What is IVIg Therapy?

Having to go through one miscarriage can be terribly upsetting; experiencing multiple miscarriages can be devastating. However, depending on the reason for your recurrent pregnancy loss, treatment may be available to help you maintain a pregnancy. Intravenous immunoglobulin G (IVIg) is an intravenous drug given to women prior to conception through to the sixth month of pregnancy. Although it won’t help all women, those who have experienced recurrent pregnancy loss due to autoimmune factors may find that IVIg is just what they need to maintain their pregnancy.


Using donor blood that has been washed and processed, IVIg is made up of human-derived antibodies. These antibodies help to keep your immune system from recognizing an embryo or fetus as foreign and attacking it. More specifically, IVIg aids in minimizing the actions of natural killer (NK) cells. Amplified levels of NK cells can prevent an embryo from implanting as well as interfere with the proper development of the placenta, which in turn prevents the embryo from developing normally. All of these factors can result in a miscarriage.

Precisely how IVIg works is not entirely clear. It is thought that the drug may block those antibodies that cause your body to reject a pregnancy. However, it is also speculated that IVIg may work by soaking up and defusing the harmful antibodies that can interfere with a pregnancy.

In general, women who have elevated levels of natural killer cells resulting in recurrent miscarriages are thought to benefit the most from IVIg treatment. Yet, recent research has also shown a connection between increased natural killer cell activity and antiphospholipid antibodies (APA): it appears that those with APA are more likely to have elevated NK cells.

Typically, women whose miscarriage problems were linked with APA were treated exclusively with heparin and aspirin. Because of the relationship between APA and NK cells, however, more fertility specialists are testing women affected by APA for NK cells as well. If there are elevated levels of NK cells, then these women will likely be treated with IVIg instead of the common treatments for APA.

In general, IVIg therapy should be started from the first month of pregnancy and continue until the 28th week of pregnancy. However, there is some evidence to suggest that administering IVIg infusions even before pregnancy occurs may be beneficial in preventing miscarriage. IVIg therapy is often done monthly and doses can be given anywhere from one to three consecutive days.

Because IVIg is administered intravenously, to receive this treatment, an IV catheter will be inserted into a vein in your hand or lower arm. This will allow the IVIg solution to slowly drip into the vein and enter your system. Although IVIg can be administered in your home under the supervision of a nurse, the very first time you receive treatment you will need to visit your fertility specialist. The first infusion is always done in a clinical setting under proper supervision in case you experience a severe reaction to the drug.

In order to guard against unpleasant side effects, IVIg infusion must be done slowly. This means that one session can take several hours to complete. However, if you seem to be dealing with the treatment well with minimal side effects, it may be possible to complete treatment sessions sooner. Just how much IVIg a person should receive can vary as dosage is calculated according to your weight.

IVIg can greatly improve your chances of having a successful pregnancy after recurrent miscarriage. Some studies have shown a success rate as high at 80% with the use of IVIg therapy. However just like fertility treatments this therapy comes with a hefty price tag.
Depending on how much IVIg is required for your treatment, each dose could cost as much as $1500. This means that receiving IVIg therapy during your pregnancy could cost in excess of $10,000. Unfortunately, many insurance companies do not cover IVIg therapy (although it doesn’t hurt to contact your insurance provider to double check). As a result, not every couple will be able to afford this treatment.


There are some alternatives to this therapy that are more affordable for women, I will discuss these alternatives in our next blog entry so stay tuned for some valuable information.

This is how babies are REALLY made!

Got all my drugs today for our IVF cycle, a grand total of $21.00, what a bargain! I love our insurance. This is what it takes to make a baby in our world!!

And the Survey Says...

Well, Shannon went through her surgery with flying colors. The laparoscopy took about an hour start to finish.

Our doctor found...nothing. Everything is fine, no toxic environment. Perfect for having a baby. Which leaves us as unexplained.

Shannon is doing great and looks the same as she did when we arrived at the hospital. She has a little discomfort, but other than that everything is great and she resting.

The doctor wants to see her in two weeks and we will probably try another IUI cycle. We are planning to IVF in April. So keep your fingers crossed our insurance kicks in to cover that.

