Sorry I don't have an answer for you. This is something we're just starting to explore for me but we're not doing any official testing yet. I did get a Kenalog shot and I'm on Dexamethason this month with my Clomid. If we have another failure then we'll look into testing since he thinks there's something more going on.
I also have hives constantly. I was on an OTC antihistamine for 2 years just to manage the hives and got fed up. So we went for the Kenalog and it's been a life saver so far! No more hives!
I don't think it would be inappropriate to start talking to your doc about possibilities. Good luck!!
Hormone specialist: CD 21 b/w (May 2012): Normal -- Thyroid: slightly low
RE: CD 2 b/w (Oct 2012): Normal -- HSG (Oct 2012) - normal (for the most part), Retroverted/Retroflexed Uterus. Otherwise normal shape and no tubal blockages.
**Unexplained Infertility**
Second opinion (12/16/13): DH: Excellent SA Me: Slightly elevated AMH, slightly low FSH, low thyroid, extremely low DHEA, Jan 2, 2014: Clomid cycle (100mg), 2 great follies at 28mm and 31mm (no cysts so far), great lining and fantastic timing = BFN Jan 30, 2014: Clomid cycle (100mg) + .5mg Dexamethason + 81mg Aspirin = BFN
2015 Testosterone level was 20. Estradiol & Progesterone also low. Hormone pellets for 1 year + Progesterone. Numbers looked great while on pellets. After pellets, Testosterone down to 5! Taking a break from all the bloodwork & hormones.
2016 Looking at possible Th1 & Th2 elevations. Requesting laparoscopy. Currently taking Pregnitude, "Female Balance" herbs, DHEA.
It doesn't hurt to ask. My doc never brought up autoimmune testing. I brought it up in our WTF appointment after IVF #2 failed, but he wasn't into it. Then we consulted with four other REs in the area. One of the four wanted to do the testing. It seems to be something that is not done by all clinics.
I just had mine done after we'd been trying for 2 years, seeing an RE for 9 months, and had exhausted literally every other explanation for why I'm not getting pregnant. I had to ask though. I asked for autoimmune and she ended up ordering autoimmune, clotting, and thyroid tests. They drew 6 tubes of blood to do all of these. I asked about NK cell and she said she doesn't order it because it really doesn't give any useful information. I asked DH about it (since he tests his patients for autoimmune disorders all the time) and he said no one ever orders it because it's really non-specific and not particularly useful.
The other test I originally asked for and which didn't get relayed to her was androgens, even though I show no signs of PCOS. She just ordered that on Friday and I'll get the results in a week.
Here's what I had done (all of which were normal):
Thyroid peroxidase antibody
TSH
Antinuclear antibody screen
Anti-cardiolipin antibody
Beta-2 glycoprotein antibodies
Lupus anticoagulant
Thyroglobulin antibody
PT and PTT
Antiphospholipid antibody
Baby girl N born 10/29/14!
**Follow your heart, but take your brain with you**
Re: Immuno Testing
I also have hives constantly. I was on an OTC antihistamine for 2 years just to manage the hives and got fed up. So we went for the Kenalog and it's been a life saver so far! No more hives!
I don't think it would be inappropriate to start talking to your doc about possibilities. Good luck!!
TTC #1 since Aug. 2010
OB/GYN: DH SA (Sept. 2011): Normal -- Round 1 (11/27/11): 50mg Clomid = BFN -- Round 2 (12/27/11): 50mg Clomid = BFN
Hormone specialist: CD 21 b/w (May 2012): Normal -- Thyroid: slightly low
RE: CD 2 b/w (Oct 2012): Normal -- HSG (Oct 2012) - normal (for the most part), Retroverted/Retroflexed Uterus. Otherwise normal shape and no tubal blockages.
**Unexplained Infertility**
Second opinion (12/16/13):
DH: Excellent SA
Me: Slightly elevated AMH, slightly low FSH, low thyroid, extremely low DHEA,
Jan 2, 2014: Clomid cycle (100mg), 2 great follies at 28mm and 31mm (no cysts so far), great lining and fantastic timing = BFN
Jan 30, 2014: Clomid cycle (100mg) + .5mg Dexamethason + 81mg Aspirin = BFN
2015
Testosterone level was 20. Estradiol & Progesterone also low. Hormone pellets for 1 year + Progesterone. Numbers looked great while on pellets. After pellets, Testosterone down to 5! Taking a break from all the bloodwork & hormones.
2016
Looking at possible Th1 & Th2 elevations. Requesting laparoscopy.
Currently taking Pregnitude, "Female Balance" herbs, DHEA.
**Follow your heart, but take your brain with you**