How to find a Reproductive Immunologist?

ellenchris0506

Ok, so I am thinking I want to have some RI testing done.  My RE has told me that she doesn't really believe in RI testing, but I want to have it done anyway.

The problem is...how do I find one in my area?  When I google it, nothing really comes up.  Should I be looking under a different type of doctor/immunologist?  

If you had RI testing done, how did you find your immunologist.

TIA!!

jlcrane78

I don't know if this will help you, but my acupunturist recommended a Naturopathic doctor. I went to her and she was able to do immunological testing. AND she ran a whole bunch of thyroid and hormone panels too.

theworms

It's not a common practice.

This is my RI, he's based in NY but cycles with ladies OOS all the time.

www.preventmiscarriage.com

and i cannot say enough good things about him.

let me know if you have any ?'s

KarlsSweetie05

*** TICKER WARNING ***  

I lurk over here and rarely post.  However, I am sadly an IF Veteran and went through HE** and back in my journey.  I had several immune issues that prevented me from getting pg / staying pg. I can share some information.

There are not that many RI in the country.

I traveled to Chicago to see Dr. Kwak-Kim and highly recommend her.

https://www.rosalindfranklin.edu/DNN/RMC/tabid/2651/Default.aspx

I have heard of another RI in the Chicago area too, but don't remember name.

There is the Beers clinic in CA.  Dr. Beers was the leading dr. in this area before he passed away.  If you have not already purchased his book "Is Your Body Baby Friendly?", I would recommend getting it from Amazon or Barnes & Noble online.

https://repro-med.net/repro-med-site2/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=15:dr-beer&catid=11:about-the-program&Itemid=17

Another RE in CA who believes in immune issues is Dr. Cristos Zouves.  He offers free phone consults and will send you lab orders to have as much testing done locally as possible.  Some bloodwork has to be shipped to Chicago to Dr. Kwak's clinic for testing.

 https://www.goivf.com/home.php4

 

KarlsSweetie05

https://blogs.fertilitycommunity.com/weblogs/fertility-doctors-reproductive-immunolog

there was a yahoo group awhile back about reproductive immunology. don't know if it is still active or not, but came across the link above which has the yahoo link within the article.

ThereBeDragons

As others have mentioned- it's a surprisingly rare specialty. Houston has one of the largest medical centers in the US and literally dozens of clinic options for infertility treatments but once I hit the wall where RI was the only testing we hadn't done- my doc had to refer me out of state to the Beers practice in California.

I think we're opting out of long distance phone consults and sticking with the last ditch efforts our RE can offer (which sadly isn't much).

KarlsSweetie05

Another thought to get the process started locally....

have you had your RE or just even your regular OB-GYN or Family Practice doctor order you an RPL bloodwork test?

RPL - Recurrent pregnancy loss

This series of tests will be ordered by any RI in their standard workup, but you can have the test done quickly and easily at home.  These are "surface" tests that may show some "standard" clotting disorders like MTHFR.

LadyKatHope

Hello,

I'm from Houston. Who is your RE in Houston? I'm looking for one who is willing to work with an RI.

hmz819

If you see Dr. KK in Chicago you go there for the first visit and then she will manage everything. She'll call in prescriptions etc. You really don't need a doc to work with you locally if you are ok doing the treatments behind your re's back. (This is what I'm doing kinda)

luvboston

The beer center is where I go and they deal with ppl from all over the world and after 6 miscarriages and seeing dr Braverman who allowed me to have one of those I got my miracle with the beer center.

megs3084

I see kwak Kim as well. I happen to live in the Chicago area, so the choice was easy. The other one in Chicago is coulam but I thought someone didn't have good things to say. Kk sees you for the first appt, then can do things remotely. She also doesn't have to work w an re. She asks for a copy of your protocol/calendar and syncs her treatment up with that. I'd be happy to answer any questions. My re didn't believe in ri either and I went on my own.