I figure our chances are around two out of three now, since only three of our previous embryos got to this point, of which two survived.

Unfortunately the two thirds chance does not seem to have come through.  At the eight week ultrasound, heartbeat was below 50 beats per minute, which is a sign of impending miscarriage.  Our doctor says this is almost certainly a chromosomal issue such as aneuploidy - missing or extra chromosomes.  This is probably a result of maternal age; for example, over 50% of embryos from women over 40 have aneuploidy.

I still think paleo has still done a lot of good, when comparing this with going for years without even getting as far as implantation.

For those interested in more specifics, here's a paper suggesting that the inflammatory and oxidizing environment created by endometrial peritoneal fluid makes it difficult for oocytes to mature properly into ova without chromosomal damage:

http://www.clevelandclinic.org/reproductiveresearchcenter/docs/agradoc329.pdf

Paleo is great at reducing inflammation and good at countering oxidizing effects, so it should help with these issues.  However, it can't undo that previous 40 years of exposure that the oocytes have had while they were in biological stasis.

Sad news Warren, I'm sorry. My thoughts are with you and your family today.

Thanks, all.  We will get over it - especially now that we know it is possible.  There's a reason most people don't announce pregnancies until after two or three months - lots of early stage pregnancies are not viable.  The only reason I mentioned it earlier here is because infertiles doing web searches might be interested in this earlier stage information.

As I mentioned, we were expecting to have to use IVF again anyway.  We just figured that on our last opportunity to do a natural cycle before the drugs started, we should give it a real try.  Now that we know the natural way can now work for us, we actually have more options, not less.

Of course, that does bring up an interesting question.  Should we go for IVF again, or should we switch to trying naturally?

Another update:  we started trying again late last year, and got another positive pregnancy test in December, after another two or three cycles of trying - I think it was three but I don't remember for sure.  I was going to post after we got the amnio, but I forgot.  So now the pregnancy is more than five months along, due in August, so the chances of miscarriage are low.

So it looks like the paleo diet really does help overcome infertility, at least in the case of endometriosis.

awesome man, congrats!!!

wonderful news!!! So great to hear!!! 



On the original topic, I think I am pretty much in denial about my declining fertility.  I'm 25 but look about 19 so don't really consider myself as 'aging'.  My parents had me at 35 (Mom) and 40 (Dad) and didn't require much effort to get pregnant, and got pregnant again several years later.  My maternal Aunt got pregnant at 40, and my maternal grandmother had 4 kids in 7 years.  So my family are pretty fecund, so I'm hoping I'll be OK to wait til at least 30, preferably 35.

Although once I hit 30 you can be damn sure I'm freezing my eggs - I'd do it now but they only survive 5 years.  Mr CelticCaveGirl is coming up to 39 and had some sperm frozen this year before he got his reversible chemical vasectomy

Which brings me to my final point - all the talk so far has been about women's declining fertility after 30, but don't forget that most mutations come from the father and the incidence of mutations increases greatly after 40 - I myself have a brown-green sectoral heterochromia in one eye, most likely a mutation inherited from my father (or possibly a chimerism).  Lots of miscarriages are due to anneuploidy from the Mother but mutations from the Father can and do also result in miscarriage....


I've seen reports all over the web like those of Warren's - couple required IVF for first baby, then went paleo, then conceived 2nd baby naturally (although this happens with non-paleos too, of course).  But there are also reports of people trying for ages, going paleo and suddenly bang! - pregnant. 

Warren, your baby (and the rest of your kids) is lucky to get such a good start in life.  Paleo from conception, can't get healthier!