Miscarriages are a fairly common problem, occurring in an estimated 20% of known pregnancies and often within the first 13 weeks. But that doesn’t mean they’re easy to go through, especially when they happen more than once.
Recurrent miscarriages — at least two confirmed pregnancy losses in a row — affect approximately 1% of women of reproductive age. While miscarriage can be difficult to discuss, it’s important to see an expert because of advancements in reproductive medicine.
Dr. Tony Tsai and The New York Fertility Center team know every fertility case is unique. That’s why we draw on our extensive experience to customize our treatment strategies to each individual in our care. If you’ve had recurrent miscarriages, here’s what you should know about intralipid therapy.
The most important thing to understand about miscarriage is that you shouldn’t blame yourself. While certain factors can increase a person’s risk of miscarriage, they’re rarely anyone’s fault.
Instead, most miscarriages are random and occur because the baby doesn’t develop properly. In fact, up to two-thirds of miscarriages in the first trimester are due to embryos with extra or missing chromosomes.
And for women experiencing recurrent miscarriages, the causes most commonly have links to hormonal disorders, genetic abnormalities, or uterine problems.
That’s why it’s crucial to see a specialist like Dr. Tsai if you’ve experienced recurrent pregnancy loss. An accurate diagnosis can ensure you can get the treatment you need to increase your chances of a successful pregnancy.
On the surface, getting pregnant seems simple. However, several factors have to fall into place to achieve success, including healthy endometrium — or uterine lining.
The endometrium thickens each month in anticipation of pregnancy. If a fertilized egg gets implanted, the lining stays in place. When it doesn’t, it breaks down and exits the body during menstruation.
However, an embryo can only get implanted in the endometrium if the lining is receptive. And that depends on numerous factors, including your immune system.
In some cases, embryo implantation fails because of high levels of uterine NK cells. While these substances play a vital role in the uterus, they can also become toxic instead of beneficial.
That’s where intralipid therapy could help.
Our team uses intralipid therapy to support immune function, specifically uterine NK cell activity. This intravenous infusion contains soybean oil, egg yolk phospholipids, glycerin, and a wide range of essential fatty acids.
When injected, the solution binds with the overactive NK cells, which keeps them from releasing toxins. The result? A more receptive endometrium.
For the best results, our team often uses intralipid therapy before, during, and after fertility treatments like in vitro fertilization (IVF). In some cases, we even use it throughout the first half of a pregnancy.
There isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach for fertility issues. Instead, we recommend working with one of our skilled experts at The New York Fertility Center to find the best option for you.
If you’ve had recurrent miscarriages, the first place to start is a consultation so we can diagnose the source of your pregnancy losses. Then, we can discuss the best strategy moving forward based on your needs.
Could intralipid therapy be part of your fertility treatment? Contact The New York Fertility Center to schedule an appointment with one of our specialists in Manhattan or Flushing, New York, today.
