Scheduling an Appointment for Recurrent Pregnancy Loss

• How do I schedule an appointment for consultation?
• Who should schedule an appointment?
• What if I am out-of-state or out-of-country?
• How can I get immunologic testing through my own doctor?

How do I schedule an appointment for consultation?

Any individual or couple who has experienced pregnancy loss may call 847-869-7777 to schedule an appointment for consultation. This consultation may be done in person or over the telephone if more convenient for the couples involved. It would be helpful if previous medical records could be sent ahead of the appointment time.

Who should schedule an appointment?

Typical histories of individuals experiencing pregnancy loss or failure include the following:

• A history of two or more miscarriages occurring in the first trimester
• A history of one or more pregnancy losses occurring after the first trimester
• A history of no successful pregnancies after in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer of a cumulative total of 6-8 or more cleaved embryos or 4 blastocysts
• A history of two or more chemical pregnancies after in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer
• A history of unexplained infertility thought to be due to failure of the fertilized egg to implantation

What if I am out-of-state or out-of-country?

Many couples seek access to the RPL Program of the IVF Institute from afar. Traditionally, about fifty (50) percent of our patients come from out of state or out of country to consult and receive recommendations for treatment of pregnancy loss or failure. What attracts patients from out of state and out of country? It is our unique and individualized approach to problem solving, which targets those factors that adversely affect pregnancy outcome.

How we provide treatment at a distance

A number of steps are involved in providing treatment for pregnancy loss at a distance. These include:

1. Setting up an appointment for consultation. Couples from afar may make an appointment by calling 847-869-7777 between 8am and 4pm Central Standard Time in the winter and Central Daylight Time in the summer. This consultation may be done in person or over the telephone--whichever is more convenient for you. It would be helpful if you could forward all previous relevant medical records ahead of the appointment time in preparation for the scheduled consultation. In addition, a questionnaire that can be downloaded from our website or faxed to, you upon request, needs to be completed and returned in advance of your consultation. Contact us.
2. The Initial Physician Consultation. All available medical records should be sent prior to the appointment time in preparation for the telephone consultation. During the consultation, your physician will review your history, ask additional relevant questions and offer a preliminary opinion that is usually contingent upon supportive laboratory testing that will be recommended.
3. Obtaining Recommended Immunologic Testing. Your physician may recommend immunologic testing as part of your evaluation of pregnancy loss or failure. Very few laboratories perform all of the specialized tests used to determine the cause of pregnancy loss or failure. Millenova Immunology Laboratories can perform all of the tests required to determine the cause of pregnancy loss or failure. Therefore, blood is usually sent to Millenova Laboratories for analysis. Once your consultation is completed, your physician will recommend further appropriate testing. Millenova Immunology Laboratories will send you styrofoam mailers with a prepaid return Federal Express airbill and instructions of what blood to draw. Have your local doctor or laboratory draw your blood in the quantity and types of tubes specified on the requisition form included with the mailers. Once your blood is drawn and sent to Millenova Laboratories, you should call 847-869-7777 and make an appointment for a follow-up consult in approximately two weeks. Our staff will assist you to arrange to have your blood drawn and tested and schedule the follow up consult.
4. Follow-up consult and ongoing interaction. At the time of the follow-up consult, your physician will go over the results of the testing which you have had done. Based on your medical history and the results of your laboratory testing, your physician will make specific recommendations for appropriate treatment. This treatment may be carried out at any of the IVF Institute-Chicago locations, or we can work with your local doctor to see if he/she can perform the therapies and monitoring necessary. You and your doctor will have ready access to our staff at all times from Monday through Friday, 8am to 4pm Central Time. After hours and weekends the answering service will page the staff member on call in case of emergencies.

How can I get immunologic testing through my own doctor?

If you or your doctor wishes to order immunologic testing directly from Millenova Immunology Laboratories, you should:

• Contact Millenova Immunology Laboratories by telephoning at 847-869-7777 or email through its website for information about how to send your blood, fees, etc.
• Millenova Immunology Laboratories will send you Styrofoam mailers with a prepaid return Federal Express air bill and instructions of what blood to draw.
• Have your doctor draw your blood in the quantity and types of tubes specified on the requisition form.
• You or your physician must fill out the requisition form that is included in you mailer or can be printed out from the Millenova website to help facilitate the process of handling your specimens
• The results of your immunologic testing will be sent directly to your physician unless you would like a consultation with Dr. Coulam for evaluation and recommendations for management. This consultation may be done over the telephone if more convenient for you. If an appointment with Dr. Coulam is desired, it may be obtained by called 847-869-7777. The consultation should be scheduled for 2 weeks after your blood is drawn and sent to Millenova Immunology Laboratories.