Ladies,

I'm not talking about weight, diet or exercise, I'm talking about immune issues that may be behind many womens' unexplained IF.

I was one of them for a long while and discovered immune issues and a treatment protocol that worked for me for my one successful prg. with my DS (now 4 yrs old).

I want to share the link to the late Dr. Beer's new book that has helped so many women discover what it may be that there own docs don't know enuf about or "don't believe in" well enuf to have treated patients with these meds. Please remember there are still options available for women who are being taken thru cycle after cycle with no results with their current docs.
here is the link:

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw/103-5417877-7192657?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=is+your+body+baby+friendly%3F&Go.x=0&Go.y=0

I know you can also buy the book on line but you also can visit websites that are pinned at the Immune Issues boards there to read up and see if you fit the immune issue profile before making the book purchase.

take care and hoping for the best with lots of BFP's for everyone here.
Ally

I actually looked into this immune testing but decided that even though I tested and a few things came up we could not do treatment other than heparin and baby aspirin. The NIH did studies and it did not prove the efficacy of Dr. Beers immunotherapy. I know many that have done the therapy and did not get pregnant. Also there are tons of surrogate moms that were tested for the same immune issues that their couples had (and the SM's came up with various things for these immune tests) but there was no explananation as to why these SM's had children and how they were able to carry a pregnancy and give birth to an unrelated baby despite having these "immune" issues. I think RE's think it's either: good treatment for immune issue, doesn't hurt but might help, or it's hogwash. Dr. Beers treated patients with this immunotherapy and it is not approved by the FDA for use in infertiliyt patients so I believe if there was any validity to his therapies he would have done the reseach and proved his theory and treatment instead of charging patients to have treatment that is not proven.

First off, I'm sorry BC-Mav that you did not have some desired result with your immune issues. Sounds like you were willing to take a chance on only some of the meds but perhaps would've benefitted from a more in-depth and full regime of immune protocol meds.

I must first state:
1) FDA approval has been denied only for a specific type of treatment involving white blood cell injection from a woman's spouse into her arms (called LIT -leukocyte immunization therapy) -it should be made clear that it is NOT a whole practice going against some FDA approval !! :eek: just one technique which used to be available readily in the U.S. and was only stopped due to the FDA raising concerns over blood and cell issues b/c of other political controversies like cloning and stem cell research.
2) Many SM's that came up with "various" things for immune testing is just not specific enuf to turn away a whole field of practice that is helping women everyday become moms. It may mean that their bodies simply did not react against the prg. in the same way or to the same degree with the "same" antibody issues -and who knows if they were the "same" antibodies or what level of such antibodies -for example almost everybody can get low positive ANA's in their system at one time or another and not have a considerable "flare-up" or be found to have immune-issue threatened pregnancies. And it also doesn't mean that some of those SM women would not have had to treatment if they did actually test with strong positive levels of antibodies... and they might have taken that treatment also??

I do have to protest rather loudly about you disclaiming the late, deceased Dr.Beer who was NOT running anything that is illegal or against FDA approval.
You have some basic facts wrong as I mentioned above about the only FDA approval thing was a simple technique which I might add is still available in Canada, Mexico and the U.K. where Dr.Beer also co-founded worldwide and reputable clinics to assist women. Right now my husband's cousin is going thru LIT treatment after failing 4 IVF's she accidentally fell prg. only to lose the prg. very early --and only on my insistence did she get the testing done at immune clinic and is so grateful for this option to treat herself and potentially get prg. -she just took the first treatments in early January so I can come back and let you know how immediately it worked for her if she is successful!
Please note for sure though, Dr. Beer was a legitimate founder in a very crucial and elemental division of infertility treatment. He not only treated his own daughter in order to become a grandfather but also believed very strongly in his "theory" and I do have to stress that there ARE empirical studies and articles GALORE that proof the efficacy and valid use of meds like heparin, IVIg and prednisone especially in women with unexplained IF or repeat m/c. (You could start research by looking at the www.yahoo boards for immunology for actual scientific proof of how many pregnancies are benefitted by immune meds -I'll get the link and post it properly).

Of course I'm not saying it works for every woman, no claim can be made for that in ANY branch of infertility testing and treatment. I am also living proof that altho' the immune meds can work like a charm for some women (my only living child is the result of an immediate BMS prg. following IVIg, prednisone and heparin first try round with the meds) ..but now I'm having trouble conceiving using the exact same immune meds. It is all due to the nature of immune issues and the fluctuations that can arise in antibodies, our bodies are able to increase the potency and level of antibodies just in the same way as we build up resistance to viruses, etc.

So please, altho' you may be disheartened in your own regime and treatment process it is not quite fair to pooh-pooh or say slanderous things about "treatment being unproven" in respect to a whole branch of medicine that is being taken seriously and will especially come into more consideration due to the publication of this book and other articles and more tellingly from the amount of PURE SUCCESS STORIES that actually exist. --this is not accurate info. at all to say it isn't been proven I'm sorry but it simply is actually the opposite. Many empirical studies and articles exist showing the rate of prg. success after proper regime of immune meds. No, it doesn't work all the time for every woman. I know a girl that took all the immune meds and still lost prg. and ended up resorting to a SM. She also adopted and has now two beautiful children.

Many people come to resolution in many different ways and some girls end up swearing that it was also antibiotic treatments like offered thru Dr.Toth (he has a website) that was the real reason for a successful prg. -there is currently a woman prg. who failed her first IVF with rounds of immune meds in place but after her treatment with antibiotics and STILL ON the other required immune meds (she was discovered to have a genetic clotting disorder that can adversely affect prg.) she is now happily sailing into her 2nd trimester... you can read all about her diagnosis and her treatments by going to the immune issues boards and reading under Wonderful News (prg. ment).

