Recurrent miscarriage clinic - what to expect?

[louisab29]

I had my 3rd ERPC a few weeks ago and was told I'd be seen by the recurrent miscarriage within 8 weeks. I've been chasing up my referral this week and kept getting told I was on the waiting list. Today they said they've reserved me an appointment on the 7th April, but I needed to wait for the letter before everything would be confirmed. I feel very deflated as (optimistically) thought I would have all my tests and results back by then. Additionally I will have to wait until then to get the genetic results back from the fetus. I don't think it's really a priority within the NHS as they told me they only had this clinic once a fortnight and only 3 people were seen per clinic.

What's everyone else's experience with these clinics?

I was quite lucky that I saw my local hospital quite quickly - I had my third miscarriage in June last year and my first appointment with them was late July. It then took until October to get all the tests done and back. All my tests came back normal, and I was quite upset with how they handled that - I was told that I was 'just quite unfortunate' and that was that. I understand there were no treatments they could offer me, but I was upset with the lack of support and compassion.

I did also go to see the Coventry recurrent miscarriage clinic run by Siobhan Quenby - I'd really recommend that, and can talk further about it if you're interested. If you are I'd recommend doing that while waiting for your NHS tests, as it requires two cycles off TTCing, so I felt I might as well get all the waiting out the way in one go.

Thank you so much for your reply Lisa I can't work out if it will be better to hear there's something wrong or not.
Can I ask how much you paid to go to the private clinic? That is something I've been thinking of while waiting.
How are you getting on now?

Your prognosis is better if you're unexplained than with many of the most common known causes (something that the doctor could helpfully have explained!), but I found it quite hard emotionally to just be told 'you're fine, go and try again'.

Coventry charge £500 which covers having the test for NK cells done (twice - it has to be repeated in two consecutive cycles) and all the consultations. When I thought I was having a fourth miscarriage they said they would repeat it all for free if necessary.

It turned out that I also didn't have elevated NK cells, but they prescribed me progesterone, and said that just having the test (also known as an endometrial scratch) done is a treatment in and of itself. I also took 75mg of aspirin when I got pregnant again, which they didn't advise me to do but my local EPU did. I have no idea whether any one of these things made any difference, but I'm now 15 weeks pregnant (as I said, I thought I was going to lose it again right at the start but didn't), having never got past 8 weeks before. So still a long way to go, but starting to feel more hopeful.

I'm so sorry you're going through this - it's so, so horrible to have loss after loss.

I just looked up the Coventry clinic (details are here: www.uhcw.nhs.uk/miscarriage/nk-cells-testing-clinic) and it says its £540, not £500 - not sure if I misremembered the price, or if it's gone up slightly since the summer.

Thanks for the info, I'll look into that. So pleased to hear this pregnancy is going well for you.

• I took Progesterone on the 29th day, and dr Jan believes if you take on the 21st day.