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Miscarriage/pregnancy loss

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Four losses, surely this can't just be egg quality??

4 replies

User06489 · 09/05/2024 17:27

Hello, I've had four losses in a year. Three under 5 weeks, one under 7 weeks.
Can this just be my eggs? I just turned 35 in March and only started TTCing when I just turned 34. I have no live children. I seem to get pregnant about every 3 months but why do I lose them so early?
I've had one day 21 progesterone test and this came back as 41, I got a BFP next day that ended in loss.

OP posts:
Cofaki · 09/05/2024 17:31

I had five losses, some early, some a bit later. It turns out I have a blood clotting disorder. Have you had any tests?

User06489 · 09/05/2024 17:33

I am on a waiting list but god knows how long it will take. Can the GP do the blood clotting tests?

OP posts:
AllThePotatoesAreSinging · 09/05/2024 17:43

So sorry for your losses. No it’s not guaranteed to be egg quality. Maybe if it had been 1 isolated miscarriage. 4 miscarriages points to an underlying issue. Egg quality is just one possible cause, and there are so many we don’t know about.

Statistically only 1 in 100 women will have 3 or more miscarriages. If you have 1 miscarriage you have the same statistical chance of having a second as most other women - about 20%. If you have 2 miscarriages it rises to 28%. If you have 3 though it rises to about 43% chance of having another miscarriage for each subsequent pregnancy. It’s not the miscarriages that increase your risk - it’s the fact there’s probably an untreated condition.

You need to be referred to a recurrent miscarriage clinic asap. The criteria is normally after 3 miscarriages, but as you are over 35 many accept after 2. Get onto your GP. They will arrange tests and try to identify a cause. (Edit I see you are waiting - cross posts. If you get pregnant while waiting, phone them - they will often try to get you in)

I had 3 miscarriages between the ages of 36 and 38, before being diagnosed with a blood clotting issue. They were blamed on my age, weight, I ate a bad oyster, bad luck, these things happen etc, when a simple blood test would have identified the issue. I could have been 25, a perfect 10, eating only organic and have 4 leaf clovers sprout under my feet everywhere I walked and I would still have had these miscarriages as my blood clots too easily. Treated with aspirin and heparin, I had a successful pregnancy at 38, then another miscarriage, and a second successful pregnancy at 41 with progesterone added.

Good luck x

CJ0374 · 09/05/2024 18:57

I'm sorry for your losses OP Flowers There could be multiple fertility issues and not necessarily egg quality. From memory, the normal fertility work up includes

  • a hycosy or HCG to check your uterus and look for shape issues such as a bicornate uterus, fibroids and check the tubes are clear
  • STI checks for both you and partner
  • blood test and scan for AMH which looks at your egg reserve for your age
  • Blood test for thyroid, deficiencies and diabetes
  • Semen analysis
  • They also run through liftstyle things, testosterone use, jobs, chemical exposures, past STI's, PID etc

Sorry if TMI, but did you have any of the pregnancies tested for genetic issues? After the 2nd, you can take the products of conception to EPU for genetic tests. I lost 3 pregnancies and no cause for infertility was ever found. We TTC 12yrs in total and had rounds of IVF, but unfortunately don't have any children. I'm not the the norm though in terms of never getting to term with no cause.

Some NHS hospitals will do fertility testing for a fee, and sometimes they are cheaper than going to a completely private clinic. I ended up having testing down abroad where I was working at the time, because I was sick of being fobbed off by the NHS. Relax, it can take time, its just your old eggs! I was 32 when I started TTC! 🙄

I bought 'Its starts with an egg'. You can get copies off ebay. It has handy tips to potentially reduce pollutants and things in your environment and diet which 'might' cause issues and certainly worth a read. Some basic things are to both have a healthy BMI, limit alcohol and caffeine, if your partner is male then loose boxers to keep the testicles cool and take time out from TTC. It can be a very stressful time for you both.

Happy to answer any questions you have and wishing you luck ❤

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