Recurrent Chemical Pregnancies

[charlzz]

I have cross posted this so apologies!

TW: Recurrent chemicals

Hi everyone. I was looking for some advice really, and maybe some friendly people I can stay in touch with who have been through a similar situation.

TLDR: Trying to conceive my second child for 8 months. 3 consecutive early losses/chemical pregnancies. Looking for answers.

In April, May, and June I had 3 consecutive chemical pregnancies. For all three I've had darkening tests, followed by them getting lighter then I bleed. The first one was around 5 weeks, the following 2 were just a day or two after my period was due.

I went to my GP after the second, who was pretty dismissive but agreed to do some basic blood tests (iron, thyroid, vitamin levels) but nothing hormonal. The only relevant thing these showed were low vitamin D, which I'm now supplementing. They also showed low white blood cells and neutrophils (but I always have this so don't think it's relevant) and a slightly raised ALT (liver enzyme) which they are rechecking.

Now I've had a third chemical, they have reluctantly agreed to refer me to the recurrent miscarriage clinic but the wait is likely to be at least a year.

This cycle I took a break from trying and checked my progesterone privately. It was 45.5nmol/L at day 21 which looks pretty strong, and indicates I'm ovulating well. My luteal phase is anywhere from 11 to 14 days, although during my third chemical I started spotting at 9dpo. ChatGPT did say I could potentially still look at progesterone suppositories as my levels may not be staying high enough to sustain a pregnancy, but obviously I've got no way of knowing if that is good advice or not, and no way of getting progesterone anyway as I doubt my doctor would agree to prescribe it.

Up until this month I was still breastfeeding my 17 month old. I've now stopped as I convinced myself it may be affecting my hormones. So we will see if that helps at all.

Does anyone have any other advice or ideas of what I could do to try to have a healthy pregnancy?

I don’t do BBT hun, all LH tests are still the same and high, I had one drop lower on CD25 or something like that, I’m now going into CD40 tomorrow since the chemical.

Hi @GoldDustWoman90
I’m a bit behind on the thread atm as took a bit of time trying not to think about TTC!

how are you finding letrozole? I’m on my second cycle of it… I don’t think it’s boosting my progesterone like the doctor hoped it would but have to wait for blood test later this month.

I feel like I’ve done throwing the kitchen sink at it but have lost momentum - even keep forgetting to take my basic supplements and remembering just before bed. It’s hard to keep it going!

@Muddysocks1 honestly - I don't think I feel any different! I know some people say they get horrible side effects. They started me on 2.5mg and after my first scan said I responded well so no need to up the dose, so I'm signed off now until my prescription runs out.

My day 21 progesterone last month was 38.8....highest I've ever had so I guess thats a bonus! Follcile scan last week for this current cycle took place (unknowingly...) on ovulation day, I had a 24mm follicle and 11mm lining. All hopefully pointing in the right direction.

Fingers crossed for your next blood test :) I had to get Chat GPT to explain to me how letrozole helps progesterone as well as ovulation. All fascinating stuff!

Yey!!! So pleased for you!! Those are amazing numbers 💕

How is everyone getting on? Where's everyone up to in their cycles?

I'm 7dpo today x

So relieved just had my scan. I’m about 5+5 today and they saw the gestational sac and yolk sac, but no fetal pole yet as too early. I told myself as long as the yolk sac was there I’d be happy.

Have a rescan in 2 weeks to check the progress.

Hope everyone else is doing ok!

@charlzz when do you plan on testing? x

@JupiterDaze that's the best news ever! Such a special feeling seeing that on the screen and in two weeks you'll see a heartbeat. 💕

I tested today (8dpo 😂) and stark white negative x

Fantastic news @JupiterDaze

I don’t know if I should post here as things seem to be going okay and I don’t want to upset anyone. I’m currently waiting for my second scan at 8 weeks next week. Trying to rearrange it as my partner has been asked to go to Glasgow for work that day and he didn’t come to the first one last week. I measured 6 weeks, one day off what I thought, and there was a strong heartbeat. He’d like to see the next one.

@EmPeEf oh no, don't think that!! You've been through what everyone else on this board has been through, so it's amazing to see that it might all be ok for us too!

Ahh yes it's so special when your partner sees your baby on a scan for the first time!! How are you feeling? I seem to remember 8 weeks was when my sickness and fatigue really ramped up with my son!

In all honesty I feel like a combination of untreated hypothyroidism and fibromyalgia flare up 😅 so heavy and sluggish and “off”. The nausea hasn’t hit me yet, but I feel under the weather and sleep loads. And a lot of my clothes don’t fit any more. I’m lucky I don’t need to do much, except I’m meant to be painting basically the whole house to put on the market and it’s going at a snail's pace lol.

Think it'll be CD1 for me today :( had lots of cramping and some spotting yesterday - took a test and it was stark white at 13dpo. Imagine I'll come on either today or tomorrow.

I guess the good news I can take from this is I officially now have a 14 day luteal phase instead of 10 day (thank you letrozole!), and the results of my day 21 prgesterone came back at a whopping 47.2. When I first started at the fertillity clinic but results were 'borderline' at 21, so it's a huge improvement!

