Recurrent miscarriage investigations

This is a link to the study done on progesterone and recurrent miscarriage- www.tommys.org/our-research/our-research-projects/miscarriage-research/can-progesterone-really-prevent-miscarriage

I took the CoQ10 consistently for 3 months. Given my age and the other tests coming out as clear I could only assume my egg quality was poor, and I believe the CoQ10 helped. Obviously I have no way of proving it but it certainly can’t do any harm. It’s a good idea to take vitamin D too as many of us are deficient and it’s so vital for fertility xxx

@FrangipanFlower did you take the coq10 after ovulation and all too?

@FrangipanFlower thank you for your hopeful message. The midwife told me when I get pregnant start progesterone too but my miscarriages never started with bleeding so I don't know why this has been recommended? Anyone any ideas? I start bleeding when the baby has already stopped growing ☹️

I’m 41 and my much longed for rainbow 🌈 baby is 10 weeks old and asleep on me right now. I had three miscarriages in a row and was also referred to the recurrent miscarriage clinic where they do all the blood tests, sperm analysis etc. We also paid privately for some additional tests at a fertility clinic. They all came back clear and through my own research I decided to start taking coq10 (this is recommended to women doing ivf and some studies have shown it to improve the outcomes). All my miscarriages began with bleeding so I was prescribed progesterone pessaries with this latest pregnancy which again has shown better outcomes for women who’ve had multiple miscarriages. I took them for about 12 weeks if I remember correctly. It’s so so tough and lonely to have experienced so much loss but I feel incredibly lucky to have got my happy ending- I really do send you all positive vibes and luck that you get yours.

Not vivid *covid

@IsabelHerna not sure if your reply was to me (sorry if it wasn't). My rheumatologist already referred me to an obstetrician but because of vivid I couldn't get hold of anyone or get any appointments . I think I will go to a private gp next time to get hold of the aspirin and progesterone

@Hopingforarainbow27 really sorry didn't see your reply. I started bleeding with all 3, with the 20 week one I gave birth within 10hrs the other two I also started bleeding but the 7 week one was completed at home but had to have a d&c with my 8 week miscarriage

Oh dear I am so sorry for your losses.

Why didn't your gp refer you earlier? Push for as many tests as possible, and maybe think about IVF? This way you can test the embryos before implantation.

@MadamMaltesers sorry. Did you spot or bleed before you miscarried? When I started bleeding the baby had already died but apparently they give progesterone if it's threatened miscarriage but my midwife said she would give me it next time

Hi
I've had 3 mcs at 7,8 and 20 weeks. 20 weeks being my latest in November. The Dr said next time I get pregnant come to him straight away and be will put me on progesterone and aspirin. I'm still hopeful that I will have a successful pregnancy when the time is right and it's written for me.

This is a useful thread op. I’ve just had two MC back to back and I am a bit worried about trying again. I do have an older child so I am unsure of that means some of this doesn’t apply to me. By that I mean if I had a blood clotting issue I thought I wouldn’t have had a successful pregnancy first time around. I have wondered if my uterus is maybe misshapen after first pregnancy right enough. I’ve decided if I have another MC I’m definitely going to my GP though and this thread gives me things to bring up. For those that went privately, what was the average cost of investigations?

The most costly investigations are things like kareotyping from blood samples from you and your partner - if you can get those done on the NHS that’s good. Also the ‘invasive’ tests like HSG, laparoscopy, hysteroscopy, which are often unofficially rationed on the NHS.

I've been having fertility treatment for years.
I had 3 miscarriages. I was due to start another round of IVF but didn't want to wait months for tests through the NHS. so I paid privately for tests which cost £800.
These were blood tests.
Results came back showing I had a blood clotting issue which may have caused the previous miscarriages due to clotting the placenta.

I'm now pregnant with my 4th. I'm on Clexane blood thinning injections and baby aspirin every day and will be on those throughout the whole pregnancy. It's worth having the tests even just to rule things out.

Very sorry you’re going through this.

None of us can tell you that it’s ‘going to be OK’ fertility wise, sadly. Lots of us have gone on to have biological DC, some haven’t.

NHS MC clinics vary hugely in quality and what tests are offered.

I found Prof Lesley Regan’s book on MC helpful and the MC service at St Mary’s in London helpful.

I paid for investigations privately after experiencing poor quality services at another NHS London teaching hospital.

@Hopingforarainbow27 if you find you're struggling to even get pregnant next time, there's things they can do to help there too so don't lose hope x

I'm so sorry for your losses

I had 3 mcs, but only two were consecutive - baby stopped growing around 5/6 weeks in all. I was referred to the recurrent miscarriage clinic and was lucky to have just had a bfp on the day of my first appointment - I had just turned 36. I was prescribed progesterone and 5mg folic acid. All bloods from first round of Investigations came back clear, so my mcs were put down to bad luck. At 12 weeks I came off the progesterone and started 150mg aspirin.

