February 11, 2007
You’ve now undergone multiple IVF cycles and have yet to take home a baby. Frustration and cynicism set in and you have feelings of giving up. Yet, you may not have received a “full” work-up which may vary from differing fertility centers. Some centers may simply continue doing the same thing. The most likely answer would be to change your medication protocol to try and optimize your IVF stimulation. Even with this, there is yet much that we can’t explain as to why some do not get pregnant.
Some centers may do a blood panel to check coagulation patters, and if there’s an abnormality, then Heparin and baby aspiring may be prescribed and possibly help with some embryo implantation issues. Whether beneficial or not, MTHFR mutation is sometimes checked and if abnormal, high dose folic acid (Folgard) is given with or without checking for homocysteine levels by some physicians. Of more controversy, immunological factors can be measured through serum analysis, such as Natural Killer Cells (NKa) nd if abnormal, then IVIG or Intralipids are given. IVIG is a blood derived product and is the IV medication routinely used for these patients. There is primarily a theoretical risk that a blood bourn infection may occur with IVIG. An unproven commodity, intralipids, in my opinion works as well as IVIG without the cost
Others may perform surgery via laparoscopy to look for endometriosis which may be a culprit for diminishing egg quality and decreased success rates. There is some evidence and clinicians may agree that burning the endometriosis may temporarily give better pregnancy outcomes. Sometimes even though looked at before, uterine cavity re-evaluation with a hysteroscopy has at times yielded surprising finding of polyps.
Male issues are also considered in such scenarios. Two common clinical sperm assays that are commonly used are the Sperm Chromatin StructureAssay (SCSA) and Sperm DNA Decondensation Test (SDD) which can help determine if sperms is a significant issue and whether or not donor sperm is needed. L-Carnitine, the active ingredient in many male fertility supplements, is one of the few vitamins that have been noted to particularly help sperm’s motility.
Some centers may do a blood panel to check coagulation patters, and if there’s an abnormality, then Heparin and baby aspiring may be prescribed and possibly help with some embryo implantation issues. Whether beneficial or not, MTHFR mutation is sometimes checked and if abnormal, high dose folic acid (Folgard) is given with or without checking for homocysteine levels by some physicians. Of more controversy, immunological factors can be measured through serum analysis, such as Natural Killer Cells (NKa) nd if abnormal, then IVIG or Intralipids are given. IVIG is a blood derived product and is the IV medication routinely used for these patients. There is primarily a theoretical risk that a blood bourn infection may occur with IVIG. An unproven commodity, intralipids, in my opinion works as well as IVIG without the cost
Others may perform surgery via laparoscopy to look for endometriosis which may be a culprit for diminishing egg quality and decreased success rates. There is some evidence and clinicians may agree that burning the endometriosis may temporarily give better pregnancy outcomes. Sometimes even though looked at before, uterine cavity re-evaluation with a hysteroscopy has at times yielded surprising finding of polyps.
Male issues are also considered in such scenarios. Two common clinical sperm assays that are commonly used are the Sperm Chromatin StructureAssay (SCSA) and Sperm DNA Decondensation Test (SDD) which can help determine if sperms is a significant issue and whether or not donor sperm is needed. L-Carnitine, the active ingredient in many male fertility supplements, is one of the few vitamins that have been noted to particularly help sperm’s motility.
July 15, 2008
This post was- Helpful 2
- Funny
- Interesting 2
- Inappropriate