For those of you who are unexplained and NEVER been pregnant...

[marie carla]

Hi,
I am 28 yrs old and tryin with dh for about 5 yrs. I have done 4 IUIs and one fresh and one frozen IVF--all BFN-never been pregnant. I have done a HSG test but not a lap, endo biopsy, no immune tests and dh is fine. Every cycle has been perfect etc.

I have seen two REs for opinions both see no need for further testing just more fresh ivf cycle. QUESTION to you...one of the REs said that I should alter my diet and GAIN some weight. I am not under or overweight, could me being at this weight REALLY prevent me from getting pregnant after ALL this time???

I am 5'2 and I am 119 lbs...and about 20% body fat. I am a size 4 or 6. what the heck..one RE said my weight is not the issue and the other said they firmly believe I should stop my working out (4-5 times a week) and gain a few 5-10lbs!??!?!?!?

[Nit]

Okay, first time posting here and viewing this board. Your title just caught my eyes. I think the next step would be to do immune testing with a specialist who specialize in reproductive immunology. Your RE and ob/gyn will not know how to interpret the tests or treat you if certain tests was to come back positive. The Immune Issues board here at FT have a lot of info on their pinned threads. You could also go to the late Dr Beer's website at www.repro-med.net. I recommend getting a full panel of immune tests done before wasting more money on an IVF cycle. Some tests can be done at your local lab. The tests that need to be done in Chicago, you can get your blood drawn at your local lab and send it to Chicago for testing. Immune and blood clot disorder can cause implantation failure, BFN and chemical preg. Did your doc check for NKU (natural killer cells) in your endo biopsy? Good luck to you and I wish you success!

[marie carla]

Hi NIT
thanks for the post. I have never had an endo biopsy...my RE and my 2nd opinion at Brigham and Womens here in Boston said they dont see the need in doing that and the immune testing! UGH!

[Nit]

Most RE and other doc shy away from immune testing because they don't understand it. When their patient fails an IVF cycle or loses their baby, the doc would just tell them that it was due to "bad luck". I was a patient of the late Dr Beer who was a pioneer in the reproductive immunology field. I remember him telling me that, "babies don't die for no reason as it is something in the women's body that kills the baby." After my IVF cycles, my body doesn't recognize that the embies are my babies and would see them as foreign object. My body would kill my babies thinking it's cancer.

In the beginning, DH and I thought that we only had severe male factor. It wasn't until after I failed 2 IVF/ICSI and a FET that I found out I had immune and blood clot disorder. When a women have immune issues, she could be getting pregnant naturally and not know it because having this disease causes early implantation failure. The outcome from my IVF cycles would either be chemical preg or BFN.

I think you are perfectly fine the way you are, weight wise, and you are young so your chances of succeeding at IVF should be good unless there is something else that is going on with your body. Don't waste anymore money on your RE especially the one that told you to do more IVF cycles...he's just interested in getting your money and don't care about getting you pregnant. You really need to find out if you have immune and blood clot problems before going thru another IVF cycle.

When your doc did the endo biopsy, I really doubt it that they were checking for NKU (natural killer cells in the uterus). Good luck to you and do check out the Immune Issues board here on FT if you want to investigate further. You can always work with a reproductive immunologist along with your RE.

[JonathansWife]

Ok I have a question here. I'm in the military, TTC 16 months, never been pregnant at all. I've never heard of a reproductive immunologist. I've had lots of blood work, HSG, hysteroscopy, and my husband's done 2 good SA's. I've had one IUI, BFN. I am obviously trying to find out ways to explain why I'm unexplained. When would you recommend proceeding with a reproductive immunologist? After one failed IVF? It's very hard to get things like this done in the military, so I kinda need to know when one would normally proceed with this? Thanks so much! I really appreciated the links to the website, too.

[Nit]

I've never heard of a reproductive immunologist too until I was tested positive for immune disorder after I m/c from my IVF/ICSI cycle. Immune and blood clot disorder causes m/c, BFN, and chemical pregnancies. Some women doesn't even know that they are getting pregnant because they lose the pregnancy very early on. I really don't know when you should seek the advice of a repro immunologist. I recommend visiting the late Dr Beer's website and taking the test that is on that website and doing some reading to see if you have any of the symptoms listed for immune disorder.

Good luck to you!

[marie carla]

Thanks Nit

[BC-MAV]

Immune testing and also blood tests on you and DH for genetic testing. This was one of the last things we did but everything was normal! You could have a balanced translocation that cause you not to get pregnant or to constantly m/c very early before you would even know you are pregnant. Also what about antisperm antibody test? It's a basic simple test but you didn't mention it.

[babynow]

Hi, I've never been pregnant as well been trying for 3 years. I did immune testing positive for NK cell at 12.6%, APA borderline, not done any treatment yet. My RE recommending IVig but too expensive. Is there anyone here who never got pregnant before then got pregnant after immune treatment? What is your diagnosis and treatment? Did you do IUI or IVF? or does anybody got pg natural after treatment? THanks.

[JonathansWife]

I just started thinking about the balanced translocation issue. DH hasn't been tested for it, but I started reading up about it. His mom had multiple miscarriages (4?5?) and had 5 healthy kids, but 1 down syndrome kid. Could it be possible that my MIL or FIL has a balanced translocation, and my DH has an unbalanced? Just thinking aloud here, if any of you know about all this.