir and now on Bio.Me femme V supplement - its pricey and testing might help, its just you then have to re-test after your advised treatment plan - adding more cost.

I might be overthinking things and I'm extremely lucky to have family support financially for these decisions. It all costs so much and is very stressful so do what you feel you can manage. Wishing you lots of baby dust and healing. X

[Heyaaaa]

Hi am in the same boat , could you suggest where can I get these tests in uk at a reasonable prices , I have 3 miscarriages so far , thanks and all the best for your upcoming transfers xx

[Leesalou]

I had a miscarriage last March and had one frostie left and had the test to find out I was postive for ANA antibodies as well as being PAI-1 positive and heterozygous for factor V Leiden. These issues puts me at an increased risk of a blood clots and could of been reason for mc so last frostie I was put on steroids and claxene injections, unfortunately it was unsuccessful,