If you're experiencing recurrent miscarriages, it's important to get to the bottom of what's causing them. Here are three tests you should ask your doctor to run.
When trying to conceive and maintain a pregnancy, understanding potential medical challenges is crucial. Hormonal imbalances such as insufficient progesterone and abnormal thyroid levels can significantly impact pregnancy outcomes. Both conditions can be diagnosed through simple blood tests and, if necessary, treated with medication to create a more conducive environment for pregnancy.
Additionally, bacterial infections and blood clotting disorders, often overlooked, can lead to recurring miscarriages. Urea Plasma, a bacteria hard to diagnose due to its unique characteristics, and Factor V Leiden, a genetic blood clotting disorder, highlight the complexity of diagnosing and treating conditions that hinder pregnancy. Awareness and testing for these conditions, including Antiphospholipid syndrome known for preventing proper implantation, are crucial steps towards achieving and maintaining a healthy pregnancy.
Seeking comprehensive medical advice and exploring all testing options, such as those detailed for Factor V Leiden, Antiphospholipid syndrome, and more, can offer valuable insights for couples struggling with fertility. Joining specialized groups and consultations can provide additional personalized guidance and support tailored to individual circumstances in the journey toward parenthood.
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The journey to conceive can be fraught with unexpected challenges, as highlighted by the painful experiences of individuals who suffered due to unperformed medical tests. These stories reveal how a lack of specific diagnostic tests before starting treatment can lead to repeated failed procedures, unnecessary heartache, and significant financial burden. Advocacy for oneself in the healthcare system is crucial to ensure access to the best possible care and to avoid missed opportunities for prevention and treatment.
For example, a simple test for a condition that often presents infertility as its only symptom could have prevented years of unsuccessful fertility treatments and heartbreaking miscarriages for one couple. Another scenario details the frustration and deepened anger of learning about a fundamental genetic test only after numerous failed interventions. Such oversights underscore the importance of comprehensive initial testing to avoid preventable losses and emotional trauma.
The blog post emphasizes the need for patients to be proactive in their healthcare journey, especially when it comes to fertility issues. Recommending tests for conditions like balanced translocation disorder, extended thyroid panels, and natural killer cells, the post urges individuals to seek these out as part of their pre-treatment assessments to safeguard their investments in IVF and enhance their chances of a successful pregnancy. Through these narratives, the post advocates for informed self-advocacy in navigating the often complex process of fertility treatment.
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Imagine that you're 18 years old and 100lbs and your belly is so bloated people ask you if you're pregnant on a regular basis.
Imagine every month bracing for pain that is so intense that it causes you to vomit or leaves you bed ridden.
Women often describe endometriosis as feeling like barbed wire is being wrapped around their reproductive parts and pulled tight. Yes. It’s THAT painful. That was me for 15 years. Except I couldn’t and didn’t stay home. I TOOK a ton of NSAIDS and Tylenol by the handful to cope.
I just didn’t know what else to do, AND I thought it was “normal” to have period pain. It took me -15 years to understand what I was dealing with and get diagnosed. By then it was stage 4 endometriosis. This is what I wish I knew...
1) Stop covering up symptoms with over the counter medicine. Pain relievers and NSAIDs affects your liver and kidney function which affects your hormones
2) Don’t wait for your doctor to diagnose you. Ask your doctor for the new blood test (not always accurate but indicative). Doctors are Literally NOT allowed to diagnose without surgery. This tripped me up for years because I didn’t want to further hurt my fertility chances with scar tissue when “I wasn’t sure” I had endometriosis.
3) Schedule your surgery. Don’t wait to get a laparoscopy to diagnose endometriosis. If you are having period pain so intense that it's keeping you from performing daily functions it’s likely endometriosis or uterine fibroids.
4) Be real with yourself about how your diet is contributing to your potential endo. Endometriosis IS affected by what you eat. Focus on reducing your exposure to proteins that contain hormones (go organic if possible) and eat a diet low in inflammatory foods. Limit the amount of unprocessed foods you eat. There are tons of great resources for endo diets. Find one and try it. Today.
5) In addition to changes to your diet add anti-inflammatory supplements to your routine. Turmeric, dark fruit juices such as tart cherry, pomegranate or wolfberry/goji berry juices help with inflammation as do bio-flavonoids from citrus fruits.
I learned about this whole process is no one knows your body better than you do and the infertility journey is full of what if’s and risks. Overall health is the goal and pregnancy is the outcome. If you are determined to get to the bottom of your infertility diagnosis here's another checklist that I put together to help you on your path of infertility.
We all know that the average age of a first time mom is increasing but what if that’s you? What can you do to prepare your body for pregnancy if your TTC after 35? Despite what friends and even your doctor may tell you, don't take a wait and see approach to your fertility after 35. While it’s true that more women than ever are getting pregnant after 35, it’s also true that more women (and men) than ever are experiencing infertility. While you don’t have to rush to see a fertility doctor you should start to actively establish what your fertility health is NOW and work on things in your control to improve it.
Establish if you’re reproductive system is healthy by getting basic physical and blood panel done, a hormone panel and an extended thyroid panel which includes
Preparing your body for pregnancy after the age of 35 requires a proactive approach, rather than a passive 'wait and see' attitude towards fertility. Key steps include undergoing comprehensive health checks to establish a baseline of your reproductive system's status, including a variety of physical exams, hormone panels, and thyroid tests. Such foundational health assessments are often covered by insurance and can be crucial in navigating any potential fertility issues that may arise later.
It's also critical to assess and adjust lifestyle habits and dietary choices, as these significantly impact fertility. Maintaining a healthy weight, prioritizing whole foods over processed ones, and ensuring adequate hydration can dramatically influence hormonal balance and overall reproductive health. Simple yet impactful lifestyle modifications, embraced by both partners, can enhance fertility prospects substantially.
Incorporating high-quality, whole food supplements into your regimen is crucial for supporting fertility. Opt for supplements that contain bioavailable forms of essential nutrients, such as refrigerated probiotics with diverse strains, whole food prenatal vitamins with natural folate, and a comprehensive magnesium complex. Choosing the right supplements can bolster your reproductive health, ease digestion, improve sleep, and address common deficiencies, thereby setting a strong foundation for a successful pregnancy.
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