Active natural killer cells

Adey · Post by **Adey** » Sat May 03, 2003 6:41 am

Hi Guys, Just on the theme of antibodies when i went to start my first IVF i was telling my fertility nurse about my 3 failed IUI's and how i had very early period type pains about 2/3 days after procedure. She then mentioned these antibodies that can even reject the sperm entering the womb and said it is a straight forward blood test and can be treated quite easily. I am on the 2ww so haven't needed the test yet but if things don't go my way this time i might have it next time. Hope this helps Adey xx

Helen S · Post by **Helen S** » Sat May 03, 2003 9:08 am

Hi Grace Thanks for the reply. I am waiting for the results of our chromsone tests as well. They shoud be out mid May, so not long to go now. Is the active NK cells a different blood test then and what should I ask my consultant for if I want one? I think we did cycle at similar time last year - June / July? I want to start on my 4th go in July this year, but want to ensure I have had all possible tests before parting with yet more money! Any help gladly received. How are you doing? Ready to go for your next cycle? I'll be here to hold your hand, so don't worry honey! Speak to you soon. Lots of love Helen. xx

alison p · Post by **alison p** » Sat May 03, 2003 10:27 am

Dear all, I seemed to have opened a can of worms here!! There seems to be lots of different tests that different clinics perfom - anti-cardio lipin, etc. I've had most of these done and they came back as normal (except for the NK cells, which came back as active). Grace - I am at the Lister as well. Our case is similar to your's - we've had 3 failed cycles, all with seemingly normal healthy embryos, good lining, etc. Again, they just recommended that we carried on trying. It would be good for you to have your NK cells investigated - just ask one of the nurses and they should be able to point you in the right direction. I paid £90 for the blood test to measure my NK cell numbers, but didn't pay anything for the test to see how active they were, as one of the doctors is doing it as part of his research programme. If they do come back as active then you will be asked to take 25mg prednisolone once a day, starting before ET. It's certainly worth discussing it with the Lister. Good luck, Alison

Alison · Post by **Alison** » Sat May 03, 2003 1:20 pm

Blimey, its all very complicated isn't it?! Thanks for raising this and all the bits of information. I will definitely probe a bit more about what I have and haven't been tested for and what else they can do, but do remember now that he said he'd start heparin before e/t next time, which may be anti-body related. Good luck everyone Alison x

Grace · Post by **Grace** » Sat May 03, 2003 5:17 pm

Hi Everyone You are right Alison it really gets a bit complicated all these tests etc. Helen, you need to ask about natural killer cell test. I suppose like everything different clinics have different opinions but it is worth looking into. For some reason I thought we had cylced around the same time but I did my last one in February and did n't use this board before that. I am doing okay, thanks for asking. I think I have found this last one the most difficult to get through in a way. I suppose because it had all looked so good and I was quite positive and then came crashing down afterwards.I am sure most of us know the drill!! The past couple of months have been tricky for me as quite a few close friends have either given birth or become pregnant. If it had n't been for the solace of knowing there are other people out there feeling the same way I think I would have found it very difficult to get through. When we had our review the consultant was very encouraging but I have to admit to feeling quite sceptical and negative at times....which I know is a bad thing!!! very naughty indeed but sometimes you can't deny this part of the procedure either. I have been feeling more positve over the past week or so and have started acupuncture which is really relaxing. I will probably go for more treatmeant about July/August. I deffinately need these few months to lick the old wounds before I start going again. So there you are that's me! We might be cycle buddies this time which would be very nice! I know you have a puppy ..sounds really sweet. My Oscar is ten years old now and I love him to bits! Alison, thanks for tip re Lister. Dr Wren has asked me to do the test so I will go along within the next few weeks. Hope you are feeling okay? Best of luck. Love from Grace x

Helen S · Post by **Helen S** » Sun May 04, 2003 8:23 am

Hi everyone Grace - thanks so much for replying, I will speak to my consultant about the NK test, might as well try and have everything done before we go again. I know what you mean about being negative sometimes, you know sometimes you just can't help it. It's hard to be a +ive smiling person all the time, and don't worry about this. You have gone through a lot and it's only natural to feel that way. At least you have us all to go through things with you - hope that's a bit of a consolation! Our 3 ICSI cycles have always looked good as well and it is just such a bitter disappointment for it to be -ive, but we plod on don't we. We will get there, so keep trying to be as +ive as you can. My ex-colleague at work, told me about one of her relatives who has just been successful on her 8th go, so bearing in mind the financial side, we should get there soon! It would be fab to be cycle buddies wouldn't it. My business tends to be a bit quieter during the summer, so hopefully should be easier for me to cycle then. What sort of dog is Oscar? Bliss is a chocolate Labrador and is so sweet, but she has just dug a massive hole in the garden and was covered in mud. She's now asleep under my desk and must be dreaming as she is doing tiny barks every now and then! She is gorgeous but a real handful! Well, better go, work calls, hope to speak to you again soon. Lots of love Helen. xxx