2 mcs close together - would you have tests if offered?

[Eggfrog]

Just had 2 mcs in 4 months. Also have 2 children. I could go for tests but I don't know if this is an over-reaction as mcs are not uncommon. But then again it's hard not to want to do something.

Is it worth testing if you can?

Thanks

[bakingtins]

Are you being offered testing on NHS? It's normally not offered until you've had 3 MC in a row. There is a standard set of tests (mainly blood tests and usually a scan) and they only find an answer 50% of the time in the 3Mc population, so presumably you are less likely than that to get an answer after 2. I went private after 3MC but not 3 in a row. It cost about £750 for appointment, scan and the tests my GP couldn't run (GP did a lot of the blood tests for me on advice of the private consultant) and they didn't find anything. I went on to have a 4th MC and when referred the RMC couldn't offer anything else apart from testing of the (normal) embryo. At that point I went to the implantation clinic in Coventry who finally diagnosed the problem.
Would I do it differently with hindsight? Not sure. I felt I couldn't try again without ruling out something treatable, and my age (38 at the time) was not in my favour.
you are v welcome on the recurrent miscarriage support thread if you want more opinions or to ask questions about the testing process.

[Eggfrog]

Thanks. I have insurance and they will cover investigations. I think ultimately I'm worried about karyotyping and what we would do with an abnormal result - and what does it mean for the person concerned?

I've just been reading the RCOG recurrent mc guidelines and it's very confusing. It seems to doubt most of treatments discussed?!

[bakingtins]

It seems to be pretty rare for karyotyping to be abnormal. If it is you ought to be offered genetic counselling, but surely better to know?
There is very little evidence based medicine for recurrent miscarriage, though a number of large trials area about to be published ( Promise and Tablet) and another just starting (response)
A lot of the experts disagree with each other, it's a minefield. The RM thread is useful for at least hearing a consensus view.

[Cheerfulcharlie]

Yes I had testing after just 2 MCs (although at that stage I didn't have any kids). All came back clear other than high Natural Killer Cells. I believe this is something that usually gets worse with the more pregnancies you have. Perhaps worth getting tested for that?
By the way after getting diagnosed I had the treatment on my next pregnancy which was successful and resulted in my DS (and again on this pregnancy).
I would go for it with the testing - what's the harm, especially if covered by insurance? However it depends how you feel about another miscarriage. I was devastated and couldn't face the thought of another one without knowing I'd done everything I could to prevent it. Other people are more 'fate' orientated.

I wouldn't be worried about the tests - it could be something like your hormones are out of whack (like thyroid or something) which could be easily treatable (I think). If you don't know though you can't do anything about it.

[berceuse]

I would have tests if offered.

I had many miscarriages (9) and one baby in the middle. I was moving around the world at the time and never had it investigated, by the time I did and found out what the, quite simple, issues were I had had enough.

When I went for the test results I was pregnant again but without starting drugs very early on it was hopeless. I was really poorly after that one, lost a lot of blood, m/c became stuck in my cervix and I was blue lighted to hospital.

I decided I had had enough at that point but if I had had tests sooner it could have worked.

[Eggfrog]

Thanks all. I will go over the RM thread and continue my questions...

Cheerful where do you go for NK tests? Is it Mr Shehata? I'm in London.

[bakingtins]

My diagnosis in the end was high NK cells too, and I had 2 children before diagnosis (1st MC in between them, then 3MC trying for dc3)
AFAIK the only people testing for NK cells are Drs Shehata and Gorgy in London, using blood tests, and Profs Quenby and Brosens in Coventry, using uterine biopsy.
There is a useful thread on the conception board if you want to ask about NK cells (long title but will be something mentioning "the pred thread")

[Cheerfulcharlie]

Yes Mr Shehata. He's very good.