Investigating miscarriage

on Tuesday, November 22, 2011
This is a response to another comment left on my 'Science of Infertility' page

Hi, my husband and I have been ttc for almost 2 years. I've had 2 m/c in the past year and am desperate to figure out why...my bloodwork came back normal and now i'm scheduled to have an hsg test in the next week or 2. I had to beg my gynecologist to put an order through for my Vitamin D levels. Finally she did and they are low (18L). Do you think this could be why I've been miscarrying? Should I still do the HSG testing?? Thanks for any help/advice! 

This is an impossible question to concretely answer. Most doctors would shrug and say, who knows? Me, I try to wildly speculate. But you need an incredibly detailed medical history to speculate and I do not have it for the commenter.

I can only offer my first miscarriage (the one that is still a complete mystery) try to speculate if vitamin D had a contributing roles.

This is a basic checklist one goes through, of examining risk factors for pregnancy loss. All issues were not tested, the full RPL panel covers more ground.

1) Was the embryo chromosomally normal? --Yes (no issue of mixup as was male)
2) Was there a structural uterine abnormality (determined by Ultrasound/hysteroscopy. I'm not sure if an HSG can contribute) -- No
3) Was diminished ovarian reserve a contributing factor miscarriage risk -- No, lots of eggs left
4) MTHFR mutations? -- unlikely, My homocysteine level was super low.
5)Autoimmune issues
Lupus anti-coagulant-No
Anti-phopsholipid antibodies- borderline positive then repeat negative so unlikely
Thyroid autoimmunity-yes
6)Progesterone Issues:  No, levels were excellent
7)Luteal phase defect:  borderline...11 day luteal phase in similar cycles.
8) PCOS:  Yes.

I do not know why my baby died, but I do know that a vitamin D deficiency is a risk factor for PCOS, all autoimmunity(including thyroid) as well as luteal phase defect. After becoming vitamin D replete, my ovaries are no longer poly/multicystic (My antral follicle count came down from 30-34 to around 16-18). More importantly, I consistently have a 14-16 day luteal phase.

Based on what was 'wrong' with me, do I think my D3 deficiency possibly contributed to my miscarriage? Yes. Can I be certain? Hell no. There is no way to know anything for certain.

About whether a HSG is useful: It can only be useful if it helps reveal anything about your uterus (not so sure about this) and tubes. So if you have not had this investigated, do so, because it is something off the checklist that must be crossed off.  

Also, this is by no means infallible or a comprehensive list,  but this is what I would suspect was a more likely cause depending on WHEN pregnancy loss happens.

Very early pregnancy loss risk factors: Bad egg quality (hindering growth of the embryo),  and immune factors that hinder implantation such as activated NK cells and T cells.

Mid-late first Trimester loss risk factors: Chromosomal/genetic abnormalities, anti-thyroid antibodies, and god knows what else.

Second trimester loss: autoimmune issues, anti-phospholipid antibodies, clotting issues.

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