Refused test after multiple miscarriages because of other children

[Desgusten]

Also posted in the MC/pregnancy loss
board FYI

I have had 2 successful pregnancies, but multiple miscarriages as well.

I have now had my 6th MC, and have now met the three in a row threshold. My others were interspersed with having my 2 living children.

the GP has said I still cannot have any tests because:

1 - I have had successful pregnancies in the past
2 - I had some blood tests such as thyroid etc (for something unrelated) eight months ago and they were ok

my DH has had multiple surgeries in the last year and I’m worried that could have affected things (one was a testicular op) and my last pregnancy I had a really traumatic birth. My concern was either of these things may have had an effect but that was disregarded. I have had MCs between 7 and 14 weeks.

WWYD? I know I’m lucky to have the children I do, and I am grateful. But it is still painful to lose a pregnancy.

Worth going private? Or just asking to see another GP?

you already have 2 children ...thats perhaps indicating to the GP its not due to one of the treatable causes? perhaps be grateful with the 2 you have as perhaps it could be chromosomal causes that are leading to the miscarriages? with the current state of the nhs it seems understandable to justify not giving you extra input when some women have never carried a pregnancy to term.

Go private.

Fertility treatment isn't available if you already have children, not sure if this could be the reason

It’s because you already have kids and most PCTs won’t support any fertility interventions for those with kids. If you go private they can prescribe ovulation stimulating drugs before having to go to IVF etc. I just went private as my Gp basically said even if they found something wrong, because we have a daughter that next steps would be private anyway.

Personally, I would count my blessings and be so thankful I had two healthy children and I would make sure I never had to go through anything like that again.

Me to. If you get pregnant you get pregnant...interventional pregnancy has more risks.

Miscarriage investigation is a totally different kettle of fish compared to infertility investigations. You are eligible to be referred to a recurrent miscarriage clinic regardless of how many children you have. Push back OP.

I'd go private and take it from there. Sorry to hear of your miscarriages, OP.

It’s not so much wanting intervention- it’s more “is this a futile exercise because they will just keep dying?”

as much as my brain tells me count your blessings, it’s easier said than done

I guess going private is just the most logical thing to do at this point

Fertility investigations are permitted whether you have children or not. It’s ivf etc that there is specific criteria about.

Look up your ccg guidance on it as well

You shouldn’t need to go privately though, you meet the criteria for referral.

The consultant I saw at the hospital for my most recent mc wrote in my discharge letter than I needed to be referred. Could you contact the unit where you were seen?

It’s also worth looking up the RCOG guidelines online so you can quote them, and contacting a different GP. You should definitely push for this, you’re entitled.

Be warned though, the waiting list is long. I asked for a quote to go privately… £2.5k

I’d go private as i doubt a different GP would do anything differently. Out of interest how old are you?

If you can afford private I’d do that.

I would have thought you qualify regardless of already have children. I had one child followed by three miscarriages after which they tested, put me on progesterone and then I had a fourth anyway, which they did karyotyping and found a chromosomal disorder. It might be the fact you've had relatively recent tests. Nothing specific was found out but the progesterone given in a it can't hurt way.

That's odd , I had 3 children had 3 miscarriages but with a different partner , I had lots of tests done under the nhs , wonder if that was because it was a different partner thou .

Look up the NICE guidelines on miscarriage investigations. If they say that they're conditional to having no children, then you can only go private. If otherwise they're recommended regardless of previous children then you can argue with your gp.

Ask for a day 21 progesterone test through Gp. This will rule out ovulation issues and is easy to resolve with tablets

If this fails complain to practice manager

What was your actual tsh as 1 is ideal.
Maybe you have pcos or something which raises the risk of miscarriage.
Age may be a factor too?

Posters are confusing fertility treatment with investigations for recurrent miscarriage. OP if you have had 3 successive first trimester miscarriages you meet the NICE guidelines for investigations. Go back to your GP armed with the guidelines and request a referral if you wish. Given your 2 successful pregnancies it’s statistically most likely though that the cause is chromosomal abnormality.

If you can afford it I'd go private for anything at the moment instead of waiting for the NHS to do anything about anything.

Can I just go against the odds here to the people who are saying be grateful you have children already. It's insensitive and none of their business. I'm sorry for your losses, I've been there with miscarriages and sadly recently my nearly full term twin boys are now angels in heaven - one stillborn and his brother died 4 days later. My point is losses are unbelievably hard and you have every right to want that third baby.

One other poster was right about there is a difference between ivf and fertility testing. You need to go to another doctor and ask for testing in regards to recurrent miscarriage. Ignore the know it all here who think you should be grateful. I hope you get answers soon.

Having had ivf - I can imagine any testing you would need privately would be very expensive as I am guessing genetic testing would come into it.
ask to see another gp first - also ask to get your blood clotting checked.
if you have thyroid issues in family ask for thyroid antibodies to be checked they are different to thyroid.

I also had 2 children then multiple mc including a second trimester loss which was awful. After that I saw a doctor and he advised me to take aspirin daily next time u got pregnant and I did and it worked. I now have 5 children. Might be worth trying the aspirin

Keep going with the NHS referral - see a different GP. It is down to luck with who you get and sadly with anything gynaecological in this country, keeping on pushing to be seen. I had 4 years of infertility before my son and had all tests on nhs. I then suffered recurrent MCs last year and was referred to tests after two - whilst waiting for appointments I had a further 3. First GP didn’t want to know - second referred me straight away in May. I was seen in Dec 22 and diagnosed low progesterone so prescribed progesterone suppositories, aspirin and vitamin D. Now lying next to my 9 week old baby boy. If you have the strength to, keep going with the nhs before you turn to private. Forgot to mention I am 37. All the best of luck @Desgusten