Anyone do IVF after multiple m/cs?

mcp

I'm not quite sure where to post this.  I'm starting to feel like none of the boards really fit my situation.  I just had my 3rd m/c.  I got pg quickly the first 2 times, but it took over a year for the third.  I've had rpl testing and everything has come back normal.  There are a few more tests that my dr will run, but I think I will most likely fall into the "unexplained" category.  I'm on Clomid to help with a weak ovulation, and just started baby asprin just in case.  My dr has suggested continuing to try on our own and see what happens next time, because he is still hopeful that we've had bad luck and there's no serious problem.  But he also said if we have another loss then we should consider IVF with PGD.  Has anyone else done IVF after multiple m/cs?  It's so hard for me to consider this - the cost, the time commitment, and the fact that even if it worked I'd be terrified of m/cing again.  I'm very interested in hearing other people's experiences.  Thanks:)   

PsychedForBaby

I've only gotten pg on medicated cycles. 

1st with Clomid and TI, then again with Injectables and IUI.  Both of those ended in early losses.  We didn't do a full RPL panel, but we had a lot of testing done and everything came back normal.  These losses were in 12/06 and 12/07, so it took a long time in between for us as well.   

We moved forward to IVF w/ICSI and today I am 19wks.  We did not do PGD as my doctor didn't think that was necessary.  We were pretty much in the unexplained category, with slight male factor issues.

Making the decision to move forward with IVF was very difficult.  We had the same fears that you do.  

Best of luck to you in deciding what to do.
Melissa   

AuburnBride06

I'm glad you posted this because I am absolutely terrified that that is where we are heading. I also have had 3 m/c's, the second was twins and since we lost them 4 days apart, it seems like 4 losses. The only thing we have found is that I have hetero MTHFR (c677t) and hetero Factor V Leiden (which we knew before ttc).  I take a baby aspirin everyday, lovenox when pregnant and an extra 4mg folic acid (Rx).  I have had an HSG and SHG and there doesn't seem to be anything wrong structurally.  I have to have another SHG before we start treatments again.

I'm sorry for your losses. It is especially hard when you try so long to get pg. We have been with our RE since May '07. Details of our treatments/history are in my siggy.   I'm guessing you are with an RE?  It is so frustrating not to have a definitive answer. Even with my two thrombophillias, we still don't have a definite answer. I feel that if they were the cause, the lovenox/aspirin/folic acid would have helped. Have you ever had any tissue to test? We haven't, because I m/c naturally all 3 times, but I did have to have a D&C 3 weeks after my first loss due to retained tissue.  It is so incredibly scary. I worry and think about it everyday.

Lots of {{HUGS}} to you. Good luck! 

One of the things I have been wondering about is if all the karyotyping came back fine (which it did for us) then would IVF w/ PGD be a realistic solution?  I know little about PGD, so what else would it be looking for that karyotyping wouldn't rule out?

AuburnBride06

I guess to better word my question:  When the parents karyotyping is ok, what can happen with the embryo to cause a problem that PGD could rule out? 

mcp

Thank you for all the feedback!

AuburnBride - What my dr said is that there is a theory that some women's bodies are not selective when ovulating, so they release "bad" eggs more often than not.  All women have eggs that are less healthy than others, but typically the "good" eggs are released first.  He said that PGD would allow the healthiest eggs to be selected and implanted, rather than leaving it to my body to select the eggs.  I don't know if I'm explaining this accurately but that is what I understood of it.  

somethingchangd

In 2006 and early 2007 I got pregnant 4 times.  Once with twins that I lost at 9w and 3 chemical pregnancies.  At some point after that last pregnancy we believe that DH entered andropause and his count just plummetted to "it'd be a miracle" ranges.  So after 4 naturally occurring pregnancies we had no option but to do IVF for our sticky.

One doctor reccommended PGD although all the other REs I saw felt that my m/cs were due to my hormone issues (including weak ovulation), MTHFR and possible PCOS rather than problems with the embryos.  Our first IVF was unsuccessful.  IVF #2, w/o PGD appears to be our sticky baby.  I was on progesterone (both suppositories and PIO) until the end of the first trimester and am still on Metformin, baby aspirin and mega doses of folic acid to help prevent another m/c.  Seems to be working so far.

I know it's hard to adjust your thinking to IVF after acheiving pregnancy on it's own, but sometimes it really is the best course of action.  Listen to your docs (and if you don't trust them, find a new one) and figure out what works for you.  Good luck!!!

?N Luv?

We've gotten pregnanat twice on our own, one was at 5wks, the other at 13wks (chromosome prob).  We did ivf after 4 failed medication iui's and those 2 pregnancies and got a bfp on the ivf.  i am now 20wks and everything is normal so far, including nt scan.  we had the repet. loss workup too and nothing was wrong.

N Luv