I had scans at 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 16, 20, 28, 32, 36 and 38 weeks and all were fine. There is a study that shows increased monitoring lead to slightly better outcomes for women like us.

My baby boy is sleeping on me right now. I hope you get some answers and your 🌈 baby.

My bmi is 22 but the midwife did say to take 5mg of folic acid. I had only been taking the recommended dose.
I will ask about hcg if I ever get to that stage in pregnancy again.
I'm seeing my sister in law tomorrow who is pregnant and is due two weeks before I was so I'm really dreading that and have so much anxiety about it

@Hopingforarainbow27 I know it's so hard to see a happy ending when you're right in the middle of it isn't it, it's so tough. Try to take some comfort in the fact that a lot of the time it is something they can tweak with a bit of medication. You've also possibly just been really unlucky and had two pregnancies which weren't viable but I know that doesn't make it any easier to deal with either.

Would you not ask for HcG as well once you've had an early scan in case your issue is that you don't produce enough of that? I don't think that's something they can easily test for once you've had a miscarriage and apparently it doesn't harm to have extra so it's worth a shot.

Also if your BMI is over 30 it's worth considering the higher folic acid dose, you can get that easily from your GP.

Try not to fear trying again, I know exactly how you feel but I'm sure it will happen and you just have to push on and keep moving forward to get there x

@siaa thanks for all the info!
They said once I get a positive pregnancy test they will put me on progesterone even though my levels are normal.
I'm not sure what my issue is. I'm so fearful to get pregnant again and also fearful I won't get pregnant again :(

@Hopingforarainbow27 so sorry to hear you've gone through that twice

I had tonnes of tests, it seemed that there were two tiers of tests, the second of which was optional and we went for the whole lot so they tested for:

• blood clotting - this came back normal but as it can't harm I was still prescribed 75mg aspirin daily until near the end of the pregnancy
• progesterone - this one was slightly abnormal in that I don't produce enough after ovulation so I take 2x cyclogest pessaries from cycle day 18 until 12 weeks
• thyroid function - this was normal but since my first pregnancy I've had thyroid issues so for this current pregnancy I have a fragmin injection daily until 12 weeks to reduce any possible inflammation
• they tested mine and DH's genetics together and no issues there
• they tested to check I'm ovulating correctly but I am so no prescription there, otherwise would have been chlomid
• they offered me a (painless) procedure to flush dye through my Fallopian tubes to check for blockages - this came back all fine but apparently sometimes just having that procedure can flush a small blockage without you realising there was one, so maybe that was my issue!
• I was also prescribed 5mg folic acid as my BMI is higher and you can need more folic acid if that's the case and it can help reduce miscarriage risk
• final thing was once I have the first scan at 6 weeks and they establish there's a pregnancy in the right place, I am prescribed HcG injections twice weekly until 16ish weeks

No idea what it is that helped me have my first baby (4th pregnancy) or if it was a cocktail of all of the above, but something worked! I'm on it all again now for my second baby. Hope this helps you x

@siaa what meds did you take?
I've had two miscarriages in a row and my blood tests came back normal so I'm none the wiser either. It's so isolating. I lost mine at 6/7 for both

Find out if you have any polyps and fibroids, if so, get those removed.
Take a vitamin like pregnacare.
Take CO q10 abiqional 300mg twice a day.
Don't smoke.
Don't drink alcohol.
Don't drink caffeine.
Cut down on outside food.
Cut down on carbs and sugar.
Take a Bob's Best 4 greens type supplement.
Make sure your thyroid is below a certain value (I'll come back to you on this one) - If not take Levothyroxine - doctor will have to prescribe it.
You've lost one tube, go to IVF straight away.
Best of luck x

SORRY Tommy's Coventry. NOT Tommy's Birmingham.

Hi OP, so sorry for your losses. I had three miscarriages and self referred to professor Quenby at Tommy's Birmingham. We went on to her CERM trial which is to test for endometrisis (not endometriosis) then they treat with doxycycline (I think that is what @NovRainbow5 is referring to). I tested positive and was given the doxycycline. I also banged the drum about my thyroid which I was sure wasn't right and after being blood tested at 6/7 weeks I was put on thyroxine. I am also on progesterone. The good news is I am now 15 weeks pregnant having never gotten past 10 weeks.

Her and her team are absolutely wonderful too and very supportive. I wish you all the luck in the world