Professor Brosens / sitagliptin

[BewilderedBee]

Is there anyone on here that's been treated with sitagliptin? Also anyone had the digital endometrium function test with professor brosens? I have an initial consultation Monday and then my biopsy next Friday

Thanks in advance

Just to say - having been through the ringer a bit and had two biopsies, I'm really happy to help out by answering any questions about the procedure x

Hi all wanted to share an update for anyone looking for a positive story after taking sitagliptin...we had our 7 week scan today and there was a heartbeat! Obviously not getting too ahead of ourselves but still very happy. Hope everyone is doing ok

@NicHopingForARainbow congratulations <3 that must feel fantastic! I know it's early days but for me personally that would feel like a big milestone, you must be over the moon xxx

That’s amazing news. Hoping and praying for your little one. May I ask what your results were from Prof Brosens? X

Thanks @Rose1411 and @Ezzyar it is a big milestone for us so we just keep hoping.
To answer your question about my results it was this part of the test that lead to Prof brosens prescribing the sitagliptin: the endometrial stromal subsets indicated an endometrium that is permissive to embryo implantation but
also prone to breakdown in pregnancy.
He also prescribed progesterone as the first biopsy I had done with him showed my progesterone levels had fallen far quicker than normal which is something I always suspected with a short luteul phase but years ago my gp shut me down on this subject and I had a son in 2019 so I told myself it must be normal for me, therefore I had to have a second biopsy just for him to be able to compare my results accurately. I hope this info helps x

Thats just amazing. Thank you so much for sharing. It's so hopeful. And really kind of you to have shared your hope with us! That's so interesting about the progesterone - I had the exact same issue. A short leutal phase, and kept asking for progesterone to cover 3DPo - 13DPO. On my first biopsy I was told to take progesterone 3 - 13DPO and my levels were really good (biopsy on day 10). For my second biopsy I forgot to take until day 5 and had my biopsy day 7 and they were really low and now have the prescription I've wanted for a long time! So frustrating when you know your own body hey?
I was on the 17th percentile for those stromal subsets - now on the 25th ish (projected).

@Ezzyar that sounds like good progress, I was on 21st centile from the biopsy and no idea now. I re-read your first post and so sorry for what you've been through, it must be heartbreaking to see heartbeats and then no explanation for why it didn't work out. I found out recently that my last mmc over a year ago was down to trisomy 16 (tissue from the d&c was tested) so nothing we could have done to change the outcome which was a little reassuring but also scary.
Are you on 200mg of progesterone following ovulation and then been told to increase to 400mg if pregnant? That's what I was told and did. Really hoping everything works out for you x

@NicHopingForARainbow Oo that's really interesting! Thanks for sharing your centile. Prof Brosens was disappointed it wasn't more, but progress is progress, and good to have 4 extra months of sitagliptin to help me on the way. I'm now halfway through month... 5. Gosh I do loose count. Oh I'm so sorry to hear about your miscarriages. Our was a trisomy too, not sure what specific type. But yes - I agree with you. Reassuring and frightening. Yes 200mg twice a day of progesterone, then 400mg twice daily from positive test. So frustrating to have not done that for 4 years, and to finally be taking what I knew would help. In the past professor brosens had spoken about the possibility of a steroid at a positive pregnancy but seems to have changed his mind on that. Did he mention that to you at all? I'm having an additional chat with him on Friday so might be annoying and ask him to explain again why his preference with me is to not. How are you feeling? E x

@Ezzyar he didn't mention a steroid to me but I think you would only need a steroid if your natural killer cells were high. Before having the biopsy with Prof Brosens we had 2 tries at ivf (private) both times didn't implant, first time I tried a low dose steroid because of the previous miscarriages and it freaked me out a bit to think I was lowering my immune system if I didn't actually know I needed to so I opted to not take it again.
I know exactly how you feel with time wasted but hopefully all the trying and investigating leads us somewhere. I found my mental health improved a lot when I felt like I was doing something to find out information or try the biopsy etc.
I'm feeling good thanks, strangely hopeful and not taking a minute for granted. Good luck for your chat on Friday I hope it helps x

Hi just wondering how everyone is getting on. Lovely to hear your update NicHopingForARainbow. Since stopping the sitagliptin I have had very unusual periods - start light and then pass very large clots for a few days and then back to light - lasting 10 days. I thought it was a one off but seems to be getting worse every cycle. Has anyone experienced anything similar?

on another note my sister in law is currently in labour and I am expected to visit this weekend although I have pushed back and told the family I need to prioritise my mental health

Well I'm having a bit of a mare. First month of trying after sitagliptin and get a positive on clear blue advanced on the Saturday, temp spike on Sunday so dtd sat and sun couldn't on Monday as ds was ill, but then temp dropped down again Tuesday- Thurs and spiked again Friday. So not sure when I ovulated. Tricky thing is I am meant to be on progesterone from 3dpo which I started on the Tuesday and pg test after 10 days but now I've no idea if I started it too soon or what. Feel like I've just messed up an entire month and have no idea what to do.

@Ttcafterlosses how are you getting on? I don't have any advice on the clotting as I'm not that far down the road yet. Did Proff Broson's say to expect unusual periods? Hope you feel ok on the sister in law front. I know it's not easy and you're absolutely right to prioritise your mental health, hopefully there's a right time to visit <3

@Cariadxx I don't have any advice but just wanted to say I can only imagine how frustrating that is!! Are you able to sense check with anyone in proff brosons office?

