Article on immune therapies, etc

[msmerymac]

It's NOT positive, so fair warning. I've been really hopeful about the upcoming cycle with the immune protocol (neupogen, intralipids, lovenox), which is $$$, and this is really bursting my bubble. 


www.businessinsider.com/ivf-add-on-treatments-are-pricey-unproven-and-unsafe-studies-2019-11

[pinkpeony08]

My sense from going to a ri doctor, is that there is evidence but it’s hard to understand and complicated. Going to someone who knows the research and is experienced may be different than someone just adding things on to try.

The ri dr I saw also reminded me that the “gold standard” of randomized control trial is almost impossible to do in a pregnant population. And that ivf doesn’t have randomized control trials as evidence for their practice but it is more accepted despite this.

And I recognize I may be biased from seeing ri and I am spending money on it though my insurance is covering almost all of it.

[msmerymac]

pinkpeony08, My RE isn't an RI, but he does do immune protocol and a few other items. HIS philosophy is that there IS evidence for some of this stuff, regardless of how small the trials are or whatever. He doesn't do things that have no evidence of working, so I really trust that this could be a path forward.

[megstoo]

I also read this and it raises a LOT of concerns for me. Especially given the fact that my clinic puts everyone on an immune protocol without further testing. Their thinking is everyone has inflammation and reducing it will increase the odds of a positive pregnancy. A friend of mine who went to another clinic didn't do testing either but started her on neupogen and intralipids and this was the first time in 6 transfers she got a positive (she's 29 weeks right now).

[pinkpeony08]

megstoo crazy.

The RI I go to doesn't even use neupogen because she doesn't think there is enough evidence. She uses plaquenil and tacrolimus to reduce inflammation, as well as prednisone and IVIG.

[red]

The RE I went to for our first 2 cycles was a big believer in all this... I had intralipids, tacrolimus, low dose naltrexone, endometrial scratch, HCG wash, prednisone, lovenox, blah blah blah. All I achieved was 2 CPs. I’m more of a believer that the embryologist/lab environment makes the biggest impact now.