RPL testing

AtoB

Hi ladies,

I am just beginning to research RPL tests.  I am miscarrying for the second time in 3 months, both losses due to blighted ovum.  I have a follow up appointment with my OB in a few weeks and he said he will be open to discussing a few testing options.  He said we can do any tests we want, he doesn't necessarily recommend anything.  I really would hate to just try again without eliminating at least some possible causes.  I don't want to go through this again if we can help it, you know? 

Any thoughts?  If we have to choose one or two tests, what would be best? 

Thanks in advance.

Etta07

I don't have any test suggestions but just wanted to share that my Drs have told me they wont test until after a 3rd loss I am going through my 2nd right now. They've said the reason they are waiting for a 3rd is one because of how young I am (don't know your age but it's a reason) and two because tests are so sensitive now that people find out they are pregnant much sooner and therefore more MCs are documented and three about 1/3 of all pregnancies end in MC so they want to wait.  I hate these answers and wish there was more to do but it's just how it is for me.  GL on the testing and I am glad you have a Dr who is willing to help give you some answers right now.

carebear08

I'm sorry for your losses. My OB started my RPL after my second loss. Your doctor really does know best, so they should recommend the tests, but in lieu of that, I'd recommend karyotyping your and your husband's chromosomes and testing for MTHFR and  other clotting disorders (including lupus). Good luck.

AtoB

Etta07:

I don't have any test suggestions but just wanted to share that my Drs have told me they wont test until after a 3rd loss I am going through my 2nd right now. They've said the reason they are waiting for a 3rd is one because of how young I am (don't know your age but it's a reason) and two because tests are so sensitive now that people find out they are pregnant much sooner and therefore more MCs are documented and three about 1/3 of all pregnancies end in MC so they want to wait.  I hate these answers and wish there was more to do but it's just how it is for me.  GL on the testing and I am glad you have a Dr who is willing to help give you some answers right now.

DH and I are both young.  I'll be 25 in May, he is 24.  I wouldn't be even considering testing except for the fact that both losses have been blighted ovum and that seems to be pretty uncommon.  

Swede25

My RE had me do RPL testing when we met with her again about a month ago.  We had one chemical pregnancy and one missed miscarriage.  Along with that, we also did infertility testing just to rule anything else out.  I don't know if it was because of my age (I'll be 32 this year) or because REs are a little more aggressive in getting to the root of the problem, but it wasn't just one or two tests that were run.  It was almost 10 (between infertility and RPL). 

Lissa832

I had testing after my fourth m/c.  My OB didn't run as many tests as I felt he should because I was only 26 at the time, and I had a healthy pregnancy.  I disagreed with him, so I got a referral to see an RE.  The OB felt that I was just running into a lot of bad luck.  Now that I've been through the testing, he was probably right, but it was worth it to try.

Many doctors will not run any testing until after three losses due to ideology on the subject as well as for insurance purposes.  Age will play a major role in whether or not doctors run tests earlier.

IMO, you cannot just choose one or two test for RPL.  You need to go through the whole list in order to get a clear diagnosis if there is one to give.  If you are wanting to choose just one, I would definitely ask for karyotyping.  That will check your chromosomes for translocation.  B.O. are typically a result of a chromosomal abnormality.  If you want the full scale, however, you need to be tested for everything.

Irishsapphire

I cannot really recommend one test over another.  I will say that the women on Pregnancy After A Loss--it seemed that each woman was different that had recurrent pregnancy losses--some of us were put on baby aspirin or other medications--I even asked to be put on progesterone supplements-- I just wanted to do something different.  And they are having me take fish oil (Yuck!). 

kew243

I currently have the dr script of all of the things that they test for, for RPL.  If you are really interested send me a PM.  The things that I can remember off hand are: different clotting disorders, lupus, STDs/HIV, MTHFR. 

I brought up testing and my dr presented it two ways.  The diagnosis for "recurrent spontaneous abortions" (I HATE this term) is three consecutive miscarriages.  This would warrant RPL testing.  My dr said that I have not technically met this because my ectopic is a separate event?!?!  I would need to keep trying - basically could be bad luck.  Anyway, she also said that being a young, healthy individual, it seems  something could be going wrong. 

It costs several thousands dollars if your insurance decides either it is not appropriate at this time or they simply don't cover it.  It also takes close to a month to get back some of the results.

We feel like things are not working this way, so we want to try something else.  Plus I am on hold for two months, so why not do something productive during that time.  Our insurance is going to cover it, so we are very thankful!  My dr recommended that I wait until my first AF after the loss to make sure things are back to normal.  Other people do it right away.  My dr kind of said, if we are going to spend all of this money, why not make sure it is accurate. 

Sorry for the book.  Hope this was helpful and as I said you can send me a PM if you want.  I may not be back on for a couple of days, so I will get to it asap.

Good luck.

mmbaker85

I have had 2 miscarriages in 4 months. My doctor did a chromosome testing on the baby(which is to late for you since you already miscarried) But if he will do testing I would ask for the antibodies tests and maybe thyroid testing. My doctor did all these but everything came back normal. So he thinks we are having bad luck. We will be seeing a specialist if it happens again.