Belinda:
We haven't had many IVF pregnancies here on the Forum, but we've had many regular pregnancies here, most have been successful.
ITP itself causes no problems with fertility, but another disorder called APS can sometimes go along with ITP and that can cause miscarriages. It wouldn't hurt to ask your doctors to be tested.
Antiphospholipid SYndrome -
Antiphospholipid Antibody Syndrome or APS is an autoimmune disorder in which the body recognizes certain normal components of blood and/or cell membranes as foreign substances and produces antibodies against them. Patients with these antibodies may experience blood clots, including heart attacks and strokes, and miscarriages. APS may occur in people with systemic lupus erythematosus, other autoimmune diseases, or in otherwise healthy individuals.
Clinical Features of APS
People with antiphospholipid antibodies have an increased risk of developing one or more of the following problems:
Blood clots in veins, particularly deep vein thrombosis (DVT)
Blood clots that go to the lungs (pulmonary embolism)
Blood clots in arteries
Miscarriages – these can occur at any stage of pregnancy but are most common in the late first trimester or early second trimester
Pre-eclampsia, eclampsia, fetal growth retardation, premature delivery
Heart attacks, angina
Strokes
Brief stroke-like episodes called transient ischemic attacks (TIAs), for example, loss of vision
Decreased levels of platelets (small blood cells involved in blood clotting)
Heart valve problems, sometimes requiring valve surgery or valve replacement
Persistent or transient blotchy, lacy bluish rash (livedo reticularis)
Skin ulcers, most commonly on the legs or feet
“Catastrophic” APS – a very rare, life-threatening syndrome in which clots form in small blood vessels of multiple organs (such as heart, lungs, brain, kidneys)
www.apsfa.org/aps.htm
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