I know one is called Factor 5 or spelled in Roman numerals, Factor V. I hope you find some things out! ((Hugs))
__________________ Metformin 1500mg, Yasmin, managing IR/pcos with lower carbs
First pregnancy ended at 23 weeks due to incompetent cervix.
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Mary Catherine will be in our hearts forever, November 28, 2003.
Second loss March 9, 2004 at five weeks
Third pregnancy, Cerclage at 13w
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Fourth pregnancy, Cerclage at 13w
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Basically there are a boatload of things they can look for in the immunological/clotting realm of things... here is a VERY complete list from the place we are/were considering IVF at
#3 What testing of the immunological system is performed and what are the possible treatments?
At Zouves Fertility Center we do screen all patients embarking on IVF for evidence in their blood of auto antibodies which may suggest that implantation may be adversely affected. In patients without a history of recurrent pregnancy loss or recurrent failed IVF, we would do a full panel of the antiphospholipid antibodies (APA) as well as both thyroid antibodies (thyroglobulin antibody and microsomal antibody). If these are abnormal or if patients have recurrent failed IVF or recurrent pregnancy loss, we would add to this testing an evaluation of the cellular side of the immune system through a test called the natural killer assay or the NK assay. Sometimes it may be appropriate to check the chromosomes on both partners to be sure that there are no inherited genetic problems contributing to the recurrent loss. Some patients may share certain immunological markers in which case both partners should be tested for the DQ alpha allele. Some patients with recurrent loss may also have inherited disorders which make their blood clot more readily and testing for these inherited thrombophilias would include a test called Leiden Factor V, Protein C deficiency, and the MTHFR test.
Treatments for identified immunological factors may include any or all of the following; baby aspirin, heparin or Lovenox, immunization with paternal or nonpaternal leukocytes (LIT), precycle treatment with 30 days of Etanercept which is the name for Enbrel and possibly IVIG as well.
The catch is... not all clinics can/will run all the tests (some of this stuff has to be sent out to labs in other parts of the country) and a lot of this stuff, both the belief that it is a problem and the belief that xyz can help and/or is needed is considered experimental... unproven... etc. So you may find that your doctor won't test for all of these things and you may find he/she won't treat as agressively you hear others are being treated.
My clinic has run somewhat less extensive panel on me and I came back as having 2 copies of MTHFR, which is a clotting problem, but it's not supposed to be an issue unless levels of homocysteine are high (mine are not). I have been told to go on a prescription B vitamin and a baby aspirin just as a precaution but, while some doctors will prescribe heperin in this case, mine won't. (They used to, but found no difference in pregnancy rates, so make of that what you will)
I also have a very VERY slight marker in the antiphospholipid antibody panel but it's only one thing and it's like the cut-off is 9 and mine is 10. So they don't think it's a problem.
I am waffling on whether or not I will seek a second opinion. I feel like I SHOULD believe this is a problem but I think there is something inside of me, I don't want this to be a problem because if it IS, it precludes my ever having a surprise baby down the line. Dunno if that makes sense or not.
There is actually a world-renowned (sp) reproductive immunological clinic 15 minutes from my house that I have ruled out going to because a fried of a friend went there and said basically they give everyone the same diagnosis and same treatment and yet this guy was unable to prove his treatments even worked. In a nutshell, it seems this place will ship your husband's stuff to Iowa and then tell you that you and he are incompatible and you need xyz expensive unproven treatment. So I have ruled THAT out, but I am still unsure about the heparin idea - and give me a few years and I *may* get depserate enough to accept my husband and I are simply incompatible.
But that stuff above, that's a good version of what all they might look at. IF the clotting is a problem, supposedly it will be a problem most likely at the points between 1st and 2nd trimesters, I think... but the fact that it can be a problem then has been used to speculate that implantation failures can also be caused by clotting issues. So could it be a problem for you? Maybe... thought it also possible your losses have been caused by totally different, random things.
eta - a very good book on the topic, or that includes the topic, is "Coming to Term: Uncovering the truth about miscarriage" by Jon Cohen (I think... I am looking at the spine, on my night stand, but it is a library book and there is a sticker over half the name and I am too lazy to move the other books to check) ... SugarPlums will probably reccomend it, too. The whole point of the book is kind of, repeat miscarriage sucks, it happens, there's theories why it happens, but most women who have had repeat miscarriage will go to term with or without intervention...
I am trying to make that my mantra.
I am also drinking a LOT of coconut rum and pineapple juice... which may not be constructive but it is undeniably tasty...
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"We've tried to wash our hands of all of this
We never talk of our lacking relationships
And how we're guilt-stricken, sobbing, with our heads on the floor
We fell through the ice when we tried not to slip..."
- the verve pipe
Last edited by RunnerDuck; 05-07-2007 at 02:57 AM.
Wow, there are so many... guess I'll just have to wait for the test results. My OB said she's going to test for a bunch of things, clotting disorders being a big one. Maybe I'm better off not researching it on my own, I'll just wait for the doctor to tell me if I have one then look at that specifically.
I researched progesterone and was able to rule that out as the cause of my miscarriage. Tey checked my progesterone early on, and it was great, and this m/c happened just a couple weeks too late for it to be that.
This is just what I do with myself. I can't read baby books anymore, so I went to the bookstore and bought a few more books on PCOS... I'm just a researching kinda gal. I don't like to be in the dark about things.
I am seeing one of the Drs mentioned in the book. She was in Canada, but is now at the Universtiy of Chicago. We are still on a break until I get ALL the answers back. I came back positive for the antiphosphilopid syndrome, I had a few other things but the major one right now was endometritis, some infection in the lining that is usually cause by leftover products of conception. I did my rounds of antiboitics and now just waiting for af to get another endometrial biopsy.
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Last edited by *~SugarPlums~*; 05-07-2007 at 10:32 AM.
About this blood clotting disorder I hear so much about... 
The whole point of the book is kind of, repeat miscarriage sucks, it happens, there's theories why it happens, but most women who have had repeat miscarriage will go to term with or without intervention...
