A month ago I initiated a boat-load of testing to find out why I kept miscarrying. I met with an infertility specialist and she explained all of the myriad reasons why this possibly kept happening. For those of you who don't know, I am a microbiologist and in general a science geek, so the doctor and I spent a happy half hour discussing genetics and coagulation and thyroid issues. She told me the tests she was going to order - genetic screening for me and Eddie (determining whether or not we are cousins - just kidding), a coagulation screening panel, thyroid testing and diabetes testing. She also wanted to test my anti-mullerian hormone level, which would tell the approximate age of my eggs, which apparently, might not be 31 as I had thought. This was news to me - I'd been taught in middle school sex ed that females are born with all the eggs they will ever have. Since I'd been born 31 years ago, it stands to reason that my eggs were also born 31 years ago. Apparently this might not be the case. She also wanted to do a saline sonohysterogram to check the integrity of the lining of my uterus and the overall shape to see if there are any abnormalities that would cause improper implantation.
The doctor went on to explain that 50-70% of couples who undergo this type of testing will never get an actual diagnosis or reason as to why this is happening. I did not like these odds, but felt that we had to have the testing done because what if the issue was something we could fix?
Eddie and I went to get our blood drawn after my doctor's appointment. The vampire-disguised-as-a-phlebotomist drew a staggering twelve tubes of blood in a rainbow of colors from me and a single green top tube from Ed. She actually told Eddie that he would be fine but, "I'm going to drain your wife!"
Two weeks later we had our answer. Or rather our lack of answer. Our genetic screen came back normal (as my brother-in-law said, "It's a good thing you guys are genetically normal as you are certainly not normal in any other way). My thyroid gland works like a well oiled machine. So does my pancreas. My coagulation system is something to be proud of, clotting my blood at the perfect rate - neither too fast, nor too slow. My eggs are as youthful as the month of May, my uterus the perfect basket in which to house them (or at least the embryo).
This news was met with mixed reactions from me. On one hand, it's good to know that I have nothing really wrong with me. On the other hand, something HAS to be wrong with me! It is not normal to have three miscarriages inside one year.
According to my doctor we had a few options. Option 1.) Keep trying. It will likely happen eventually. (I did not like this option. It was the reproductive equivalent of Whack-a-Mole.) Option 2.) Use of a low dose fertility drug to make me ovulate multiple eggs, with the hope that at least one would survive. (I was more interested in this option.) Option 3.) IVF with pre-implantation genetic screening. (This is the fall-back, safety net of options - expensive and hard on the body.)
I decided to go with the low dose fertility drug. I will start Clomid with my next cycle and by all accounts will turn into a hot flashing, exposed hormone with pseudo-homicidal tendencies. Good luck, Eddie!
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