4th Miscarriage - Tests all clear, where to go from here?

[SeagullGirl72]

Hi all,

I'm 31 and am currently having my 4th miscarriage. I had 2 in May (pregnancy in unknown location) & November (chemical) 2018, my 3rd in December 2020 (early miscarriage) and my 4th started 17th September 2022, which has been classed as another early miscarriage. All these happen between 4-6 weeks. Never been able to see anything on an early scan except this time as I booked a private one before the bleeding had started. I was supposed to be 6w3d but it had stopped growing at 4-5 weeks. I was on 5mg Folic Acid, 150mg Asprin and 4 Progesterone Pessaries a day with this 4th pregnancy, this just delayed the bleeding and gave false hope. Reason for the gaps is due to my April 2020 wedding getting postponed over and over and the tests after the 3rd taking 18 months to be completed.

I've had all the tests available on the NHS including a Hycosy and all have come back clear. Official diagnosis is "You're just unlucky". Just struggling on where to go from here? I can't keep going through this. I got a referral to the Tommy's Birmingham clinic but next available appointment is 5th April 2023!!! The nurse at my local EPU has off the record suggested trying Dyoxycycline as she thinks I have an issue with implantation. I have ordered this from Superdrug online. I have been researching all sorts online and trawling these forums. I've seen taking CoQ10 can be helpful as well has omega 3. I've also looked into getting an endometrial scratch as these are offered in IVF when implantation fails. Wondering why these aren't offered as standard for miscarriage? Speaking of IVF, this is something I have been referred for and had a consultation about but as I get pregnant within 3 cycles they instead just repeated the tests I already had as didn't think IVF was necessary. I'm unsure whether to pursue this further as it could avoid any potential chromosomal abnormalities which may be causing the losses. Just not sure if any of the above is just clutching at straws.
I've also been looking into private clinics that could offer different tests such as NK cells, hyper fertility and further tests for my husband but not sure if it is worth it or even where to try as these clinics seem to gear more towards infertility rather than miscarriage. So if anyone has any recommendations I am in North West England.

Sorry for the long post, I'm just feeling lost and clueless. I trawl these forums looking for reassurance and thought it was about time I wrote my own feelings down.

I'm so sorry for your loss OP. I cannot imagine the turmoil you must be going through.

I remember a specialist telling me that sustainability in pregnancy depends heavily (not solely ) on the health of the egg. Are you doing anything to ensure the health of yours?

Sending hugs 🤗

Thanks for your reply @TwoProngedFork 💕

I eat healthy, don't smoke, am of a good weight, take all prenatal vitamins advised and have been told through internal scans (of which I've lost count) that everything looked healthy. I do drink alcohol and caffeine but not excessively, though I didn't give up either when ttc but will do next time. I am also going to start taking CoQ10 and Omega 3. I gave up dairy prior to conception as I realised an intolerance. I also gave up gluten when I got my BFP as I read coeliac disease can cause miscarriage and I do have some symptoms of it. Currently awaiting a blood test for this. It's just such a grey area to be in when there are no answers. 🙁

For what it's worth I took coq10, ate a lot of avocado, no caffeine or alcohol and yes prenatals. I did a lot of greens. Took me a while to accept that everyone has a different journey so I had to make my own adjustments and not necessarily rely on my age. I also ensured I stayed hydrated and ate beetroot.

If I can remember more, I'll share.

I noticed I'd brown spot a bit before a loss so topped up my vitamin B. Have you been on the baby and bump website?

Sorry for your loss I have just had 2 recurrent MCs and another person recommended to me to read it starts with an egg. I thought the book was quite informative on supplements etc

I am in a similar position except older. At your age I had similar losses fairly early at about 5-6 weeks. This time it was a MMC at 6-7 weeks so they are testing the embryo as I had an early scan. I was going to do day 2-5 bloods & AMH, then see what the recurrent miscarriage clinic says in a couple of months.

The only thing I can think it might be for me is low progesterone, genetic abnormality (maybe one of us has a balanced translocation or abnormality from our age now), auto immune or low quality eggs. I caught COVID just after 6 wks too, but may be a coincidence.

Because I am 44 I have that giving me awful self talk, but went through similar to you at 31-33 and had 3 early losses before conceiving on clomid. All my tests at that age came back as unexplained infertility, alongside my irregular cycles. But we have 2 daughters (14 & 11).

