Half the population is mthfr heterozygous and about 10% or so (of white women) are homoygous. Being heterozygous usually means normal function (the good gene takes over). Being homozygous means impaired function. Its such a common polymorphism that if it were a cause of miscarriage youd see even more miscarriages than you already do. the mthfr mutation/polymorphism homozygous is not in itself a clotting disorder. it can impair your ability to process homocysteine which may make you more prone to tiny clots. you can test your blood homocysteine levels. if theyre fine you are. Before becoming pregnant and during pregnancy you should make sure you get at least 1mg of folic acid, 1-4 mg is fine. the normal dose is 400mcg, you should at least double that, take anything up to 500% more (4 mg). I went to a hematologist who specialized in pregnancy and he was entirely unconvinced of the seriousness of the mthfr mutation. He told me about far more serious thromboses. Its easy to get crazy when you hear the news but as he told me (and he would know) plenty of women have health babies with this mutation. Its still controversial as to whether or not it even increases your chance of miscarriage and even the people who believe it does, dont think it increases your chances that much.
Half the population is mthfr heterozygous and about 10% or so (of white women) are homoygous. Being heterozygous usually means normal function (the good gene takes over). Being homozygous means impaired function. Its such a common polymorphism that if it were a cause of miscarriage youd see even more miscarriages than you already do. the mthfr mutation/polymorphism homozygous is not in itself a clotting disorder. it can impair your ability to process homocysteine which may make you more prone to tiny clots. you can test your blood homocysteine levels. if theyre fine you are. Before becoming pregnant and during pregnancy you should make sure you get at least 1mg of folic acid, 1-4 mg is fine. the normal dose is 400mcg, you should at least double that, take anything up to 500% more (4 mg). I went to a hematologist who specialized in pregnancy and he was entirely unconvinced of the seriousness of the mthfr mutation. He told me about far more serious thromboses. Its easy to get crazy when you hear the news but as he told me (and he would know) plenty of women have health babies with this mutation. Its still controversial as to whether or not it even increases your chance of miscarriage and even the people who believe it does, dont think it increases your chances that much.
;start=45#15272 date=1140210556] I actually am pregnant 8 weeks through IVF for the first time. I have never been pregnant before. However, my fertility specialist stated that I tested positive for MTFHR and APA, as well as my homocystine levels were abnormal?? Therefore, I have been on Heparin 5000 injections twice daily since they confirmed the pregnancy on 1/23/06. I also am taking folgart 2.2 mg. twice daily and baby aspirin orally.
I have never been pregnant before, nor had any miscarriages. Can any one explain what MTFHR is? I am so confused?? No one in my family has a history of cardiovascular and/or vascular problems. And, I was told by my obgyn that once she studies the testing results I may have to continue the injections through the whole pregnancy and see a high risk specialist.
I think everyone is exaggerating the effects of the mthfr polymorphism. 10-12% of all people have it and 50% are heterozygotic (but their good gene takes over). There is no proof homozygosity for mthfr increases miscarriage risk, still speculative. what could definitely cause a problem is high homocysteine, mthfr homozygosity increases the risk of high homocysteine. how to combat this? higher doses of folic acid. In italy, a study was done of women with the mutation, no higher rate of miscarriage than controls and credit was given to their high folate status. High homocysteine may cause tiny blood clots that you wouldnt see on ultrasound. Having a blood clot after losing a baby is quite common and isnt the cause of losing the baby but rather a sign of impending miscarriage. Plenty of women have healthy babies with the mthfr mutation. remember up to 25%+ of all pregnancies end in loss so its easy to think youve found the culprit. However, MTHFR is not a serious thrombosis, it isnt even considered a thrombosis unless accompanied by high levels of homocysteine. take plenty of folic acid and make sure to have your homocysteine level tested during pregnancy. best of luck to all.
The last two posts don't seem to be in support of using baby aspirin and heparin to support the pregancy of women who are homozygous or compound heterozygous for the MTHFR mutation, especially when homocysteine levels are normal. I realize that not all specialist agree, whether they be hematologists, REs, Peris, or OBs. However, when a woman who has had several miscarriages, can fine no other possible cause other than the MTHFR diagnosis, and a doctor is willing to try baby aspirin and heparin — well, I say go for it.
