When you say you had genetic tests done did that include a karyotype? I know that one doesn't always get included any more. And if so did they karyotype your partner too?

Hi Warnerka. I am sorry for all your losses.

The choromosomal tests should be the karyotyping.

I had the NK cells testing done last March after 3 miscarriages at 11w3d (baby had died at about 8 weeks), 5 weeks and then 4w4d, then a year of not conceiving at all. High levels of NK cells found, progesterone prescribed to try and help sustain the pregnancy until I could get a positive test. At the same time I attended another clinic who do natural fertility planning (wasn't sure that they weren't pedalling a lot of woo, but had been recommended them through a church friend). I had been charting for that clinic since the january. They felt that although my hormone levels looked fine on the Drs blood tests, they didn't think that my body was responding well to them. They recommended extra progesterone, which I already had from the NK cells clinic. "Great" thinks I, two potential diagnoses, treatment plan all in place, we know that up until the last miscarriage I was falling pregnant at the drop of a hat. This is the one. Plus the biopsy should have worked like an endometrial scratch and helped. More months of not conceiving at all followed. I admit that I was close to giving up at that point. Clinic 2 suggested HCG injections instead of progesterone as that should upregulate my oestrogen as well as my progesterone. I was feeling more than a little disillusioned by that point, but decided one last stab (literally in that case) and then I was done. That cycle worked. I had my prednisolone for the first trimester and also progesterone until 20 weeks courtesy of the second clinic and we made it. I still had problems with bleeding in my first trimester and it was not the easiest pregnancy physically (we won;t even mention how bad it was mentally), but my wee girl arrived 5 weeks early (spontaneous labour, no idea what caused it) but healthy and happy. It would appear I am really crap at being pregnant, even with a lot of help. The biopsy definitely didn't make it any worse in my case (it also only took a minute or two for me). Possibly all the pregnant/not pregnant hormone swings may have just messed up my ability to respond to the hormones and more help was needed for me to sustain a pregnancy.

I hope that you get your little miracle eventually.

Very sorry you’re going through this. It seems much more likely to be the PCOS (and now perhaps also your age/“ovarian reserve”) that’s the issue rather than scarring from a test.

Prof Lesley Regan’s book on miscarriage has a chapter on PCOS

Yes karyotyping is where they look at each of your chromosomes to see if there is anything unusual.

It's done in some areas on the NHS but not others so it's not always the case you get this test done unfortunately.

Yes Bertie, they wouldn't do it for us. They told me to come back with the 'products of the next miscarriage' and they would test that instead. Thankfully it never came to that.

:( That's horrible, sorry you were told that. It might not even have helped anyway!

Hi ladies.

I’ve never posted on here before but I’m really struggling. I have a three year old and desperate for her to have a sibling.

Tried for a year to get pregnant and finally happened in Jan. Had a miscarriage at 14 weeks in April and just utterly devastated. Have been trying since then but just got my period again yesterday.

I’m just so sad, so angry and ready to give up. I’ve had private fertility tests, which all came back fine and my headband has also been privately tested and everything normal.

I’m just so terrified that my time is running out. I’m 36 now and just starting to feel that this is never going to happen for us. I know that I should be so grateful to have my daughter but I’m heartbroken at the thought of her not having a playmate and never being pregnant again.

Right now I just need a bit of hope. I’m so sick of this relentless cycle of being disappointed and angry. I just feel like my body is failing me and I can’t see an end to this.

Does anyone have any good news stories about getting pregnant post miscarriage after trying for so long? Xxx

Hi Op

I'm really sorry to hear about your miscarriages.

I wanted to ask if you've had a laparoscopy? This is a crucial procedure to check your uterus, ovaries and Fallopian tubes, and to check to see if you have any scarring.

Unfortunately, many NHS trusts are reluctant to carry it out. The reason I asked about it is because when you said it took a long time to have your NK biopsy, I wondered about endometriosis. This can cause pain & problems with smears, transfer of eggs in ivf etc. due to scarring and adhesions. Endo can also increase the risk of miscarriage.You don't have to be in lots of pain to have endo- but it might be worth keeping an eye on any mid cycle spotting, and cyclical pain. It may be worth having a look at www.endometriosis-org.uk

The only way to diagnose is to have a lap- but I would try and push for this anyway. You've been trying for over 3 yrs and they need to take a look regardless.

Good luck

Your story did resonate with me warneka. I can see a lot of similarities. We had to pay for botht he prednisolone and the HCG injections. In total I think we spent between £2500 and £3000. A drop in the ocean compared to IVF, but it was my redundancy pay twice over. Worth every penny now, but it was scary at the time thinking we may not even be looking for the right things. I hope you get your little miracle too.