Inspiratonal Quote of Hope December 18, 2008

"For that is our unyielding faith-that in the face of impossible odds, people who love their country can change it."- Barack Obama

We need change to our health system. It needs to be mandated that all infertility treatments be covered under all insurance plans.

What does God have planned for us?

This has been one heck of a roller coaster ride. Shannon and I have had so many up and downs it's overwhelming. Our 2nd IUI has failed, but we are going to continue with procedure as long as we can. Our current insurance provider allows for IUI, but NOT for IVF. IVF is our best chance of getting pregnant, but our current insurance provider does not allow for it. Currently Arkansas, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Montana, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Rhode Island, and West Virgina are currently the only states that mandate insurance companies cover IVF.

The current price tag, a whopping $20,000, is what we are facing if we have to pay that on our own. And what if it doesn't work? How many times do we keep trying? Do we have to move to another state to get insurance to cover it?

Shannon and I have asked ourselves what does God want from us? Are we being taught a lesson? Are we just not meant to have children? What is his plan for us?

Shannon and I were fortunate to see a young man named Nick Vujicic talk at our church. Nick was born without limbs. He has no arms or legs. Nick talked about growing up with the constant thought of, "Why has God done this to me?" One day Nick realized he had a mission and that his mission was to help others. To tell his story. To show if you think things are bad try not having any arms or legs. One of my favorite stories from Nick is about the word impossible. That impossible is derived from some being lazy and that the word is actually two words "I'm possible."

For me maybe our path is the same as Nick's...to help others. I do have faith that God will give us a child, but are we meant for something else along the way. Are supposed to adopt a child? Fight for state mandates to have infertility treatments be covered in all states? Start a foundation to help good deserving parents to be pay for IVF and other infertility treatments? Or just tell our story to make more people aware? These are just some of the thoughts I am having and a possible answer to why.

Visit www.lifewithoutlimbs.org to hear more about Nick Vujicic's story.

Starting at the beginning

For those that are reading this blog there has been a lot of talk about IUI and IVF procedures. I want to take a minute to give you some info if you are just starting out on this road of infertility, and I do hope it is a short one for you.

Most people do not jump right into IUI or IVF, the first step (depending on your diagnosis) is usually a drug called Clomid. Clomid is an orally administered drug that stimulates the ovaries. Clomid can be used alone or in conjunction with timed intercourse or with IUI. It's best to monitored by a OBGYN or an fertility specialist when taking Clomid, because there is an increased risk of multiples and you also want to make sure that it's working and that you are timing your intercourse at the right time. That would suck to have a bunch of eggs and miss the time that they are released.

Clomid can be very helpful for women who have PCOS (poly cystic ovarian syndrome) because their ovaries sometimes do not function properly. Clomid will help a lot of those women ovulate, therefore giving them the opportunity to become pregnant.

Clomid is fairly inexpensive, especially when compared to other fertility drugs. Clomid is usually covered under an insurance drug plan (I think mine was $8.00 with my insurance) So its a great first step in your journey to parenthood.

I tried Clomid for 2 cycles, they say its best to give it 3 times before moving onto more aggressive treatment. We did Clomid with timed intercourse, but because of our diagnosis at the time we were instructed to stop after the second failure and move onto something that was better suited for our situation. So talk to your doctor and see if Clomid would be a suitable treatment for you, its a great first step and hopefully your only step.
Best of luck, lots of baby dust!

I hate insurance companies!

Let me preface with saying that I have many family members who are in the medical profession, so in no way am I bashing physicians. However, I received my EOB (explanation of benefits) for my IUI, as you know my insurance covers my IUI's at 100%. Now the doctor bills $200 to the insurance company, and gets paid. Now if I did not have insurance coverage I would have to about $2000 to the doctors office, for the same procedure. That is NOT FAIR! What ever happened to getting a discount for paying cash? Its the same thing with IVF, out of pocket you pay about $13,000, but if you have insurance, the doctor gets paid about $1500 for the IVF. Now I am grateful to my doctors who are fighting long and hard to get me pregnant, but I do not understand why there is such a difference in pricing.