I hope that I've helped to clarify this issue somewhat I thought this board would be best to benefit from some other outside insight to what potentially may work and may work very well for many women. Immune issues do exist, women do benefit from the treatment and no it isn't always a cut-and-dry case that it will work but surely we should be open and receptive to the true facts that exist on it.

Ally

Thank you Ally for clarifying the treatment and importance of immune testing. I try as much as I can to get the word out to people that they need this testing. It is heartbreaking to see people go through multiple losses and not know why when it can so easily be prevented. I have suffered 23 years with unexplained IF, and losses. To have gone through testing and at least have a reason why has helped so much. I cannot afford the treatment I need, but at least I know why. My friend also went on to have three children after treatment. It is vital that we not discourage and poo-poo the importance of this issue. We are just beginning to understand the human body and why so many women suffer with IF. Treatment is so vital.....I am so thankful for Dr. Beers, Dr. Clark and Dr. Matzner and all the others that have stood against so many doctors for what they believed to be a real and vital reason for loss and they inturn have made so many womens dreams come true. Please share the healing word, immune issues are real, you may save a life. JAS

Yes Ally, thank you for the clarification!!!! If it weren't for Dr. Beer I would not be holding my six week old son in my arms and I have never even met the man!!! My immune protocol was based on his research.

After 5 failed IUIs, 2 failed IVFs and 1 failed FET, I finally got pregnant on a FET. The only thing that was changed was the addition of Enbrel (immune suppressor). Dr. Beer pioneered the research of the role of immune suppressors in treatment of immune patients. I am so grateful for all of his hard work, research and dedication to the field of reproductive immunology.

Thank you Ally for so eloquently clarifing the efficacy of immune treatments for those who need them!!!!!

Think what you want and decide for or against immne testing. That is your perogative.
I can say my personal experience with Dr Beer has been overwhelmingly positive.
After suffering 9 long years with unexplained IF and 4 devastating losses, including the loss of my son at 22 weeks and seeing 6 different groups of REs who failed to find anything wrong with me beyond "incredibly bad luck", I was dx'd by Dr Beer. After undergoing immune tx, I was pg on my FIRST IUI!
I went on to give birth to a healthy miracle daughter.
When I tried to ttc another child, my immune system had worsened and I ended up using Humira to suffficiently suppress my immune system. Once I had succeeded in doing so, I conceived again, this time naturally on our first try.
There is no doubt in my mind that had I not underwent immune tx I would be childless today.

Thank you Ally :wave: for so eloquently shedding light on the many controversies and misunderstandings about immune tx.
My advice is to be your own best advocate--take everything your OB/RE says with a grain of salt--and make the decisions that are best for you.

Lynn
9yrs ttc #1
3 first tri angels
angel son b/d @22wks, suspected but not confirmed IC
:kisses: Madeleine, Beer baby born 6/25/01 w/LIT, IVIg, ba
:kisses: Jillian, Beer baby born 7/28/05 w/LIT, IVIg, Humira, ba
our family is complete :flower:

hi, this is for lynn, danielle, jas and bc-tabithalynn
I have had 7 m/c's(one failed ivf). I have visited several RE's,got all lab tests and blood work done except the immune test like one for natural killer cells. Although one of them for antiphospholipid too has been done and that turned out to be positive. I have endometriosis but it has been cleared recently through laproscopy.I have tried progesterone supplements, heparin-aspirin injections but nothing worked. My each pregnancy follows a same pattern-implantation occurs without problem, hcg rises, but u/s detects no heartbeat and hcg begins to fall at 7th week. ultimately i end up getting a D& C done. Can anybody suggest me any possible treatment or just lemme know what could possibly be wrong? I have my doubts on NKcells but even if it comes out positive and elevated ,i'm really not sure about the success of IVIG.
I have no uterine abnormalities,no signs of chromosomal abnormalities, my husband's lab work turns to be fine. I just want to know the path to move ahead.
i'm now thinking on getting immune testing done again and follow a route on predisone and IVIG.
can u guys guide me on these treatments and on treatment done by Dr Beer.
How safe is ivig and can i get these procedures done while staying in my city or do i have to stay at Dr beer's hospital till my treatment is done?
also what are the side effects of both predisone and ivig?
does predisone alone reduce the nk cells because now i surely have my doubts on nk cells for my recurrent miscarriages
please help and guide me , ur help would be geartly appreciated.

Helpneeded, I would be glad to give you my opinion, but this is strictly my belief and that of some of the members on the immune boards. If you have or had immune testing, and tested positive, it is important to treat the cause of the immune issues. What is important to remember is that infection of some sort either in your husband, or you is causing your body to go into high gear and attack everything. I personally did IVIG, and it did not work, but I know it has for some such as my friend. Personally, I believe that it is important to clear up the infection, instead of quieting it. It can be harmful to your fetus to live in your uterus with infection. My friends son has all sorts of immune issues because of her situation. Dr. Toth in New York is the doctor that would test you and treat you and your husband, and hopefully he could get rid of your immune issues. There are some such as Lauren2005 that was treated by him, and got pregnant on her own, and her baby is thriving beautifully with no problems. You can check out his web sight, and even email him at www.fertilitysolutions.com with your situation, and see what he says. You will save money in the long run as well as your health and your baby's health. I do have a friend that has lost two babies just like you at 8 weeks, and she has immune issues too. I wish you the best and hope that you can get the treatment you need to have that beautiful baby. Good luck, JAS

By the way, I would have done the treatment with Dr. Toth if I had the money, but for me it would have been 15K, and insurance may have covered half. That is still cheaper than IVIG for 7 months, as I would have needed four thousand dollars worth per month.......That is 28K.