Refusing LIT

To me, I don't believe LIT is a first line of treatment for unexplained infertility. I was exploring all other possible causes of my infertility.  I don't believe much in crossmatch PRA 100% as the pre-requisite for pregnancy. I spent 4 months in refusing LIT. But, I don't regret it. I don't even consider it as wasting my precious time.

I was worried about allergy and acquiring new autoimmune disease. I am also afraid that LIT will trigger my autoimmune response. LIT produces desirable antibody as well as the undesirable antibodies. I don't want to undergo unnecessary LIT. But, I was also open to understand immunology and its alternative.

Sad to say, the alternative to LIT is also a blood product- IvIg. The main difference between the two is IvIg is already IgG antibodies. With LIT, my body needs to react with donors' white blood cell in order to produce IgG antibody. Can I still refuse IvIg?

Well, intralipid and steroid are also alternative. For steroid, I don't know how long should I be using it? On my first consultation with Immunologist1, she ordered me to use it on day6 til next menstruation. Would this mean I have one week off from steroid every month as I try to conceive? I don't know if this would be too taxing for my body. I was just guessing... I don't have any idea on her management style. The second time I consulted her, I said I don't like LIT and IvIg but I surrender. I asked for her recommendation. She said if patient refuses LIT, she uses intralipid and steroid. I have no idea how many intralipid my body can accommodate, before my cholesterol shoots up. She asked me to retest my immunodeficiency panel two weeks before any planned procedure. She will prescribe steroid, again? Why doesn't she make her firm stand on LIT?

My Fairy Godmother said IvIg is expensive. She said I cried over heparin, what more, if I had IvIg and our IUI was not successful? She suggested that I have my IvIg infusion only after a confirmed pregnancy. I never got two lines in the pregnancy kit. Therefore, I never had any immunologic treatment. But, I have been very busy consulting immunologist after immunologist. This led to the impression that my immunologic factor is already covered.

I somewhat conceded to immunology. Here I am again, trying to postpone LIT this Wednesday. Do I need to wait for karyotype result first to do LIT? What if my husband is confirmed to have mosaicism of 46xy normal and 46xy balance translocation? I am indecisive again as I write this blog. Few minutes back, I said I replied the geneticist, I will still try IVF even if we have chromosomal abnormality. Grr... I will have my LIT on Wednesday!