Miscarriage & Miracles: Fertility Challenge From Potential Autoimmune Disease

From painful periods to partial criteria for antiphospholipid syndrome, Whitney’s journey sheds light on the unbreakable spirit behind every IVF success

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From a young age, Whitney knew her body was something of an anomaly. Each month, as other young women described cramps and bloating, her symptoms painted a much darker picture – heavy, painful periods, nausea and even moments when her vision blurred. Though her OB/GYN, a close family friend, put her on birth control to manage the symptoms, the possibility of an underlying autoimmune disease was not explored, and invasive surgery for a clear diagnosis was put off in favor of symptom control.

“It was pretty terrible – I knew even at a young age this wasn’t normal,” Whitney says. But when she asked about conditions like endometriosis or PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome), her doctors explained that testing was invasive and generally not performed on someone her age.

It wasn’t until years later, when she married and started trying to conceive, that she decided to pursue answers – and a chance at motherhood. That journey would ultimately lead to a clear diagnosis by the doctors at Tennessee Reproductive Medicine (TRM) who became more than just healthcare providers.

Endometriosis, PCOS and the infertility connection

The decision to seek treatment at TRM came with a strong personal recommendation. Her friend Betsy, who had faced similar struggles with endometriosis and PCOS, had turned to TRM years before, finding a compassionate and personalized level of care she hadn’t experienced elsewhere. Encouraged by Betsy and other local women who praised TRM online, Whitney made an appointment and found herself welcomed and supported.

Her early symptoms aligned with research on endometriosis and PCOS, two of the most common reproductive health disorders affecting female fertility. Roughly 10% of women are affected by endometriosis and 8%–13% by PCOS, though both conditions are historically underdiagnosed and misunderstood. Endometriosis can cause chronic pelvic and period pain while PCOS disrupts ovulation and hormone balance, complicating fertility.

“I wasn’t formally diagnosed with PCOS,” says Whitney. “But the symptoms were all there and it felt like I had that to deal with on top of endometriosis.”

With this information, the couple and TRM knew that getting pregnant may be difficult. Over the next year, they began fertility treatment with the help of hormone medications like Clomid and regular monitoring at TRM.

Pregnancy success, miscarriage then signs of a possible autoimmune disease

Despite months of trying, nothing happened. Then during a school field trip, Whitney, a teacher, felt sudden, unexplainable dizziness and nausea. At her friend’s suggestion, she took a pregnancy test, and to her surprise, it was positive. Her joy quickly shifted to sorrow, however, when doctors were unable to detect a heartbeat at her next appointment.

“We’d been trying so long, and that positive test felt like a miracle,” Whitney says. “Losing it so soon was devastating.”

Saddened but resolved, the couple continued with different fertility medications. Over the coming months, Whitney endured two losses. The first was a chemical pregnancy – a common issue when an embryo briefly forms in the uterine lining but never develops. The second, a miscarriage, happened around 10 weeks.

“At that point, I started feeling like maybe this wasn’t in the cards for us.”

TRM’s Dr. Jessica Scotchie suspected a deeper issue. Further testing revealed Whitney met partial criteria for antiphospholipid syndrome (APS), a rare autoimmune disorder associated with blood clots, repeated miscarriage, and pregnancy complications among other issues. Although the full diagnostic criteria for APS were not met, Dr. Scotchie recommended treating Whitney as if she had the full disorder, as the benefits of the treatment could outweigh the risks of not treating.

The autoimmune disease APS’ impact on fertility

The autoimmune disease antiphospholipid syndrome is characterized by production of antibodies – antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) – that “attack” the person’s own body. APS’ specific impact on fertility is still not widely understood.

Those with APS wishing to become pregnant should work closely with their OB/GYN or a fertility specialist, as pregnancy complications and risks are high, including miscarriage, severe preeclampsia and premature births. These risks are what Dr. Scotchie did not want Whitney exposed to.

In addition, there’s an association of the presence of APS antibodies and repeated implantation failures with in vitro fertilization (IVF). With Whitney showing partial criteria for an APS diagnosis, Dr. Scotchie did not want to take any chances, even though Whitney’s risks were not as great as someone with a confirmed APS diagnosis.

Related Reading: Proactive OB/GYN support

This new worry meant more possible complications and concerns, but also hope for a new path forward. Once Dr. Scotchie identified the potential for APS, Whitney’s fertility treatment path changed entirely. She began a regimen of blood-thinning medications, including daily injections of blood-clot prevention drugs.

Choosing IVF for mental and physical health

At this point, Dr. Scotchie also recommended the couple move forward with IVF, given the physical and emotional toll the miscarriages had taken. “I was in a dark place and they thought IVF would give us the best shot,” Whitney explains.

IVF is a more involved process than other fertility treatments, but it also offers a higher success rate. Whitney began taking fertility injections to stimulate her ovaries and retrieve eggs for fertilization in the lab. Her body responded well and TRM retrieved four eggs, two of which developed into healthy embryos. The couple decided to implant one – with female chromosomes – during Thanksgiving of that year. But despite their hopes, the embryo didn’t “stick.”

After taking the time to grieve, she also took the time to look toward next steps. Whitney underwent surgery to remove any tissue or lesions that could interfere with pregnancy before implanting their last embryo.

A miracle after many losses

This time, success. After years of treatments, surgeries and pregnancies that all ended too soon, she and her husband finally welcomed a healthy baby boy. Due to her APS diagnosis, she had to undergo a scheduled C-section to prevent blood-clotting complications, and she remained on blood-thinning medication until six weeks postpartum.

“I couldn’t let myself believe it was real until I was actually holding him,” Whitney admits.

Fertility treatment can often feel impersonal, but for Whitney her experience at TRM was anything but. “They felt every step with me – if I lost a baby, they were there, and when I finally got pregnant, they celebrated like they were family.”

Reflecting on her journey, she emphasizes how much of a difference a strong support network made for her, from friends and family to her TRM team.
“If you’re going through this alone, you need people who’ve been there or who get it,” she says. “I’m so grateful I had that.”