MTHFR and Infertility relation?

[onesmartchicken]

Just wondering if anyone knows about the correlation of infertility with MTHFR. Is MTHFR related to infertility? Does folic acid actually help in getting pregnant or is it mainly used for the development of baby, and sustaining of pregnancy? Also, what does it mean if my homocysteine level is low? It's at 4.3 L. How do you know if you need shots, and do those help in TTC?
My story: We TTC for 2 1/2 years and when we finally did get preg, we lost our baby to anencephaly (a severe form of spina bifida). At that time, my doctor put me on 4 mg of folic acid- he said it was standard routine for anyone delivering baby with anencephaly. He also prescribed progesterone suppositories. I got pregnant immediately with the progesterone/ folic acid combo, and delivered a healthy baby boy in 2004. After he was born, I switched docs and stopped taking folic acid. We tried again from early 2005 to recent. During that time, my doc put me on progesterone at my request and that didn't work. He also determined that I have mild endo. Recently, I got pregnant and just lost the baby at 8 weeks. The day before my D&C, I got test results back indicating that I am compound hetero for the A and C mutations. I'm really new to all of this. I'm just trying to figure out what to do from here. Does anyone else have problems getting pregnant? I'm wondering if it's due to my endo or to the thrombophilia or maybe both. Any ideas? I've already started taking 5 mg folic acid and am planning on starting the baby asprin soon. My doctor mentioned nothing about shots though.

Everyone seems to know so much about this whole MTHFR thing. If anyone has any ideas please let me know. Sorry so many questions.

[BC-monarchbutterfly]

there is a huge sticky which i think you could find most of the tx options that people are using. you can also hop over to the immune issue board and i am sure could get a lot of answers to your questions.

[Erin83]

Hey chicken, welcome! I understand your question and some of it I may be able to help you with and some of it I won't. I'll try my best though. I'm not sure what a homocytine level is and is supposed to be. I am also heterozygous for the mutation and I haven't yet been able to conceive, but my problem is with ovulation. I will be on shots before and during my pregnancy, but it is Lovenox, an agent to keep my blood thin. As far as the questions about the levels and drugs you should be on, you might want to ask your doctor about that. In answer to your question about the mutation affecting your ablility to get pg, everybody is different and what might work for you may not work for somebody else. We may all have the same mutation, but we're all different in some way. I have to be on Folic Acid as well, but I'm taking 400mcg and according to my perinatologist, it is not to help you get pg, but to help the baby's neuro system develp like it should. I hate to say it, but you are lucky compared to some people here who have been trying for years and haven't even been able to conceive little lone be able to conceive and keep it to term. Anyway, good luck and keep us posted! Erin

[Er]

Ok, a point of clarity, Folic acid is something Everyone should take while trying to conceive. Heck, I am a guy and I take it. for those without MTHFR, 400Mcg (micrograms) is fine. But, people with MTHFR cannot absorb it easily, so those of you with this should be on a much higher dose. 2.5 mg (2500 mcg).or 4 mg(4000mcg), are common dosages.

Lovenox is often administered for clotting issues that are related to miscarriage. According to our RE, MTHFR is part of a matrix of six gene abnormalities. My wife has 4 of them, so she's on a super dose of Lovenox and 4mg of folic acid. I'd ask you RE about all of this, and frankly, ask for a referral to a hematologist.

Some other things to keep in mind, MTFHR messes with iron levels and B12 levels - so you might want to keep an eye on all that.

[The Breeze]

Originally Posted by onesmartchicken

Just wondering if anyone knows about the correlation of infertility with MTHFR. Is MTHFR related to infertility? Does folic acid actually help in getting pregnant or is it mainly used for the development of baby, and sustaining of pregnancy? Also, what does it mean if my homocysteine level is low? It's at 4.3 L. How do you know if you need shots, and do those help in TTC?
My story: We TTC for 2 1/2 years and when we finally did get preg, we lost our baby to anencephaly (a severe form of spina bifida). At that time, my doctor put me on 4 mg of folic acid- he said it was standard routine for anyone delivering baby with anencephaly. He also prescribed progesterone suppositories. I got pregnant immediately with the progesterone/ folic acid combo, and delivered a healthy baby boy in 2004. After he was born, I switched docs and stopped taking folic acid. We tried again from early 2005 to recent. During that time, my doc put me on progesterone at my request and that didn't work. He also determined that I have mild endo. Recently, I got pregnant and just lost the baby at 8 weeks. The day before my D&C, I got test results back indicating that I am compound hetero for the A and C mutations. I'm really new to all of this. I'm just trying to figure out what to do from here. Does anyone else have problems getting pregnant? I'm wondering if it's due to my endo or to the thrombophilia or maybe both. Any ideas? I've already started taking 5 mg folic acid and am planning on starting the baby asprin soon. My doctor mentioned nothing about shots though.

Everyone seems to know so much about this whole MTHFR thing. If anyone has any ideas please let me know. Sorry so many questions.

My doc told me that depending on what type of MTHFR you have it can effect the implantation of the embryo into the uterus because the blood is thicker that normal. It is more common in compound heterozygous and homozygous MTHFR. I am compound hetero, they told my taking one baby aspirin everyday will help with that. I am also on Folgard which has a lot of folic acid, b6, and b12. They told me that i have to take the folgard and baby aspirin EVERYDAY for the rest of my life. MTHFR doesnt only allow a baby to get enough folic acid it doesnt even let you get enough that is why for heath reasons you should always stay on it. The reason for staying on baby aspirin everyday is it helps keep your blood thin. When you have MTHFR you are at an increased risk for strokes and blood clots! Hope this helps!