Tests for immunologic implantation dysfunction

Hi everyone

I've been meaning to post this for a while.   I wanted to share the list of tests I underwent in March with you.  These were done to determine whether there was a factor involved in our IVF failure in Jan (and the fact that so many times, I've thought I was in early pregnancy with all the symptoms only to have a late period and what felt like an early M/C).  As I never used to POAS, I couldn't confirm if I was pregnant or not  at these times and even if I had been, the HCG would probably have been too low to show up, as HCG is only released AFTER implantation, and my gut feeling was that that there was a problem AT or during implantation.

So here is the list of tests I had (after a confirmation by two doctors of 'unexplained infertility'):

Antithrombin III activity
Cardiolipin Antibodies
Coagulation profile
Plasma Homocysteine
Blood haemoglobin A1C
Protein S Assay
Protein C Assay
Lupus Antiogoagulant screen
Thyroid stimulating hormone
Chromosome analysis
Blood group
Trepnomal Atibodies
Antiphospholipid antibodies
Full blood exam
Thrombophilia gene screen

I tested positive for the Prothrombin g20210a gene mutation (under the Thrombophilia screen) which gives me a 3 times greater risk of DVT when I fly, and my doctor put me on aspirin which I will be on until at least 20 weeks of pregnancy.  In addition I will need special scans at 20 and 24 weeks to check for smooth blood flow in the veins, arteries and placenta and I will need to be put onto heparin shots after the birth for 6 weeks.  This gene mutation puts me at greater risk of having preeclampsia and an undersize placenta, but the aspirin has been shown to reduce this risk. 

In the end, I never believed that my infertility was unexplained and I insisted on having further testing done at an early stage, before going through years of expensive failed IVF or multiple M/C only to then find out the problem much later.  I am not saying that everyone will find their answers - as we all know it is just so complicated and there may be multiple factors involved.  However, this piece of information I believe, was a vital missing piece for us, in the puzzle of getting to the bottom of things.

I believe that knowledge is power and so I really wanted to share these tests with you all.

Love
BW
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