Does everyone already know about this?

lauren9317 · December 2010

Just wanted to share my thoughts about this, I hope that's ok

As someone who's been ttc for almost a year and a half with no luck, I had obviously considered myself knowledgeable regarding the next steps I'd need to take to hopefully get pregnant-- seeing an RE, blood tests, an SA for DH, HSG, SIS, then moving on to clomid, IUI, etc. And being a thrifty person, I was not at all looking forward to spending tons of money on any of that.

But recently I've been reading about the fact that many cases of "unexplained infertility" are very possibly caused by bacterial infections which can be easily and cheaply treated by antibiotics. These infections may cause sperm to stick together, or may be causing an inhospitable environment for the sperm in general. Many people carry these infections without knowing it. You can read about this in many publications, including this link I just found. This means that once it's taken a couple a while to conceive, after undergoing some of the standard tests, they may want to first treat any possible undetected infections they could both be carrying before having costly HSGs and SISs. I have read so many case studies about couples trying for many years, spending tens of thousands on procedures, and then finally taking a simple antibiotic which cleared up a somewhat simple infection, and then conceiving without help.

I know I may be coming across as idiotic because maybe a lot of you will think "duh, I already knew about this." But to be honest, I really wasn't clued into this "infection thing" until recently, upon reading the book "Making Babies". And when I brought it up to my RE, he acknowledged that yes, it's possible, and he went ahead and wrote me a prescription. But he never brought the idea up for me, and he never would have. I don't believe that many REs do. As of now, MH and I have "unexplained IF" and I'm looking forward to trying out the antibiotics first, just in case they clear us both up and help us conceive.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to say that treating a possible infection will magically make a couple conceive. Obviously IUI or IVF may sometimes be the only answer. But I just wish more doctors would discuss this infection scenario with us before steering us straight toward more invasive options.

missjul61 · December 2010

Thanks for sharing! I was not aware of this either. DH and I are also a case of Unexplained IF.

angela2004 · December 2010

I had never heard of it. Thanks for sharing.

lauren9317 · December 2010

You're welcome, I'm glad it was helpful

RovinChick · December 2010

We had been trying for 18 months with no luck, so went to see a RE. All the tests came back great, except that I was positive for a ureaplasma infection. She said this type of infection typically has no symptoms (so it's often not tested for), except it can make it more difficult to get pregnant. Since it is passed back and forth between partners, both my husband and I were prescribed a 10 day course of antibiotics. The next month while we were deciding on a treatment plan, we ended up conceiving naturally. The RE credits either the antibiotics and the HSG test (no blockages) in upping our chances. Either way, I would insist on being tested for infections - it's a simple pap type swab.

Bella2u07 · December 2010

Thank you for the PSA!

My RE knew about this, as he gives antibotics to both the male & female at the consult visit, before you start a IUI or IVF cycle, then during the IUI/IVF cycle the female is given 3 days worth of antibotics after the transfers.

SeptemberBride'08 · December 2010

Thanks! I'm in a break mode before starting IUI but I'm going to ask for a PAP in Jan to make sure everything is good in there. How amazing if it's something simple and overlooked!

lauren9317 · December 2010

RovinChick:
We had been trying for 18 months with no luck, so went to see a RE. All the tests came back great, except that I was positive for a ureaplasma infection. She said this type of infection typically has no symptoms (so it's often not tested for), except it can make it more difficult to get pregnant. Since it is passed back and forth between partners, both my husband and I were prescribed a 10 day course of antibiotics. The next month while we were deciding on a treatment plan, we ended up conceiving naturally. The RE credits either the antibiotics and the HSG test (no blockages) in upping our chances. Either way, I would insist on being tested for infections - it's a simple pap type swab.

YES! This is exactly the kind of success story I was talking about. Thank you so much for posting!

lauren9317 · December 2010

RovinChick, btw- what type of antibiotics did both you and your H take?

MoFree · December 2010

Thanks for sharing, Lauren, That's not our issue, but I hope it helps some other couple.

Again, I'm sorry to see you on here and hope your stay is brief. Can you email me at Mosf1103@ gmail.com Thanks.

missbaby14 · December 2010

I typically post on the TTTC thread so I hope that you don't mind if I chime in while lurking. I too had a ureaplasma infection. There are actually two kinds. I would just advise that if you get a positive test result that you get retested after the course of meds. It took two types of meds for my DH and I to get rid of it. It is unofficially linked to miscarriages too. My OB tested me for it but my RE said they wouldn't have tested unless I had multiple miscarriages. It's supposedly controversial in the medical field so that might be the hestation for testing.

OceanBreeze1 · December 2010

::butts in, hoping its OK:: I switched RE's and the new one tested for this, then found out i had the ureaplasma infection. DH & I both took Doxycycline for it. We made other changes too, but that IUI cycle was successful! Not sure if the infection played a role or not.