I had my date through today for the biopsy results later this month. Had an immediate sense of dread with all the possibilities running through my mind of what he might say. Then felt excited that they may have found something! Working on staying occupied between now and then.

I just did a test today which is 10dpo according to the first spike and it is negative so I've stopped the progesterone as planned and I'll see what happens. I've usually known or had an inkling when pregnant before so I'm pretty confident I'm out this month.
We've said we'll stop when I'm 40 which is September and the reality of this is really starting to bite.

I'll be 45 when I give birth in a few months.
Clearly, the decision is yours, but I wanted to reach out and say, "Please don't give up due to your age, especially when you've had previous positive tests."

I know there are lots of people who give birth over 40 but we've been trying and failing for 3 years, ds will be 6 next year and I feel like I've lost the last 3 years of my life and I can't keep putting it on hold whilst ds grows older and I'm not making the most of him.

I understand. Sorry, I presumed you were trying for your first (hence my mention of positive tests).
This journey can definitely rob us of so many aspects of our life. Nevertheless, I wish you all the best on your journey x

I have so much respect and am in awe of these people who try for years and years without success, I have no idea how they do it as I'm not mentally strong enough.

Hi ladies - I’ve just joined Mumsnet after finding this thread online. I’m booked in for by biopsy with Prof Brosens on Friday after having 4 miscarriages (no children).
I noticed somebody on here say they got their follow up 9 days later! I wondered if anyone else got their results sooner than 3 weeks? We’ll be starting IVF as soon as the biopsy results are back (unless I need any treatment as a result of this test) xx

Hi everyone,

I just wanted to share my story, to give those that might need it some hope. I had my first DC in 2018 but then had 5 miscarriages, when trying to conceive our second DC.
In January 2023, I had my biopsy with Prof Brosens and in February started Sitagliptin. After two cycles, I got a BFP and after a very stressful and anxious pregnancy my second DC was born in January 2024. I got pregnant at 39
and had my second DC at 40.
I know how incredibly hard recurrent loss is and it very nearly broke me as a person. I didn’t think I’d ever get to this point in my life but Prof Brosens research and treatment plan worked for me and I’m so grateful.
Good luck to those with a BFP already, I know pregnancy can be an anxious and stressful time after loss (I was a mess for the whole 9 months). For those that are still going through this process, I hope that my story gives you hope to carry on when things are so hard. x

@Littleray24 positive stories are so uplifting <3 thank you for sharing, reading stuff like this keeps me going xxx i'm in a similar position, one DC born 2021 and 6 miscarriages although my last one was down to genetics I am convinced there's an issue with my lining in general.

@SJ88xx hope your appointment went well today xx the time between my biopsy and results is looking to be a month, results on 23rd this month

@Rose1411 I’m so sorry for your losses and for everything that you’ve been through. I’m glad that my story has helped you. Do you have an appointment with Prof Brosens? As soon as I read his research, I was pretty confident that my lining was the causes for my losses too. Good luck, I hope everything goes well for you xx

@Littleray24 it has been tough but having a very little dc has kept me very busy and distracted which im grateful for. We've had a break from trying for a couple of months now which has been lovely and done my mental health wonders.

I had the biopsy already just waiting results which im getting next week xx whatever he says ill wait a month or two to try again as id like to enjoy summer. I didn't really get to last year...

Do you mind me asking what week your miscarriages were? Mine were all around 4-5 weeks with very faint test lines. We seem to get pregnant straight away too.

@Rose1411 Thank you, it went well - glad it’s out the way now!
that’s helpful to know, hopefully I’ll get my results in a similar timeframe.
i hope your follow up gives you some answers - please let us know afterwards 😊

@Rose1411 I completely understand, I don’t think I’d have got through all of the miscarriages without having DC1 to keep me busy.

We had a break too before trying again after the Sitagliptin. I definitely needed it, just to make some memories without worrying about pregnancy and the roller coaster of emotions associated with it.

I had one miscarriage at 5 weeks, the rest were at weeks 7 or 8. It was heartbreaking to see a heartbeat and then for it to have stopped by the next scan. I had severe anxiety over scans throughout my whole pregnancy. I also got pregnant straight away when ever we tried.

Please keep me updated with your results. I’m thinking of you and I hope Prof Brosens can provide you with some answers, knowing why was such a relief to me as I know many women don’t find out the cause of their miscarriages. Good luck xx

Hi @SJ88xx @Littleray24 and other ladies out there ...

So I had my biopsy results today and everything normal apart from my natural killer cells in my womb lining which proff has prescribed steroids for up to week 10 of pregnancy.

I feel totally relieved and validated as ive suspected this for a while now. I have had antibody tests and everything points to the fact that I have hashimotos thyroid autoimmune disorder. My thyroid works outside of pregnancy but my hormones start to rocket during pregnancy although ive never got far enough for them to go out of range.

In a nutshell next time round ill be taking early progesterone from 3dpo, steroids (dose tbc) until 10 weeks, meanwhile having blood tests to check my thyroid hormone levels are within normal range.

Anyone out there in a similar situation?

Xxxx