Aspirin or not? Where do you stand on the 'it can't hurt' debate?

[Justonemoretime]

Many consultants recommend 'baby' aspirin as a 'can't hurt' medication for women suffering from recurrent miscarriage, but not all think it helps. Some even suggest it can do more harm than good. Here are my thoughts: justonemoretimeagain.wordpress.com/2014/07/10/it-cant-do-any-harm-the-aspirin-enigma/, what do you think?

[Catlover2014]

Really interesting blog again! X

[TinyTear]

My thoughts are on the no, it actually can hurt...

I was told by the consultants at St Mary's not to take it...

[ShergarAndSpies]

Mr Rai at St Mary's says no to aspirin unless you are diagnosed with a clotting disorder - and if you are, he'll put you on 150mg aspirin rather than the usual 75mg dose discussed elsewhere.

He knows his stuff, I wouldn't go against his recommendation.

[squizita]

I'm taking aspirin prescribed by Mr Rai, and he was very very clear: it is there to treat something specific and thinning your blood if you haven't got a clotting issue is dangerous!
I would not say it "does more harm than good" if you have a diagnosed condition because clinical trials have shown it to boost success by 30% in these cases... but if not, why risk dizziness or thinned blood?

[Justonemoretime]

Thanks for all your comments. I share your worries that people take it ‘just in case’ because ‘it can’t hurt’, because it’s actually quite a powerful drug. I’ve heard of consultants prescribing it with no medical reason (this did happen to me, and I did take it), and of women hearing that it ‘might help and can’t hurt’ self prescribing it (!!!) I know people can be tempted to take all kinds of ‘snake oil’ when nothing else seems to be working, but aspirin does have a known effect. Its a worry, and I think that without further definitive research, the situation will just continue.

[limon]

Aspirin undoubtedly helped me. I'd had three recurrent miscarriages, took aspirin in my fourth pregnancy and am now sitting here with the result - my lovely 2.5 year old DD. We should have called her aspirin :)

[limon]

I took 150 mg. Recurrent tests on the Nhs showed no known cause but I'm sure I had an underlying undiagnosed issue with blood.

[Justonemoretime]

So pleased to hear that limon, congratulations! Did you ever get a formal diagnosis? Aspirin certainly is a magic pill for those who need it!

[fackinell]

I've been thinking of doing this from next BFP, just 75mgs a day. I've had 3 NMCs around the 5wk mark. First was actually 8 wks but stopped growing at 5+4. I have had umpteen tests and nowt wrong with either of us. MWs and consultant say no, they will prescribe aspirin from viable embryo as soon as they get a heartbeat but I'm not even making it that far. MW friend says that although she won't give me the advice, if it was her, she would take it from BFP.
So so confused!!

[Justonemoretime]

Good luck, its a tough one, as I totally understand you want to do everything you can. Have you considered going to see Prof Quenby in Coventry? Its £360, but they seem to be at the cutting edge. I went and was 'normalish' there, too, but they prescribed me the progesterone + heparin plan. Good luck!

[fackinell]

I actually contacted Dr. Quenby's secretary twice this year and heard nothing back. Once by phone and once by email. I've taken part of the summer 'off' (last MC was Jan) to recover physically and mentally but am ready to go again. I may have one more try and then contact them again. The one thing that put me off was the use of prednisolone (sp) as the NHS won't support it due to lack of knowledge of the long term effects. MW said it could be available soon though.

[Justonemoretime]

Shame they didn't get back to you. I'd deff try again. They may say you don't need the steroids. Its a v low dose from what I hear. I wonder what the standard advice will be in 10 years time?!

[fackinell]

It would be interesting to have that foresight, wouldn't it? I'm 43 now so every month counts!! I will try again, maybe actually call the hospital switchboard and say I've had no joy in getting a callback. Can't say I think much of her secretary for that.

[Justonemoretime]

Good luck with it all. :)

[fackinell]

Thank you

[bakingtins]

I took aspirin for my 4th Mc on advice of local consultant after NHS tests normal, then told categorically by Prof Q not to take it as no clotting issues identified. I did turn out to have high NK cells and a combination of steroids, clexane and progesterone worked for me
fackinell I'm surprised Kerri didn't get back to you, I've found her very efficient, I'd try again.
I think there's a lot of info out there on steroids in pregnancy because they have been used for a long time in women with all sorts of autoimmune conditions. There is an increased (but still small) risk of cleft lip and palate, and an association with IUGR in late pregnancy. If you take them they will check lip/palate at 12 and 20 weeks and you'll have additional growth scans in 3rd trimester. The body of evidence for NK cells and immune issues in RMC is growing but NICE guidelines move too slowly for those of us pushing 40. I suspect in 10 years there will be more of a consensus.

[bakingtins]

If you are considering getting the testing I'd strongly suggest you do it now before TTC again. If the worst happened and you did MC again you have to wait 2 cycles post MC before testing, then 1 month for results. If you do it now you can TTC next cycle ( testing is done 7-10 days post ov and you have to be not pregnant) and you'd have the results before a BFP.

[Justonemoretime]

Thanks for commenting, Baking. I think poor Kerri is over worked since you have been cheerleading for prof Q! She probably needs an assistant herself! ;)

[furryleopard]

I had 4 miscarriages last year all before 8 weeks, I'm taking aspirin 75mg this time and I'm currently 26 weeks. It's all I've done differently. Nothing showed on my testing, I do have hyperthyroidism but it is controlled and have been assured it did not contribute to MCs. I showed a slight clotting anomaly but on a repeat it wasn't there so my consultant wasn't convinced.

All my MCs were the same, slight bleeding then tiny clots then pain then big clots etc... in my current pregnancy I passed a tiny clot at 8 weeks then at 15 weeks a much bigger one; both times we thought we were out but scans showed the baby was fine. I am sure I have some sort of clotting disorder even if nothing really showed up on scans, which is why aspirin is working so far for me.

[furryleopard]

Oh and I took from bfp as whatever was happening was happening at the 5 week ish mark so I wasn't reaching a viability scan, I actually took it from 2 days before I tested positive because I knew I was pregnant and figured if I wasn't a couple of aspirin weren't going to harm me!

[limon]

Justonemoretime thanks. No never got a diagnosis. I won't be having more children but if I was, I'd take aspirin again.

[limon]

fackinell I WAS 43 when I had DD. Wishing you all the very best.

[limon]

fackinell sorry for multiple posts. I took 150mg from positive test.

[fackinell]

Thank you for all the support, it's heartening to hear all your success stories. We have started TTC this cycle already but if it doesn't work we will hang off to see Dr. Q.

The frustrating thing is that there is so much conflicting info out there: aspirin prevents MC, aspirin can cause MC etc. my MW wanted to put me on 75mg from next BFP but consultant vetoed it. They've been so lovely but I told the consultant that I'd rather give up now than MC again because I can't make it far enough in to show a viable HB. I know I would get a total bollocking for taking aspirin but if I'm PG this cycle then I'm going to try it. 3x their way hasn't worked so I feel I've nothing to gain by trying that again. It's been horrendous, 5 losses in 2 yrs (3 of them pregnancies) has left me with anxiety attacks. I feel very fragile about trying again.

My mum and maternal GM both have/had rheumatoid arthritis and heart disease (GM died of a stroke) I feel there could be either a clotting or autoimmune issue here. I will contact Dr. Q again but I will make sure Kerri knows this is attempt 3 to contact her. I'm a bit of a weirdo fatalist so I put it down to not being the right time to go.

[fackinell]

Furryleopard, congratulations on your pregnancy. It all sounds very similar to my situation. It gives me a lot of hope as do the other success stories.