Aspirin and conception

[ovumahead]

Hi all.. I have to take low dose aspirin every day to ward off migraines, but my GP says this 'should be ok to take whilst TTC, but no drugs are better' - which basically means he doesn't know if it's safe or not!

Just wondering if anyone else is taking low dose aspirin whilst TTC?

I have a problem with thin uterine lining and was googling things that might help. Low dose aspirin came up a few times so I tried it for 2 weeks, then I kept finding information saying that it is better to avoid it because it reduces chances of implantation (i.e. doesnt make the lining grow thick!) I just had another scan and my lining didnt grow at all during those two weeks so I am stopping the aspirin.

Low dose aspirin is often prescribed to women who have had repeat miscarriages and in Lesley Regan;s book "Miscarriage - what every woman wants to know" she says that it is safe to use in pregnancy (ONLY LOW DOSES) see here for more threads discussing this. BUT these women are told to take it once they get their BFP, not before.

So, in my non medical opinion, it might hurt your chances TTC, but looks OK (provided your doc knows and agrees) to use during pregnancy.

good luck xxx

This might help ovum:

www.medicines.org.uk/EMC/medicine/341/SPC/Angettes+75/

angettes are a brand of low dose aspirin.

As MummyAbroad says, it's often recommended as a low-dose tool to use for sticky-blooded gals. First month I used it I got a BFP.

Ah, such contradictory advice then really - with Alpine getting a first BFP after using it, and Mummy's lining not growing at all!

I've had positive sticky blood tests in the past, but the more recent ones have not been positive. This is perhaps because I've been taking aspirin, I'm not sure. Anyhow, my GP basically said to me that if those recent tests were not positive, then there's no medical reason for me to continue taking it.

I do have a small perforation in my heart (a PFO) which is very common and is known to cause migraines. Low dose aspirin is often prescribed for that. The cardiologist I saw said there would be no harm in me continuing to take it, especially as I have seen a significant reduction in my symptoms whilst taking it.

I'm guessing that perhaps what I'll do is stop taking it while I TTC, and restart it after the first trimester if my migraine symptoms come back. (These were fairly scary symptoms involving going blind in one eye - a 'retinal migraine'... Nice).

I'd rather have migraines and a baby than no migraines and no baby!

I'd be interested to know if this is the kind of decision you would make if you were in similar circumstances?

Or would you go back to your GP to discuss it further?

I must say also that the cardiologist was not telling me to continue taking it whilst TTC and being pregnant, but just generally.

I was prescribed low dose aspirin towards the end of my last pregnancy, so I know it's ok to take once the bean has fully stuck, so I'd be happy to do that again.

WOW! That link you posted, xwitch (hi from another thread, btw!) says this: 'Aspirin may prolong labour and contribute to maternal and neonatal bleeding, and should be avoided at term.' I had the longest labour - nearly a week long, on and off, then 23 hours of hard labour - and I was taking low dose aspirin at the time! I can't believe this is a known fact and no one thought to tell me. Perhaps the doc that told me to take it didn't know. But it would explain so much, and give me hope for future labours not being so hard and traumatic! Exciting stuff!

Hi ovumumhead, wow those headaches sound scary! Poor you.

If I were you I would give TTC a try with aspirin for a certain period of time, have a cut off point that you feel comfortable with and if you dont get your BFP then try without. So far no one has really found anything conclusive to say that it will definitely hurt your chances, and the answer to whether it will or wont probably depends on individual cases (e.g. your blood on apsirin may be stickier than mine without)

Keep in mind that my lining may not be growing for other reasons (I am going to have tests to see if I have Ashermans, scarring of the uterus lining) and it was only 2 weeeks which is not long.

I think it really pays to google and ask others on MN about their experiences, I cant tell you the amount of times I have discovered relevant info on my own that GPs havent explained to me - shocking that you laboured on aspirin!! Having said that discussing it further with your GP wont hurt, why not?

Actually I'll be taking a low dose throughout my next pregnancy as I got pre-eclampsia with my first and it's recommended to try and prevent it.

So there you go - yet more contradictory advice!

Alipine - I thought it was only recommended during the 2nd and 3rd trimesters for pre-ecampsia?

I guess my rush is that I've got a two month window in which to conceive in order to still get maternity pay once my current work contract ends next July. If I don't conceive soon, we'll have to stop TTC and wait to start again till I have a new job, hopefully next August. So, the pressure is on! And I just really want to maximise my chances.

Thanks for your really helpful responses.