Temp935838312504158 · December 2010

This is interesting that you brought this up! My RE is having me AND my hubby take a Z-pack (azithromycin) 2 days before my HSG which is scheduled next month with IVF #2 to follow soon after. Was going to ask my RE why we both had to take an antibiotic but after reading this post I think I now understand!

kdussault · December 2010

my DH and I never took the antibiotics but my clinic has my donor and her husband taking it around the time of her ER. not me or my DH though... maybe I will inquire as to why not us... thanks for sharing

Nwlywed07 · December 2010

I'm in the middle of reading that book and it is a great, informative book! Thanks for sharing : )

lauren9317 · December 2010

I'm really glad my post was helpful. I was kind of scared to post it at first, for some reason I'd thought it would be controversial so I'm very glad I was wrong!

I really think this "infection scenario" could be the key to why many couples deal with IF. I hope that as time goes by, more doctors will become better about discussing all this with IF patients. It should really be looked into before people start in with the expensive testing and treatments, IMO.

99luftballoons · December 2010

Can I ask- what did your RE write you a prescription for? I took a look at the link you posted and I haven't gotten through it all, but it seems like there may be multiple scenarios that might be treated with different antibiotics at differing doses. Was your H also prescribed antibiotics?

lauren9317 · December 2010

99luftballoons:
Can I ask- what did your RE write you a prescription for? I took a look at the link you posted and I haven't gotten through it all, but it seems like there may be multiple scenarios that might be treated with different antibiotics at differing doses. Was your H also prescribed antibiotics?

First let me say that I don't know if my RE is so open to antibiotic therapy, as many REs probably aren't. So his course of treatment for me might be a bit "casual"?

In my opinion, my H should definitely be prescribed the meds along with me, but my RE doesn't agree with me on that at this time. But he prescribed doxycycline just for me, without actually testing me for anything first. He says the testing for the types of bacteria in question is difficult, so I can just take the doxy "blindly", basically. It will wipe out any mycoplasma or ureaplasma that I might have, and cause me no harm if I didn't really have any. I'll take it twice daily, for 10 days, and only during the first 10 days of my cycle.

So yeah, as of now I'm trying to figure out what to do because I don't even see the point in taking the doxy if MH doesn't take it at the same time.

99luftballoons · December 2010

Interesting, thank you. I would at least like to talk to my RE about it, but since we are definitely going through some MFI, I'd really like my H to be on it as well if we are going to do it. I guess I just get so frustrated that there seems to be so little that they can do for MFI except IUI and IVF, whereas there are so many different types of drugs for women. It just seems like the medical field is so focused on women being the problem and it is frustrating when the percentages show that it is as likely for it to be a male problem or both.

missbaby14 · December 2010

lauren9317:

99luftballoons:
Can I ask- what did your RE write you a prescription for? I took a look at the link you posted and I haven't gotten through it all, but it seems like there may be multiple scenarios that might be treated with different antibiotics at differing doses. Was your H also prescribed antibiotics?

First let me say that I don't know if my RE is so open to antibiotic therapy, as many REs probably aren't. So his course of treatment for me might be a bit "casual"?

In my opinion, my H should definitely be prescribed the meds along with me, but my RE doesn't agree with me on that at this time. But he prescribed doxycycline just for me, without actually testing me for anything first. He says the testing for the types of bacteria in question is difficult, so I can just take the doxy "blindly", basically. It will wipe out any mycoplasma or ureaplasma that I might have, and cause me no harm if I didn't really have any. I'll take it twice daily, for 10 days, and only during the first 10 days of my cycle.

So yeah, as of now I'm trying to figure out what to do because I don't even see the point in taking the doxy if MH doesn't take it at the same time.

You are right. It is transmitted from partner to partner although NOT a STD. You will just continue to infect each other.

lauren9317 · December 2010

missbaby14:
lauren9317:
So yeah, as of now I'm trying to figure out what to do because I don't even see the point in taking the doxy if MH doesn't take it at the same time.

You are right. It is transmitted from partner to partner although NOT a STD. You will just continue to infect each other.

Exactly! I've decided that I'm going to talk to my husband's doctor to see if they can write him a prescription. I will not take the Doxy unless he does too!

MandyBrownNoser · December 2010

bubbas-mama:
This is interesting that you brought this up! My RE is having me AND my hubby take a Z-pack (azithromycin) 2 days before my HSG which is scheduled next month with IVF #2 to follow soon after. Was going to ask my RE why we both had to take an antibiotic but after reading this post I think I now understand!

my re had me do a round of antibiotics for the hah as well and he said it was just a precautionary thing due to the cath and dye all up in your business.

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