Hum. Reprod. Advance Access originally published online on June 9, 2005
Human Reproduction 2005 20(8):2325-2329; doi:10.1093/humrep/deh888
BACKGROUND: Little is known about the influence of high exposure to bisphenol A on recurrent miscarriage and immunoendocrine abnormalities.
METHODS: Serum bisphenol A, antiphospholipid antibodies (aPLs), antinuclear antibodies (ANAs), natural killer cell (NK) activity, prolactin, progesterone, thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and free T4 were examined in 45 patients with a history of three or more (3–11) consecutive first-trimester miscarriages and 32 healthy women with no history of live birth and infertility. Subsequent pregnancy outcome and embryonic karyotype of abortuses were examined prospectively.
RESULTS: The mean±SD values for bisphenol A in patients were 2.59±5.23ng/ml, significantly higher than the 0.77±0.38ng/ml found for control women (P=0.024). High exposure to bisphenol A was associated with the presence of ANAs but not hypothyroidism, hyperprolactinaemia, luteal phase defects, NK cell activity or aPLs. A high level of bisphenol A in itself did not predict subsequent miscarriage.
CONCLUSION: Exposure to bisphenol A is associated with recurrent miscarriage.
Abstract: http://humrep.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/20/8/2325?maxtoshow=&HITS=10&hits=10&RESULTFORMAT=&fulltext=Feb.+28+issue&searchid=1&FIRSTINDEX=0&resourcetype=HWCIT
Full Article: http://humrep.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/full/20/8/2325?maxtoshow=&HITS=10&hits=10&RESULTFORMAT=&fulltext=Feb.+28+issue&searchid=1&FIRSTINDEX=0&resourcetype=HWCIT Recent Keyword Searches: can a miscarriage occur with twins, jogging and miscarriage, why do people miscarry after ivf, level of selenium safe for men ttc prevent miscarriage, can heavy exercise make you miscarriage?, odds of miscarriage, infant loss jewelry, pcos and miscarriage stories, successful ivf after late miscarriage, miscarriage, not aware
A GROUNDBREAKING test offered only at St George Hospital to pinpoint the underlying cause of recurrent miscarriage and unexplained infertility is now being widely used to help women desperate to become mums.
In the past two years, more than 300 women have undergone a two-part test pioneered by Gavin Sacks to look for miscarriage-causing natural killer cells. Up to 25 per cent were found to harbour excessive levels.
Dr Sacks, an obstetrician/gynaecologist who holds a PhD in reproductive immunology, spent 10 years examining the link between natural killer cells and female infertility before perfecting the test.
The English-born doctor uses a sophisticated Flow Activated Cytometric Sorter at St George Hospital to pinpoint the cells taken during a blood test and uterus biopsy.
"In some instances, a mother's immune system turns on itself and rejects her own pregnancies," Dr Sacks said.
"We have found that high levels of natural killer cells in the blood and uterus are significant miscarriage risk factors.
"In conducting this research we hope to progress the diagnosis and treatment of women who suffer miscarriage, particularly recurrent miscarriage."
Unlocking the underlying cause of miscarriages caused by natural killer cells has enabled him to perfect drug treatments to keep levels under control, resulting in more than 20 successful pregnancies so far.
Dr Sacks' research has drawn widespread interest, with other fertility specialists now routinely sending their patients' blood and uterus samples to St George Hospital for testing.
He recently presented his research at the American Society for Reproductive Medicine and the Fertility Society of Australia's annual conferences. But he stressed his work was still in the experimental stage.
The test is available through IVF Australia southern Sydney and St George Hospital.
Source: http://stgeorge.yourguide.com.au/news/local/general/mums-on-fertile-soil/1096335.html
When Kori Morrison had her first miscarriage, she and her husband, Tom, were upset but still hopeful. After all, she knew that 15 to 50 percent of all pregnancies end in miscarriage, and most of these women who've miscarried go on to have healthy babies. But in the next eight years, Morrison had four more miscarriages. Sadness and self-blame set in. "I wondered if I was eating the wrong things, if I was overstressed, or, worst of all, if my body just wasn't cut out for pregnancy," she says.
Morrison was eventually found to have a hormone imbalance: Low progesterone during pregnancy kept her uterus from nourishing the embryo. With treatment, she went on to have four children.
Although Morrison went through agony for years before discovering what was wrong, her story illustrates that there are ways to identify what causes miscarriages and what can be done to prevent them. Important to know because, while most women will go on to have a successful pregnancy, about 5 percent are likely to lose another baby. And the use of assisted reproductive technology such as in vitro fertilization (common among women 35-plus) seems to boost miscarriage risks even more.
1. Do a little detective work
When you're planning to get pregnant, your first move should be a careful prepregnancy checkup to reveal potential risk factors like diabetes-related problems, high blood pressure, polycstic ovary syndrome, fibroids, or thyroid abnormalities -- all of which are mostly treatable, says Mary Stephenson, M.D., professor of obstetrics and gynecology and director of the recurrent-pregnancy-loss program at the University of Chicago Medical Center.
Go over your medical history with your doctor, and also mention any medications, herbs, and supplements you are taking. You might learn something about potentially risky non-prescription meds such as ibuprofen or herbs such as ginkgo. Even taking a little time to discuss a family history of miscarriages with your doctor might uncover a correctable problem.
Full article: http://edition.cnn.com/2007/HEALTH/conditions/08/17/healthmag.baby.maybe/
Fertility treatments designed to suppress the immune system and help women who suffer repeated early miscarriage may be based on bad science EXPENSIVE fertility treatments designed to suppress the immune system and supposedly help women who repeatedly suffer miscarriages early in pregnancy now appear to be based on bad science. A new study, the largest of its kind so far, shows that the blood test used to determine whether women should be given these treatments is ineffective.
The controversy centres around immune cells called natural killer (NK) cells. NK cells belonging to the mother are found close to the outermost layers of the embryo, and high numbers of them here have been linked to miscarriages. This has led a growing number of fertility clinics to offer tests to measure the level of NK cells in the blood. Women with an excess of such "peripheral" NK cells are often then offered therapies such as steroids or immunoglobulins to dampen the immune system and reduce the number of NK cells in the uterus.
Full article: http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn9552-major-flaw-in-miscarriage-test.html