I am all for doctors making money, every is in business to make a living, but why can't there be some middle ground. Fertility is one of the only medical avenues where insurance doesn't cover everything. Most other doctors all bill health insurance and get paid for most procedures. But fertility is tricky- some insurance covers nothing, some cover some things, and others cover everything. But that is not fair to get paid more from someone just because they have no insurance coverage. I feel it is taking advantage of patients. Here you have desperate people who so badly want to have children and are willing to pay all this money to do it, so you charge them more money. Why not just charge the same amount as what the insurance would pay? Or at least give them a discount. Example, if insurance pays $200 for an IUI, and the cash price is $2000, why not have the cash price be $500? You are still making money, but making it affordable for people. Why should people be denied their right to parenthood because of finances!?

Its my blog and I can cry if I want to!

Well, tonight our nation made a decision, and I cannot say that I agree with it. I will not lie, I proudly voted for McCain/Palin. I love them, I feel McCain encompasses everything a president should be, experienced, knowledgeable, and patriotic, and Palin, I cannot say enough about her. I LOVE her, I want to have lunch with her. I feel she is a normal hockey mom that everyone can relate to.

Obama needs to seriously look up patriotism in the dictionary, because he does not know the meaning of the word. He refused to wear the flag pin, he wants to change our national anthem, because he feels the phrase "bombs bursting in air" is to war like. He took the flag off his campaign plane, he threw away flags at the convention, and he will not put his hand over his heart when the pledge or the national anthem is being said or recited and he wants to change what the flag looks like. I mean we are a heartbeat away from his face being on our money and pledging allegiance to Obama while looking at some new design of the flag.

Hes all about changing health care, well guess what, here is the opportunity to make fertility coverage mandatory in all states!
I am NOT for giving health care to every Sam, Dick and Jane off the street. You want health insurance, GET A JOB and pay for it. That is not my responsibility to pay for some illegals or unemployed bum's health insurance, and its not the job of the government!

In my job, I work for a Personal Injury Law Firm, I get call after call of people crying that they are injured, and yes some of them really are hurt, but some are out to make money. I always get "I don't have health insurance" then when I ask them what kind of car they were driving, its always a 2008 BMW, Mercedes, or Lexus.
HELLO!! you don't have health insurance, but you are driving a brand new $60,000 car- now where are your priorities! Ill tell you what, get a cheaper car and pay for your own health insurance.

Obama is all about helping the middle class, and making more jobs so people can work for someone else for the rest of their lives.
Well, what ever happened to owning your own business and working for yourself! I don't want someone telling me what to do for ever. Crap, I don't even want that now. I want to depend on myself, not my employer or my government to take care of me.

My husband and I own 2 small business, and we are both working to build a customer base so we can have financial freedom, from the rat race. I WILL NOT work for someone else all my life, I will work for myself and Obama is all about helping people, why not teach people to help themselves, let them create small business's which will in turn create more jobs, those small business will need employees eventually. I will not have my employer tell me, that I get 8 weeks off for maternity leave. Screw that! I will take as much time as I want and I will work for myself while I am off at home raising my children. Not sending my kids to day care, so I can make someone else money.

People are scared in these economic times, and they are herding, running and looking for change. Stop running with the heard! Look around, take control of YOUR life and change it yourself, don't look to your friends, family, or your government.

My beef with Insurance companies

I have done a lot of research on insurance companies and what they cover and what they do not. Some of the major carriers, Aetna, United Health Care, and Cigna do offer some fertility benefits. Some even cover In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) and Inter Uterine Insemination (IUI) as well as the drugs that go with them. It just depends on what policy your company chooses to offer for its employees.

I am very lucky to have coverage for 6 IUI's under my insurance, and my husbands company policy covers IVF, but that does not go into effect for a few more months. So I am very happy to have some coverage.

It really bothers me that insurance companies will pay for, birth control and abortion, but they will not pay for fertility coverage. We didn't choose this road, I didn't choose to not be able to have children the old fashion way. Infertility is a medically documented problem and should be treated as such.

My suggest for everyone is to talk to you Human Resource dept and get information on all the policies that are available to you. Ask if they cover fertility treatments or diagnostics. HMO policies are usually the plans that have fertility coverage, but be informed, ask a lot of questions and get the insurance plan that is right for you.