[nikki]

I've just had my 3rd miscarriage - my re wants me to do a repeat HSG to see if there are any uterine abnormalities....I had an HSG in the summer of 06 and everything was fine.....I haven't been diagnosed with anything yet.....my bloodwork came back normal, no genetic issues....I've heard about endometriosis.....how is that diagnosed and wouldn't they be able to detect this condition by now.....what other causes could there be for multiple miscarriages? I'm so frustrated. We went through PDG testing this last time. We have several good quality frozen embryos; however, I'm scared to "waste" perfectly good embryos by trying again. I brought up the possibility of having a "surrogate," but my husband was very against the idea.....any ideas about what conditions could be causing this....I'm so afraid that I will never be able to support a pregnancy......

[sunny72]

I'm really sorry you have suffered so many losses. Unfortunately there are so many reasons for multiple miscarriages. I hope they can find some answers for you very soon so that you don't have to suffer again.
I'm sure of course you've done your own research and this is nothing that you RE doesn't know, but has he tested you for all the most common possibilities?

Known Causes
Sometimes a miscarriage can be linked to chromosomal problems in the fetus, medical conditions in the woman, or problems with the woman's uterus. There are tests to help your doctor determine what caused the miscarriage and in some cases treatment is available to avoid problems in future pregnancies.
Chromosomal Problems. More than one half of miscarriages in the first 13 weeks of pregnancy are caused by problems with the chromosomes of the fetus.
Problems of the Uterus. Several problems of the uterus are linked to repeated miscarriage. Most are not common. They include:
Medical Conditions. Certain conditions in the mother have been linked to a greater risk of repeated miscarriage.
Possible Factors
There are other factors that are known to cause pregnancy loss. The link between these factors and miscarriage is not clear. The most common ones include hormone imbalance and some blood disorders.
Hormone Imbalance. Progesterone is a hormone that prepares the lining of the uterus to nourish a fertilized egg. This happens during the second half of the menstrual cycle. Early in pregnancy, if progesterone levels are too low to maintain the pregnancy, miscarriage can occur. Certain Blood Disorders. Thrombophilia is a type of disorder that can make blood clot more than it should.

Many of our lovely girls on the Pregnancy Loss thread have suffered multiple miscarriages, so they may have some more personal input/ideas to share with you.

[lovingwife]

I'm so sorry that you had to go through this again. I can't imagine how difficult this must be. Did they do any testing on the tissue to see if there were any chromosomal problems? I don't know what the HSG would show in terms of causes of m/c-it won't show endo if you do have it. My RE thinks I have endo and I asked him if that could have caused my m/c and he said there is no association b/w endo and m/c. They did test the tissue when I m/c and everything was fine(chromosomes), so basically they have no idea why I lost the pregnancy. There is bloodwork they can do to look for genetic issues. If looks like you've maybe had this already. btw-endo can only be diagnosed by a lap(simple surgical procedure). If you have any other questions-please feel free to pm me. I've only had one m/c, but may be able to help.

[jenedens6102]

Nikki, glad you had the genetic testing done already, that is a great start. Have they checked your thyroid? An undiagnosed thyroid condition can cause miscarriages. Endometriosis can start up at any time. It may be from left over tissue from a period or previous miscarriage. Do you have painful periods? I don't know much about the condition but that is one thing I've heard from many. Oh and have they done any testing to see if you have PCOS? I hear this too can cause multiple miscarriages.

[designdiva32]

Nikki I'm really sorry for your losses. I've lost two consecutively and am very nervously pregnant with my third...so I know your concerns.

As for what could be causing it, if they have ruled out chromosome and hormone issues, then another likely cause could be immune problems. Have you had the tests to check for blood clotting? You could also request some of the more controversial treatments that actually suppress the immune system while you are pregnant. If this one doesn't stick for me thats probably what I'll be trying as my RE is now convinced I have an autoimmune problem that isn't showing itself in tests.

Either way, I'm really really sorry you are going through this again, and hopefully you get some answers soon.

[rebekkahlahey]

I just lost my third baby and it seems we both lost ours at similar stages. I have come back normal on every test so far so these tests cant tell you everything. Just remember that in todays medical comm you have to fight for everything you want in a doctor or else they wont give you the proper attention. Good luck

[Shellyhume]

What awful news to have. It is truly devastating when you've worked so hard to finally hear those numbers and then it's lost. I am so sorry you're having to go through this... but know you're not alone.

I have endometriosis. The only way they were able to diagnose me with it was by going in during surgery to remove my fallopian tube... the doc saw it and cauterized it but that's not to say that it won't grow back. Endo is treated with high levels of estrogen... ironically, they say the best treatment of all is to get pregnant... but birth control pills work very similarly.

Other causes of miscarriage include lesions on the uterus or cysts. If you have not yet been diagnosed with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) then chances are excellent that you don't have it... which is a very good thing. I had an RE tell me that he hated treating PCOS patients because they were the hardest to treat... it was actually reassuring to me at the time... can't remember why...

I think the best thing for you to do right now is to ask the RE about possibly doing some investigative procedures. They can go in and biopsy the uterus, check for endo, and see if there are any lesions on the uterus. But also, don't forget that there could be nothing wrong with your womb... sometimes miscarriages happen when that little embryo just wouldn't have made it to full term because of chromosomal abnormalities. Your body is very efficient at screening for those things.

Again, I'm so sorry this has happened again... one time is heartbreaking enough... never mind three. You're in my thoughts and prayers, Nikki... keep your chin up and keep fighting!