multiple losses - is it JUST age? (living children and losses mentioned)

crankstergangster · October 2014

So, my RE just keeps chalking up my losses to my age. I'm 38 and have had 5 losses in a row now. The first one was ectopic, so IDK if that would have been viable or not, but the other 4 (all within one year) have ended right at 5 weeks. He just keeps saying I'm old! I mean, I get that I'm AMA, but I just feel like there has to be something else going on here. He even says that eventually we'll catch a good egg. But he also told me (months ago) that he'd expect 3-4 losses before a sticky....so maybe I'm just being impatient and the next one will stick. But after 3 healthy children, I just think something else could be going on here. Anyone care to share their opinions or experience?

kelley72 · October 2014

I am so very sorry for your losses, the emotional toll of multiple losses is unimaginable.

I have no personal experience, but I know I've read/heard of ladies with 2-3 losses having panels run to find out if there is more explanation for the reasons of the loss. RPL panel?

I'm sure someone will pipe in with more information. I feel certain more/some blood work can be done. I wish you health and healing.

crankstergangster · October 2014

Thanks for your response. IDK what all they test in a RPL panel. But after my first appt with RE, he did a ton of bloodwork. IDK what all he tested though. I do know they tested my thyroid, tested for clotting disorders, and tested for some kind of immunological disorders (lupus was one). I do have RA, but that is not usually associated with fertility problems. I've scoured the internet for answers and apparently won't find any. So frustrating!

tmorash · October 2014

Yet again I'm not much use in terms of providing advice (I'm pretty new to all this), but I did want to chime in to say I'm sorry about your multiple losses, and I can't imagine the frustration you must be feeling. I sure hope that you get some answers about what might be going on.

hooligans4 · October 2014

I've only had two losses so not as many as you and my doctor isn't concerned yet. My two older children were conceived with no problems.
I know as we get older the eggs have more chance of having chromosomal abnormalities. If you have another loss make sure they rest the tissue so you will know if embryo was normal or not. If it's chromosomal then your dr is correct in just waiting for a good egg. The only way around that is doing IVF with embryo testing.

crankstergangster · October 2014

Thanks @hooligans4

Regarding testing of tissue....I've never had this done. Have you? What does that entail? I mean, I assume I collect the tissue and then take it in for testing? Some losses I've never seen anything, but some I've seen what was obviously not just blood or clots. Is that what I'd want to take in for testing? So weird!

hooligans4 · October 2014

They typically do it if you have had 3 losses. If I have another loss I would make sure it is done.
It is easier to do id you have D/C.
Let's hope you don't have to suffer another loss and this won't matter.

Secondary IF just sucks

wannabmama23 · October 2014

I don't have any experience or wisdom to offer but I'm so sorry for your losses, I can only imagine how hard that us to go through.

KirstenAlecia · October 2014

I just want to say Im sorry for your losses. I hope your dr. is right and the next one is the one.

katie0919 · October 2014

I'm so sorry for your losses! I'm not sure if it's just age that would cause the losses. My sister (and mother actually) had no problem getting and staying pregnant at 38 - although my sister did have a loss before that pregnancy at 11 weeks).

I've had two losses in a row - one at just shy of 5 weeks, so it was a chemical pregnancy, and one at a little over 8 weeks. My RE says (thus far) that she feels it is just bad luck and likely there was just a "glitch" in the cells. I sure hope so.

FX you find your answers soon (or better yet, a sticky baby!)

gscoville · October 2014

crankstergangster said:

Thanks @hooligans4

Regarding testing of tissue....I've never had this done. Have you? What does that entail? I mean, I assume I collect the tissue and then take it in for testing? Some losses I've never seen anything, but some I've seen what was obviously not just blood or clots. Is that what I'd want to take in for testing? So weird!

Typically they will only do testing on tissue if they do a D&C. Sorry to be so direct/graphic, but it's next to impossible to get tissue from a natural loss unless the loss is later and there's an actual mass or sac you can clearly see and bring in. Unfortunately for the testing aspect, if you're MCing naturally at 5 weeks there's likely not much of anything retrievable for them to test.

The other unfortunate aspect of loss is that quite often there is just no reason for it, no matter what bloodwork is done and what might be found as a possibility, there is so often no clearcut cause found for a loss. I see it on the loss boards all the time, women struggling with not really knowing why they're going through losses. Of course when we near 40, age becomes a factor, but even that is not a 'cause' in itself so much as the offshoots of aging - older eggs, greater chance of chromosomal abnormalities, our body just not working at peak condition, etc. So many possibilities, often no clear stand-alone reason that can be found.

crankstergangster · October 2014

******living children mentioned*******

Thanks again for all the responses. I guess I just don't want to accept that it's age. But I also think that after having 3 living children, it seems so strange to me that I've now had 5 losses in a row. That's what keeps making me think it's something else. I did have a ton of bloodwork done thru my RE, so I know my thyroid, TSH, FSH, etc are all normal. No known blood clotting disorders. Not sure about MTHFR, not sure if that was tested. I've had low progesterone in most of my pgs, so I always start progesterone suppositories after O. I take aspirin daily. I've also been taking CoQ10 and PQQ daily for 6 months now. This last loss was my 2nd femara cycle. Oh well, I guess all I can do is keep trying.

@gscoville I have had 3 losses at 5 weeks in which I had the intact sac. So I know it CAN be done. I just never considered saving it and taking it in for testing. Maybe I should ask my RE about that in case it happens again.

Thanks again ladies. Good luck to us all!

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