I have just had my first m/c at five weeks. My ob did a dna test and found that I HAD 2 copies of the c677t mutation. My ob did not say anything about folic acid ,blood thinner or b12 or bc. He referred me to a hematologist which is a blood specialist. Who should put me on these suppliments? woulld the blood specialist know?
thomasine, I'm so sorry for your loss, I have had several miscarriages, I just saw a Hematologist for the first time about 3 weeks ago they took like 15 tubes of blood, I was checked for everything, But my OB is the one that prescribed the medicine for me after I saw the Hematologist, But my doctor did ask did the Hematologist give me a prescription, so either doctor can give you the medicine....Good Luck, keep us updated
As I said in my previous post, I was unsure as to if I had the mutation. I looked back at my records and indeed do have the mutation. My test indicated however that this alone is not the sole culprit for my troubles. It is this mutation in combination with a Factor II ( one of the factors in blood clotting) disorder that has given me 4 miscarriages. Let me be clear, my miscarriages were due to clots in the placenta very early on that prevented nutrients from getting to the embryo, I have never had a clot myself. Complete family history is unavailable to me, but my grandfather on my father's side had repeated strokes. I am not a Doctor and cannot say if MTHFR is the single cause for many women, however I DO know that the Facotr II and Factor V disorders (both can cause clot complications) are VERY RARELY tested for in pregnancy loss. I got lucky and had an OB who tested EVERYTHING. My guess might be that many of these women who tested for and had troubles with MTHFR may also have a complicating Factor II or V problem that was not tested for, but it's just a guess. I had found an excellent website of a DR out of California discussing all of this, he is a specialist in these disorders as they relate to pregnancy, prior to my 3rd miscarriage. However I trashed the link when I gave up hope and cannot find it again in my searches. As for me, my pregnancy is still progressing well as far as I can tell. I am on Heparin twice daily and the various vitimins. This coming Tuesday is our 20 week appointment and ultrasound ( this time we won't be too shocked to look for gender) and I remain nervous since we've not ever had 2 successful ultrasounds in a row. Yet the "monkey Jr" as we've taken to calling the baby is active and busy in there. For women who are scared about all this I just sayFind a Dr who will work with you and test for anything and everything you want them to, be complete and get as informed from formal sources as you can. While this bulletin board may be helpful in pointing a person in a good direction, it is NOT a formal informational site.
As I said in my previous post, I was unsure as to if I had the mutation. I looked back at my records and indeed do have the mutation. My test indicated however that this alone is not the sole culprit for my troubles. It is this mutation in combination with a Factor II ( one of the factors in blood clotting) disorder that has given me 4 miscarriages. Let me be clear, my miscarriages were due to clots in the placenta very early on that prevented nutrients from getting to the embryo, I have never had a clot myself. Complete family history is unavailable to me, but my grandfather on my father's side had repeated strokes. I am not a Doctor and cannot say if MTHFR is the single cause for many women, however I DO know that the Facotr II and Factor V disorders (both can cause clot complications) are VERY RARELY tested for in pregnancy loss. I got lucky and had an OB who tested EVERYTHING. My guess might be that many of these women who tested for and had troubles with MTHFR may also have a complicating Factor II or V problem that was not tested for, but it's just a guess. I had found an excellent website of a DR out of California discussing all of this, he is a specialist in these disorders as they relate to pregnancy, prior to my 3rd miscarriage. However I trashed the link when I gave up hope and cannot find it again in my searches. As for me, my pregnancy is still progressing well as far as I can tell. I am on Heparin twice daily and the various vitimins. This coming Tuesday is our 20 week appointment and ultrasound ( this time we won't be too shocked to look for gender) and I remain nervous since we've not ever had 2 successful ultrasounds in a row. Yet the "monkey Jr" as we've taken to calling the baby is active and busy in there. For women who are scared about all this I just sayFind a Dr who will work with you and test for anything and everything you want them to, be complete and get as informed from formal sources as you can. While this bulletin board may be helpful in pointing a person in a good direction, it is NOT a formal informational site.