I'm trying to rationalise it in my head, and think of this as month 3 of finally having a 'normal' cycle. So if I'm now having normal cycles thanks to letrozole, maybe we'll get pregnant within whats considered a normal timeframe for other couple? Soooo like 3 - 6 months? Right? 😂

Ohhhhh the mental gymnastics of people struggling TTC should be studied, I swear to god.

@EmPeEf @JupiterDaze such wonderful news for you both!

And @EmPeEf don't ever feel bad about posting...it's not upsetting, success stories give us all hope!

@EmPeEf oh yeah not much at all, decorating your whole house is light work, and moving house is famously unstressful and easy. 😂

@GoldDustWoman90 CD1 is always a rubbish day, however I think you're well within your rights to take a 14 day luteal phase and that progesterone result as a win!!

9dpo for me today and not a hint of a shadow this morning!

Awwwww such positive updates @JupiterDaze and @EmPeEf it does give us hope.

@GoldDustWoman90 After my hycosy my fertility team said they can start giving me medication. Is that what’s helped your progesterone get higher?

Still no AF and I’m on CD48. I think I have had a second chemical as my pregnancy tests are clear and now my OPK tests are really really light and low. So I’ll either ovulate now or AF will come. Who knows lol! I cant book my hycosy until I bleed.

@Iris2024 can't believe you're still waiting for AF! Are there any medications available to restart your cycle?

I'm feeling so upset and defeated. Literally sat waiting for my pregnancy test to develop and started bleeding. I'm only 11dpo. I really thought stopping breastfeeding would help my LP to lengthen but it's been 4 months now and nothing has changed.

I think it's time to contact a fertility clinic and start getting the ball rolling on testing now. We've been trying for 11 cycles, and apart from the 3 chemicals nothing.

It's hit me really hard this month. 😔

I’m really sorry babe, I know how hard it is and you’re living in a bubble day by day. I would contact a fertility team. You feel more in control and at least you can see if there’s anything that can be done. The one positive we can take is we know we can get pregnant.

Some good news my end, my period has just arrived! 🥹🥹

@Iris2024 ahhh I'm glad your cycle has started so you can draw a line!!

Would love some advice from anyone who has seen a fertility specialist!

I contacted the nearest clinic to me that offers a recurrent miscarriage package (Manchester) and it is soooo expensive, nearly £4000! This is the list of tests they recommended. I don't know whether I should go straight to to a more traditional fertility/IVF clinic that offers a pre-treatment testing package at around £550, but obviously the tests aren't as specialised towards losses. I just don't know whether chemical pregnancies warrant the recurrent miscarriage package (I fully count them as losses in my mind, but I mean medically).

The IVF clinics packages include an ultrasound, AMH, full blood count, thyroid screen (which I've already done), diabetes screen (which I've had done in the past multiple times and has always been fine), vitamin d (had done and was low but I have been supplementing), semen analysis (very keen to get this done as we have never checked).

I could look into testing some of the things on the recurrent miscarriage clinics list off my own back which may end up cheaper.

What does everyone think?

I’ve had all my tests done through the NHS and we already have a child. I’ve got my hycosy where they flush my tubes on Thursday. My partner had his semen test done too and he’s way above average on everything. Have you contacted GP? I’m getting medication too through NHS to help.

@Iris2024 that's great to hear! I got referred back in june but haven't heard anything yet and the wait on the NHS app is still showing as 5 months away so wanted to get the ball rolling 😭

This is great re progesterone!! I’ve just had my blood test, waiting to hear result. My last blood was 20 nmol/l (although I think it was a couple of days late, but still in the implantation window so still too low!) and hoping letrozole has helped 🤞🏻

hoping everyone is doing ok! I decided to try and not think about TTC as much as possible so have been a bit absent. 9dpo today and started testing, nothing yet, trying to stay hopeful though

I agree I think I’d try and get the tests you haven’t had done separately? That all in one cost is so expensive!!

Glad your period arrived @Iris2024 🥳

and @JupiterDaze and @EmPeEf please keep sharing! It gives hope that it can happen xx

Really glad to read your period finally arrived @Iris2024! What a relief. Cruel to keep you hanging for so long. Hopefully it means your body had a really good clear out and you’re all prepped and ready to fall pregnant.

Thank you @Muddysocks1 Good luck for your blood test results. Crossing fingers for a good number.

My partner and I had our first antenatal appointment yesterday. It was a group session with a few other parents where we received all the dos and donts in pregnancy, and information about what happens during the pregnancy with regards to appointments and scans and bloods etc.
A few first time parents there, so was funny to hear old news for me, but know they were all excited getting the information for the first time. Was definitely the oldest there 😂

We have another scan at the EPU this Thursday when I should be 8+2 so I’m proper nervous. This is the big one in my eyes where the risk for my age group really drops if there’s still a heartbeat. And my partner can attend this one so hopefully it will become a bit more real for him.

https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/sci/med/research/biomedical/tem/clinic/ Just saw this on Tommy’s website, looks interesting. You have to self fund, but tests your womb receptivity basically. About a grand with initial consultation and tests. I’d definitely consider it if no luck a bit further down the line, I’m convinced it’s an implantation issue for me

Hope your scan goes well ☺️

ooh - I’m so excited at the idea of doing ante natal classes and being the newbie 🤣 seems so unrealistic now but hopefully 🤞🏻