Private miscarriage investigations

[Ricecake21]

Hi all - I found out yesterday at a private scan that I have had a missed miscarriage. I had two previous MMCs before my first child was born, so this is my third in total but they haven't been consecutive. I have an appointment with the hospital tomorrow to discuss managing the miscarriage but I don't expect that they will refer me for any tests for recurrant miscarriage. Assuming that is the case, I would like to have some tests done privately to investigate.

I've seen lots of recommendations for Dr Shehata and other specialist clinics who seem to focus on NK cell testing, but I'm obviously at the start of the process and want to start with basic, but fairly comprehensive testing e.g. blood clotting, karyotyping etc. I say etc. but I'm not really sure what I should be looking for! I was wondering if anyone had any recommendations for anywhere in the South East or London for testing?I saw this package offered by London Gynaecology and thought it looked like a comprehensive starting point but I don't really know - www.london-gynaecology.com/self-pay-packages/recurrent-miscarriage-testing/

I'd really appreciate any experiences or recommendations that anyone could offer. Thanks.

Anyone have any thoughts?

I'm sorry for your losses @Ricecake21 are you having this baby tested? I think that would help give you some answers. I had my 4th tested and he was chromosomally normal.

I have recurrent losses and had all the standard nhs tests - the link you shared does cover the ones I had (amh I had to pay the nhs to do). Parental karyotyping is quite costly and I couldn't see that on the list you shared, we did get that done via the nhs too.

I am under Dr Shehata now and I do have an overactive immune system and also possible adenomyosis which has a strong link to recurrent losses - he is the first person to pick up on this despite me having well over 20 transvaginal scans over the last 3.5 years. I'm on a treatment plan with him now, but our initial tests were about £2.5k.

I hope you get some answers x

Thanks for replying @VenusStarr. That's helpful to know that those are some of the most common tests. I wasn't sure if the "chromosomal analysis" test on the list was the same as karyotyping. Something I'll ask if I go with that test package.

I'm going to ask at my appointment tomorrow about getting the baby tested. I'm not sure whether they will facilitate this if I can't be referred for testing with the NHS i.e. whether I could pay the NHS to take a sample and test it or to send it to wherever I end up having to go privately for testing.

I'm glad you're getting some answers now, although it sounds like it has been a long road for you. It's all so exhausting and I can't quite believe that we're back here again. If we don't get any outcomes from the more basic tests I will definitely try to get an appointment with Dr Shehata. I really hope you get a positive outcome.x

Sorry @Ricecake21 I missed the chromosonal testing - when I looked into the test it was quite expensive, about £700 each, so it's good if it does include that. But best to check like you say. The nhs mainly tests for blood clotting, lupus and thyroid issues.

Dr Shehata does have some good success rates, I think we must be quite complex though as most people seem to get their results, start a plan and then get pregnant. But we've been under him since November and haven't got pregnant again - I'm on his complex plan with steroids and immune modulators. We're moving onto ivf soon, but hoping to still follow his immune plan alongside.

Hopefully you can get your baby tested, it helped us to know we needed further tests on me. I'm sorry you're going through this again ❤️ x

I'm really sorry to hear this xxx
I really pushed my GP after miscarriage number 3 and they referred me to a specialist unit via Tommys. I saw Professor Lesley Regan (she's also wrote a very helpful miscarriage book) - who I'd absolutely recommend.
In January this year, I had a hysteroscopy via St Marys Hospital and they found that I had a uterine septum, which they removed. This could have been the cause and wasn't picked up via NHS 'normal' investigations as can't be seen on the usual scan. They also tested my blood via deeper tests than usual and found my blood clots a particular way... so also could have caused the miscarriages. They've prescribed me clexane from my next positive test up until 30 weeks pregnant.

The usual NHS tests just don't investigate deep enough and they are all to quick to say 'it must have been bad luck'. I really recommend trying to get referred to St Marys and they also do this private, if the NHS is a long wait. xx

Apolgies for the delay in replying @VenusStarr and @Rachae and thanks for your recommendations. I was at the hospital until late yesterday evening as I was able to have surgery to deal with my MMC in the afternoon which I wasn't expecting but very relieved it's all done and dusted. The very kind doctor that I dealt with agreed to send a sample off for karyotyping which I was pleased about. I had had a couple of chemical pregnancies before this MMC (but since having my first child) and she seemed content to take them into account in deciding whether to do recurrant miscarriage tests, which I didn't think would be the case. She will also do blood tests once I get a clear pg test.

That's really useful to know @Rachae that the initial NSH tests might not probe that deeply and I've bought the Prof Regan book you mentioned off Amazon this morning. I was quite sick and exhausted with this pregnancy so in some ways I feel like getting these initial NHS tests done gives me some breathing space to recover while also not feel like I'm wasting my time doing nothing, if that makes sense. I hope you get a positive test soon and that all goes well with your next pregnancy. I hope you feel a bit reassured that your uterine septum has been treated and that there is a plan for your next pregnancy.

Best of luck with IVF @VenusStarr. Again, I hope that Dr Shehata's immune plan gives you a good outcome for your next pregnancy. xx

I'm so sorry to hear about your losses.

I second Professor Regan at St Mary's - I had all the first lot of tests, fell pregnant again before the scan and second blood tests but lost it again at 6weeks. So now have to wait a month to go back for the scan.

But she's efficient and thorough and I feel well supported and that she's not going to be putting me through lots of tests for no reason. I have read some things about Dr Shehata that worried me in terms of treatments not backed up by research etc.

We have gone through her private clinic and the tests so far with consultation have been £1000 with another £600 to come from scan, second consultation and repeat blood test. But she has definitely not put us through tests that she doesn't see as necessary for our particular circumstances.

Hi @glowingtwig, wondered how it went with Lesley Regan? I am thinking of booking a consultation with her as I know from tests done abroad that I have PAI-1 4G/5G, MTHFR and ACE mutations. Did she test these for you and did she prescribe any medication? Hope you had success and hope youyou have some good news to share!

Hi, has anyone had experience with any of these 3 doctors: Prof Lesley Regan, Dr Raj Rai and Dr Shehata?

Not sure which one to choose for the private recurrent miscarriage treatment.

Thanks in advance!

I have used Lesley Regan for consultation on Thrombophillia treatment with Clexane and Aspirin. She will not look at immunology problems if you have any. Hope that helps, let me know if you need more info, you can PM me.

Once again second Prof Regan @SumMerRRR - I posted ages ago about our investigations and now we have a beautiful 15w old baby boy. She's forthright and honest and doesn't mess about and gets results. She's the best there is.

Does anyone have any recommendations for testing up north?