Dru, after I misscaried my doctor tested me for the c677t mutation and it came back positive. He also tested me for the g20210a factor 11 and factor v leiden and they both were negative. he told me the positive c677t was not the case of my miscarry and referred me to a hematologist for the positive.it seems like everyone who came up positive for the c677t is on blood thinner, b12,b6 and folic acid.i'm assuming my doctor is waiting for me to see the hematologist. my doctor seem to have been mor concern withe the 2 negative results because if they had been positive he would have been almost certain that thet would have been the case of my miscarry.
thomasine, I'm so sorry for your loss, I have had several miscarriages, I just saw a Hematologist for the first time about 3 weeks ago they took like 15 tubes of blood, I was checked for everything, But my OB is the one that prescribed the medicine for me after I saw the Hematologist, But my doctor did ask did the Hematologist give me a prescription, so either doctor can give you the medicine....Good Luck, keep us updated
thomasine, I'm so sorry for your loss, I have had several miscarriages, I just saw a Hematologist for the first time about 3 weeks ago they took like 15 tubes of blood, I was checked for everything, But my OB is the one that prescribed the medicine for me after I saw the Hematologist, But my doctor did ask did the Hematologist give me a prescription, so either doctor can give you the medicine....Good Luck, keep us updated
Tiffiny, I spoke with my hemetologist, and he said he would start me on heparin when I see him along with b12 and b6 because we are trying to get pregnant again. he also said he will give me the folix I (guess thats some form of folic acid).He told me that he was not sure and that he had to research further to see if the c677t had anything to do with the miscarry. From reading this forum it has a lot to do with it.I will see her week after next and will keep you informed, however what does the heparin have to do with holding a pregnancy?
thomasine, I will start Heparin Monday, I am taking it because my OB feels that I form blood clots in my placenta when I'm pregnant and I believe the Heparin helps to prevent them from coming, along with taking 81mg of Asprin everyday, I was on Lovenox which is a form of Heparin but I asked my Dr to switch me to Heparin which I will take 5000ml twice aday, so I have ti inject myself in my stomach or my side every 12 hours, with the Lovenox I only had to inject myself once aday 60mg, so talk with your Dr and see what works best for you, some Dr's want to wait to get a positive reading before they put you on any form of Heparin, but not my Dr I have been on forms of Heparin for about 6 months! Good Luck and continue to let us know what's going on and how your doing...Do you have problems conceiving? Take Care...Tiffany
hi, i just recently had my son on 2/21/06 it was my 8th pregency but he was my fourth live child. I had three miscariages and i didnt know why .until I was pregant with my son did I find out.My doctor ran some text on me that took 16 vials of blood.that was in october of that year.The results came back and she told me I had MTHFR and that meant I had to inject myself twice a day with 0.75 milliliters of heparin twice a day until I gave birth.Everything turned out great I have a beautiful son and I have decided he was my last.But I still have unanswered questions like how will this affect me in the future? Can someone tell me what to expect and will this effect my children or just me.
I have had two m/c's - one early (unknown reason) and one at 13 weeks (Triploidy). Have been going to a reproductive specialist and did a "recurrent loss" blood test panel. Was found to have the genetic mutation MTHFR C677T Single Mutation, Heterozygous. Coincedentally just found out that I am pregnant - and only just started taking 3 additional mg's of folic acid. (I've been taking 1 mg included in the prenatal vitamin for a long time since TTC) Went to a genetic counselor today who said that the neural tube development is in the very first few weeks of pregnancy so I sort of "missed the boat" as far as the supplements doing anything to help. But hopefully the 1mg I've been taking along with folic acid found in diet has been enough to keep the homocystene levels normal. (It would have been nice if they included that in their panel.) MTHFR can be passed to children and is passed down from one parent (in the case of hetero) - the counselor told me that it shouldn't be a concern until your child is of child bearing age. My suggestion to anyone with questions on this is to see a genetic counselor. There are different variations that can mean different things.
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