Nhs ivf autoimmune protocol

[orangeloo]

Hi, feel like this is gonna be a long shot but I have 'unexplained infertility' hopefully soon to start nhs ivf process. I have autoimmune thyroid condition which is as under control currently as it can be. This condition and the fact I have infertility with no tests showing any issues. I am currently reading 'is your body baby friendly' about immune system causing not just recurrent miscarriages but implantation failure itself which could potentially be the cause of my infertility. My question is this, do the nhs have an ivf autoimmune protocol? If I got the immune tests privately before my first round would they give me the steroids etc that could help. I know they give these to recurrent miscarriage patients but would they acknowledge this for infertility and ivf too? Thanks for staying with me, any insight gratefully recvd.

Hi @orangeloo I do not have answer to your question but I am interested in any response that comes on your query as i reckon i might have similar issue. I have thyroid (unsure of autoimmune) and have had 2 ivf implantation failure and 1 early m/c despite of top quality embryo. I am nhs funded too and didnt find any difference in approach but it could be my clinic being laid back ! May i ask how can i check for autoimmune issue ? My thyroid is below 2 so it is in control.

@duckhouse hi, sorry to hear what you've been through. I got a full thyroid test on Medichecks I think it's £69. One autoimmune marker was well above normal they have now come down I believe due to cutting out gluten. I don't think everyone who has autoimmune thyroid problems will have fertility issues necessarily as apparently about 70% of thyroid cause is autoimmune and thyroid disorders are so common but it's definitely something to think about. X

Thankyou @orangeloo for your response and i hope you get the response you are looking for.

I might order for medicheck test too for clarity of mind. My clinic has failed to give me a reason for so many ivf failures so i am really keen to get to the root of it

My clinic first time Around and 5 years ago (and was an nhs cycle) did all the immune testing but charged for that as a bolt on. Though my cycle was free and on NHS. Different CCG have different rules about add ons so worth asking your clinic.

However with covid about a lot of immune tx - mainly pred is not being given / or with strict caution so again worth discussing this.

Thank you @Cream123 that's really helpful. I will definitely ask them.

Definitely look into it @duckhouse I recommend the book too, admittedly I have just started reading it but it's interesting, helpful and really sympathetically written. No woman should have to keep going through multiple miscarriage and ivf failure repeatedly. ' Is your body baby friendly?' By Alan E Beer MD

Thanks @orangeloo ordering the book now !

hi @orangeloo did you ever get to the bottom of your autoimmune disorder potentially delaying TTC, i've just started a similar thread as i to have an autoimmune disorder, graves/ over active thyroid and i'm struggling with unexplained secondary infertility.

@got2be hey, not really. I just had my egg collection with no transfer due to OHSS but in my consultation I asked about my autoimmune thyroid and do I need steroid or aspirin etc. He just said a blunt no and that they don't give these things unless there is indication of need . Ie autoimmune thyroid condition alone does does not warrant these. However I'm sure there are some consultants out there that would prescribe this in these cases.
If upcoming Transfer does not work I will ask again.

How are u getting on or
Can u post a think to thread. X

@orangeloo yes it seems different clinics try different ways, i would have thought they would test to make sure there giving you the best chance.

fingers crossed transfer goes well x

i was told to start asprin but only once i have success with ttc and get to 12 weeks were others are on a baby dose from after ov.

ive just found a clinic that does all testing so once i have a consultation ill know which ones i should go for and hopefully get some answers then x

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/infertility/4225335-Unexplained-Secondary-Infertility-autoimmune-disease-graves

@got2be hey, just read through. I have hashimotos so not the same but similar.

Following on from from the anti inflammatory diet.
Last July I cut out gluten ( well I would say98% cut it out)
My thyroglobulin antibodies went from 289 to 62 three months later.
This was the only change I made so there must be something in it.
I feel better and although I haven't conceived I will keep it up. I also think we may not have conceived because we stopped putting the effort into natural ttc due to IVF being round the corner. if only I'd have tried this years ago.

So yeah definitely worth trying cutting out inflammatories.

@orangeloo wow that's a huge change from just cutting out gluten, someone else has mentiond and anti im diet, so cd6 and trying to add to this cycle.
good luck with IVF. got everything crossed for u x

@got2be thank you. Good luck to you too x

Hi did any of you have successful IVF?