APS - Antiphospholipid Syndrome

[LW678]

Hi all, I’ve had 2 recurrent miscarriages (one at 5 weeks and a MMC more recently where baby stopped growing at 6 weeks). I’ve been told that the doctors would like to test for APS but I believe I have to wait a certain period of time after a miscarriage? Does anyone know how long? I’ve heard it’s 6 weeks, is this 6 weeks after a negative test or 6 weeks after the start of the miscarriage or 6 weeks once everything had passed? Thanks!

Not too sure on this one but I would have thought it would be after everything has passed, best to check with doctor. . What makes them think AS Is a possibility of you dont mind me asking?

Just because I’ve had 2 miscarriages and this is an easy one to rule out

Hello, I’m sorry for your losses. I’ve been there. I’ve recently found out that I have APS. I had a mmc back in July and they tested me actually as I went in to have my d&c. The second test to confirm was about 10/12 weeks after first which was also positive. Hoping I get pregnant again the next pregnancy I’ll be on aspirin and blood thinners.

Hi I have APS. Had m/cs. Was sent to m/c unit at st Mary’s where they found I had APS with my second child after I started bleeding. Aspirin and then a healthy child. Just turned 21. I’ve been on blood thinners ever since.

Good luck.

Thank you both. I’ve been asked to wait 6 weeks after my miscarriage, do you know why this might be?

I know they’ve said something about you could have a false positive if you test close to a miscarriage but that didn’t seem to stop them from testing me at the time. I had a feeling mine would return a positive anyway and then the second test 10 weeks later confirmed my suspicions. The drs seemed surprised that I had APS.

Thing is I had two miscarriages and then was able to carry my son full term whilst on progesterone and aspirin only (no diagnoses) it’s only whilst Ttc for #2 with another miscarriage and a whole host of autoimmune type symptoms I thought something is definitely off. Glad I‘ve been tested though as my chances hopefully are better for a future pregnancy. 🤞🏻 just sucks what we have to go through in order to get answers. 💔

So sorry for your losses.

It’s 6 weeks from when you get a negative test, then again 12 weeks after that.

You are more likely to produce antiphospholipid antibodies in pregnancy even if you don’t have APS. There are two main clotting systems in the body - clotting due to platelet factors, so sticky blood where your platelets clump together, and clotting due to coagulant factors (enzymes like factor xa). Both of these ramp up in pregnancy, starting with conception and increasing towards the end: It’s a biological reaction, the body’s was of stopping us bleeding to death in childbirth. Clotting increases in pregnancy, the tests measure how long your blood takes to clot - that’s why it’s not reliable to test during or shortly after pregnancy. It takes a while
for the body to get back to normal after a pregnancy.

I’ve been diagnosed with APS for 4 years now. If it is APS then once treated you’ve got a very good chance of having a successful pregnancy. More than that, it means you can take precautions because APS makes you more prone to clots outside of pregnancy too. Outside of pregnancy I take 150mg aspirin every night (it works best taken at night) and in pregnancy I have a daily heparin/lovenox/dalteparin (all the same stuff!) as well. Also ask for progesterone from a positive test whatever else happens, it’s being prescribed routinely more and more often for recurrent miscarriage.

Thinking of you x

Hi Lis! So sorry. I am going through very similar. What symptoms did you have if you don't mind me asking please? Hugs x