Anonymous wrote:I had multiple chemical pregnancies that were caused by immune issues. Ask Sacks if he can run the immune panel on you that Abbasi does for her patients. I agree with him on not testing the embryos, that is a waste of money.

Do you have a family history of RA or any autoimmune conditions?

Anonymous wrote:You might want to switch to Abbasi! The first thing I thought is that you might have a clotting or immune issue! I switched from SG to Abbasi and it was the crazy number of tests that she ran (SG didn't run anything really) that showed I had both a mild clotting issue and immune issues. Wishing you the best!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP have you done clotting and immune testing? Abbasi at CFA does these; not sure if Sacks does as well.

Sacks has done minimal testing since we've been with him; most of my testing was done previously at Shady Grove, he just took those results and moved ahead with IVF. It's definitely time to go back and reassess now that we've had three failed fresh IVFs. I will ask him about immune testing, but I've heard I might need to completely switch to Abbasi for that, which I am willing to do if need be. But hopefully he'd be willing to run some tests. What kinds of things would they be looking for? Are clotting/immune things issues in GETTING pregnant, not just keeping a pregnancy? I admit I don't know much about it at all, as our docs keep being like "you're perfectly healthy! Nothing wrong!" Well, clearly, there is something...

Thanks for suggesting this, I'll add it to the list.

They can be anything from implantation issues to repeat chemical pregnancies to multiple miscarriages. I had the multiple miscarriage issue and turned out to have a minor clotting issue and an immune issue, neither of which should have any major impact on my life, but prevented me from carrying to term without medication. I was also previously with Shady Grove, and they took the approach of "you just need to keep trying until one sticks" (because I got pregnant easily on my own, just never stuck after my first easy pregnancy a few years ago). That didn't feel right to me so I asked them about clotting and immune issues. They ran a very basic panel of like 3 tests and they all came back fine. I decided to get a second opinion from Abbasi. She ran insane tests (like 20+ vials of blood) that turned up some issues, so I switched to her and am now in the early second trimester of pregnancy. So although this stuff sounds a bit wonky I am now a convert since my very first try on her regimen worked, whereas my multiple previous tries with SG all failed.

You might want to ask him to run the typical panels Abbasi runs, or just get a second opinion from her -- not sure how that would work within the practice though, as opposed to coming from outside it like I did.

For research, google Alan Beers or Dr. Braverman in NY -- his website is pretty comprehensive. When I decided to go this route I got Beers' book on Amazon, which was maybe $12. It's called Is Your Body Baby Friendly. Maybe worth a read at least as an exploratory option, since you have tried so much else.

Last thing which I am sure you have considered/have your reasons for, but since you are a lesbian couple, any chance of your wife carrying instead?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP have you done clotting and immune testing? Abbasi at CFA does these; not sure if Sacks does as well.

Sacks has done minimal testing since we've been with him; most of my testing was done previously at Shady Grove, he just took those results and moved ahead with IVF. It's definitely time to go back and reassess now that we've had three failed fresh IVFs. I will ask him about immune testing, but I've heard I might need to completely switch to Abbasi for that, which I am willing to do if need be. But hopefully he'd be willing to run some tests. What kinds of things would they be looking for? Are clotting/immune things issues in GETTING pregnant, not just keeping a pregnancy? I admit I don't know much about it at all, as our docs keep being like "you're perfectly healthy! Nothing wrong!" Well, clearly, there is something...

Thanks for suggesting this, I'll add it to the list.

Anonymous wrote:OP have you done clotting and immune testing? Abbasi at CFA does these; not sure if Sacks does as well.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's no longer a "big risk" to thaw and PGS test and refereeze. Happens all the time -- search for it in this board. With her IUIs and IVF, OP has been through what, eight cycles? That's a lot. You've been through the wringer with the ups and downs of all those IUI cycles. It takes a toll.

PGS testing may not solve everything, but it could also cut down on additional unnecessary cycles because you'll have more certainty about the embryos you are transferring.

Good luck!!!

OP here, thanks, this is reassuring. We've actually done three IVFs so far so this is our tenth failed cycle (just got my period, so I'm 99.9% sure we're out even before the beta). You're not wrong, it definitely takes a toll. My wife and I had a long discussion this morning after you guys raised this issue, and I think we're going to try PGS if we can. Reassuring to hear that the thawing/refreezing has gotten better, as I have no doubt that it was once traumatizing for the embryos as PP said. But regardless of whether it is still a little risky, I think it'll be worth it for us. I just can't keep going through this.

You haven't done IVF. Your wife has. You just came in a plastic cup. You need to get some perspective. I'm sure you're going through a lot emotionally but it's nothing like your wife has had to go through.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's no longer a "big risk" to thaw and PGS test and refereeze. Happens all the time -- search for it in this board. With her IUIs and IVF, OP has been through what, eight cycles? That's a lot. You've been through the wringer with the ups and downs of all those IUI cycles. It takes a toll.

PGS testing may not solve everything, but it could also cut down on additional unnecessary cycles because you'll have more certainty about the embryos you are transferring.

Good luck!!!

OP here, thanks, this is reassuring. We've actually done three IVFs so far so this is our tenth failed cycle (just got my period, so I'm 99.9% sure we're out even before the beta). You're not wrong, it definitely takes a toll. My wife and I had a long discussion this morning after you guys raised this issue, and I think we're going to try PGS if we can. Reassuring to hear that the thawing/refreezing has gotten better, as I have no doubt that it was once traumatizing for the embryos as PP said. But regardless of whether it is still a little risky, I think it'll be worth it for us. I just can't keep going through this.

Anonymous wrote:It's no longer a "big risk" to thaw and PGS test and refereeze. Happens all the time -- search for it in this board. With her IUIs and IVF, OP has been through what, eight cycles? That's a lot. You've been through the wringer with the ups and downs of all those IUI cycles. It takes a toll.

PGS testing may not solve everything, but it could also cut down on additional unnecessary cycles because you'll have more certainty about the embryos you are transferring.

Good luck!!!

Anonymous wrote:There is a big risk with thawing testing freezing and thawing. It's very traumatic for the embryos. But if you have a lot it may be worth Itz