I don't know whether we should ttc again, but because my cycles are very regular again for me so we would pretty much have to go for it over the next 3-9 months.

We've started taking COQ10, I am taking inositol, N-Acetyl-L-Cysteinev, it B6 & vit C along with a preconception multivitamin. IVF wouldn't be good for us as we have better odds naturally. Either I am too old now or I just have to go through losses to get a viable pregnancy.

Hi Op, so sorry for you, it’s very hard. I had 3 early miscarriages and countless chemicals. In addition to everything you took I took a prescription dose of vitamin B and blood thinners from positive test. I have a clotting disorder and that’s why the egg didn’t implant properly (chemicals). Worth investigating.

good luck and big hug! My rainbow baby is one now and he was worth all the pain. You will get there!

So sorry for your losses op. I feel the struggle. I've lost 3, 2 rounds of IVF, 12yrs TTC and no actual cause for sub-fertility found. The only thing mentioned was 'old eggs'.

Have you read 'It starts with an egg'? I bought a copy off ebay. I thought it was worth a few, minor lifestyle changes to see if it helped. Changing from tinned tomatoes to cartons for example.

I started DH on a supplement of lycopene. Although his sperm analysis was borerline normal, I thought it cant hurt. Its found naturally in red/orange fruit and veg anyways, and some studies have shown an improvement in sperm count and motility.

I started on ubiquinol. I did a fair bit of reading, and apparently ubiquinol is more easily absorbed part of C0Q10 (or the active ingredient, I cant recall now). I bought NUYU brand, 200mg off ebay.,

Sorry if TMI. My 1st pregnancy had patau syndrome, discovered on NIPT, and the autopsy confirmed this. I sent the 2nd and 3rd miscarriages off for testing. The 3rd one, they did genetic testing which showed a different genetic issue- but again, likely due to older eggs.

If, sadly, you MC again, I would keep a sterile urine pot and collect the foetus for testing. Once again, sorry if this is TMI, but I found it reassuring' to know it wasn't molar, and also what that genetic issue was. Genetic testing isnt always possible though.

Happy to answer any questions you have ❤

@MarmiteCoriander has recommended what I was going to. It would be very helpful for you to know whether there’s a chromosomal issue with the foetus so I would ask now if it happens again what you can do to arrange this.

I lost 7 altogether, the two where I had the tissue tested came back as trisomies, both different. I also may have had an issue with my lining just before I conceived my daughter as I had a few chemicals but that was an easy fix with supplemental oestrogen.

I know it doesn’t seem like it but it is a very positive thing that you can get pregnant. I hope you get to the bottom of things soon.

Thank you all for your replies, advice and kind words.

I’m so sorry for all of your losses and what you’ve been/are going through. What a rubbish club to be a part of.

So many helpful things have been mentioned, I never really considered egg or sperm health as we are both healthy people but this is something I’m definitely going to look into and assist, with the book and supplements. My amazon basket is looking like a pharmacy at the moment! Interesting supplements for men too, never gave it a thought that my husband could take folic acid. Between us we’re going to take selenium, zinc, D Aspartic acid, omega 3, folic acid & CoQ10 alongside our daily multivitamins. I will to continue to give up dairy and also gluten once I’ve had my blood test for coeliac, regardless of the results as I’ve read this can cause inflammation even if you are not intolerant. Alcohol and caffeine will have to go with both of us too.

Still toying with the idea of taking doxycycline (currently being used in Professor Quenby's CERM trial, available on online pharmacy's as an anti-malarial) once my period starts again as I've read of awful side effects but I'll try anything at this point.

I did ask the EPU this time about genetic testing as I kept some tissue (sorry for TMI) but they said I would have needed to put it straight into saline solution. It would be helpful if they could just tell you these things straight away rather than after the fact, especially when you’re contacting them for the 4th time. If I’m unfortunate enough to have a ‘next time’ I’ll know what to do at least. I would like to look at genetic testing for both of us but can’t really find anywhere that does this.

On the subject of supplements I would switch to methyl folate rather than folic acid as it’s easier for the body to absorb. Also make sure you’re getting enough Vitamin D, low levels are associated with increased risk of miscarriage.