QuestionDr. Ramirez,
My same sex partner and I have been trying to get pregnant for close to 3 years (on and off). We have done numerous IUI cycles, tried at home, and recently tried our first blastocyte IVF (retrevial went very well, created over 20 embryos) attempt, all have failed. I am getting to my wits end and wondering if I should go to a different clinic. According to my doctors, all my blood work shows I am completely normal and very healthy, but they can't explain why I am not getting pregnant. So I have a few questions:
1) Could a very small polyp in your cervix ruin IVF cycle?
2) Have you ever recommended a endormetrial biopsy to test Beta-3 Integrins for implantation problems?
3) Do you recommend accupuncture for infertility problems?
Thank you for your help,
Bryn
AnswerHello Bryn from the U.S.(Minnesota),
Let me answer your questions first:
1. No, cervical polyps do not interfere with an IVF cycle.
2. I don't do b-Integrin testing because the treatment is to increase progesterone supplementation. Since progesterone is easy to use and does not have any major side effects, I just give all my patients increased progesterone.
3. I do recommend acupuncture to my patients that have failed at least one cycle. It is unproven, does not hurt so why not? If it works great.
You don't mention your age, which can have an effect on your embryo quality, but if you had good blastocyst quality then that is probably not the reason for the implantation failure. One possible cause of implantation failure is embryo transfer technique. That is very doctor dependent. There have been studies comparing doctors in the same clinic and found variations in pregnancy rates because of transfer technique. The other possible causes, embryo hatching and endometrial engulfment (implantation) are not processes that we have the ability to do anything with at this time. Another clinic might be a good way to go.
Good Luck,
Dr. Edward J. Ramirez, M.D., FACOG
Executive Medical Director
The Fertility and Gynecology Center
Monterey Bay IVF Program
www.montereybayivf.com
Monterey, California, U.S.A.
for additional information check out my blog at http://womenshealthandfertility.blogspot.com check me out on twitter with me at @montereybayivf and facebook @montereybayivf
