Chemical pregnancies

Dallz · March 2015

anyone go through recccurent pregnancy loss in the early stages?
I am currently on number 4, and it's becoming extremely scary and frustrating.
I feel as though my RE doesn't take me as serious as her IVF patients, but I'm kinda in the same boat:(

It's really strange to me and I can't seem to figure out why this keeps happening at exactly the same week (4,5 weeks along).

I have a healthy 2 year old daughter had zero issues with her conception, pregnancy...ect

My doctor has tested me for everything under the sun! All comes back normal. She just keeps saying keep trying, it will happen. But that's getting difficult to hear and believe after 4 consecutive losses.

I really hope someone out there has a success story that can put the spark back Into my heart..feeling helpless.

Thanks for listening ladies

SharonB222 · March 2015

This could be related or not at all; as you know MF (male factor) can change at any time so may not be a factor with one pg but is with another; FF (female factor) can be present for one "lucky" pg that gets through but shows up negatively for others; or vice versa. I was at this a long time, so have my own long story, plus those of dear and close friends. Bear with me.

I had a "mild to moderate" uterine anomaly - three REs missed it; uterine anomalies have a 75% or greater m/c rate, so one would expect 1 live birth and over 3 m/c's; it doesn't alone account for the 5 m/c or I just had really bad luck. I have younger friends with known uterine anomalies and rather than surgery they set their expectations for m/c until one babe finds the "right spot" (e.g. 14 pgs - 3 living children). Another friend couldn't get pg for 5 yrs, her DH changed jobs, and within 6 mos she suddenly was pg every month they were TTC but m/c every time... and then #5 stuck. She suspects it was DH's stressful job and chemical exposure that "worked" it's way out. Another friend had many losses, including a stillborn, adopted a daughter, had more losses and then bore her son. Her liveborn son had a cord defect as did her stillborn son, which makes her wonder about what is going on genetically. So try, try again works for many, but like you said, that's really hard to do past 3, or 4, or god forbid more (unless it's known and expectations are set). I would have continued TTC past 5 losses but time ran out (and my emotional resources were dwindling) so did IVF.

SIGNATURE WARNING - LC (success)

TTC#1 was 8 yrs 5 pg losses --- each 5-7 wks - all "chemical" since pgs not confirmed by u/s. I went to 3 clinics and 4 REs. I was considered Unexplained but it seems a "perfect storm" of factors was at fault. I went from being very, very, very "unlucky" (0 living of 5 pgs of 100 cycles), to being very "lucky" (2 living of 2 pgs of 2 cycles). What was different for the 2 cycles than the 100?

* RE "prescribed" DH vitamins to improve his contribution (achieved 100% DNA integrity!), e.g. Q this and Cart... that (I'd have to look it up)

* RE did 3D u/s and found thickness at top of uterus (not visible with previous u/s, SHGs, HSGs, hysteroscopies and laparoscopies - because they all look from one side not both!) - she did reconstructive surgery prior to FET

* RE did medicated FET with PGS-normal vitrified blasts (my natural FET was canceled due to lining issues and I wouldn't want to do a fresh transfer) with "RPL" medicinal protocol, e.g. b/a, immune suppressants, Vit Bs etc.

Do have hope (even if you can only manage a little). Do reach out for help (as you are). It is true that we can only control so much of the journey and that is so little of it. Hang in there! FX, FX, FX.

HillyJen · March 2015

I'm so sorry for your losses. I know how devastating it is as I've had 10 chemical pregnancies in the past two years, all between 4 and 6 weeks. I think they have found my problem now, and maybe this can help you too? (I really hope so!)
I've had every miscarriage investigation under the sun, and everything has come back "normal". However, I'm a strange one. When about 11 days past ovulation (pregnant or not!), I would get strange neurological symptoms (phantom smells), followed by difficulty speaking and then massive temperature drop and shaking/shivering. I was finally diagnosed with epilepsy three months ago, after living with this for three years (one doctor had even sent me home from the ER telling me I was just "stressed" and that I should just "go home and get pregnant". Ha!). I can control or delay these seizures with progesterone (Crinone), but when pregnant? Yikes! Total weakness, burning pains in arms and legs, extreme fatigue, visual disturbances, phantom smells, nausea, oral thrush and a feeling of impending doom. I attributed all of these things to "morning sickness", and so did my doctors...
Nope! I had undetected clinical hypothyroid which actually gave me seizures. My thyroid had been tested four times over two years, and my TSH levels were "OK" - e.g. 2.4 to 2.6 range. Ideally you should be under 2.5 for pregnancy, but even fertility clinics would not address my TSH levels unless I was TPO positive (and I'm not). Thyroxine (T4) levels were always on the lowest fringe of normal, so never considered.
Here's the clincher: Every time I was tested, my estrogen levels were low and this masked my hypothyroid condition! When I (through dumb luck alone) ended up getting my thyroid tested when my estrogen doubled (175 to 350), my TSH doubled to 5.0, and T4 remained low. The seizures and "early pregnancy symptoms" I had were from surging estrogen levels that caused my T4 levels to plummet (estrogen promotes production of TBG in the liver which binds with your T4, causing an uncompensated decrease in some people). I'm finally getting treatment - just one dose of thyroxine a day and my seizures are gone. My endocrinologist is sure we will have a baby now, and I must call immediately when I get a positive pregnancy test so she can monitor my TSH and T4. It's only been 1 month since treatment began, but I am cautiously allowing myself to entertain the idea of having a baby... I'm no longer covering my eyes and ears while running through the baby/kids section at IKEA!

I know that my case is strange, but I just have an uncommon reaction to a very common condition - and hypothyroid is a huge factor in early miscarriage. It is so easy to miss or dismiss thyroid problems. If you can find a sympathetic doctor, suggest getting your thyroid checked during periods of high estrogen in your cycle - late follicular, ovulatory phases are good, but avoid testing during your period (fertility clinics always want to test on Day 3 of cycle... to my detriment). Best of luck and huge bags of baby dust to you!

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