For a few weeks I have been trying to write an introduction and tell of our infertility history. To go through each miscarriage is very difficult and I still have not finished writing that post. As soon as I am able to get it all out I will post it so you can all know our past and what brings us to where we are at.
A little bit about us in the mean time... I am 27 years old and my sweet husband Roger is 31 years old. I am a 4th grade teacher and Roger is an accountant. We are truly the all American couple( well in some ways :) )
We will have been married for 5 years this July 4th, 2013.
Three years ago we had out first miscarriage, then our second. After that I went for genetic testing and it was discovered that Roger was perfect :) and I had a balanced translocation of my 3rd and 15th Chromosomes. Though I look normal, have no learning issues etc. I have experienced 4 miscarriages in 3 years. Typically infertility is the main result of a balanced translocation.
Below is a more medical description of a balanced translocation:
Reciprocal translocations are usually an exchange of material between nonhomologous chromosomes. Estimates of incidence range from about 1 in 500 [1] to 1 in 625 human newborns.[2] Such translocations are usually harmless and may be found through prenatal diagnosis. However, carriers of balanced reciprocal translocations have increased risks of creating gametes with unbalanced chromosome translocations leading to miscarriages or children with abnormalities. Genetic counseling and genetic testing are often offered to families that may carry a translocation. Most balanced translocation carriers are healthy and do not have any symptoms. But about 6% of them have a range of symptoms which may include autism, intellectual disability, or congenital anomalies. A gene disrupted or disregulated at the breakpoint of the translocation carrier is likely the cause of these symptoms.
After the genetic testing and what it revealed , we decided to continue trying naturally. After two more miscarriages( which I will write more about in my introduction post) we have decided to do IVF/PGD(Preimplantation Genetic Diagnoses). We start the cycle officially on May 18th with Dr. Ahlering from the Missouri Center for Reproductive Medicine(Missouri Center for Reproductive Medicine). Our ET (Embryo Transfer) will be sometime later in the week of June 17th!
Please follow us on our Journey, and share yours with us as well :)
I came across your blog and was surprised how similar our stories are. I too have balanced translocation. Dr. Randy Morris is my RE and is a wonderful. We too had one embryo that took however at 21 weeks I went into preterm labor. I feel your pain and emptiness and am still hopeful that one day I will give birth to a miracle!!
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