One of the biggest controversies in reproductive medicine: natural killer ... https://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/parenting/pregnancy/conception/7010...

life & style Log in

conception

paid content
about this content

"Elle n'est plus

avec son mari
?" : Amandine
more lifestyle from stuff Oh!MyMag

sponsored

Is teleportation How Diana and 'Not a lot of Chaser Anne À lire : Les
closer than we Fergie ended people would Hegerty still secrets des
think? up in a police be able to lives in shared subventions
Panneaux Solaires
Nouvelles
Générations

One of the biggest controversies in reproductive

medicine: natural killer cells
Clare Sibthorpee · 13:33, Jul 09 2015

1 sur 11 19/03/2023 11:51

One of the biggest controversies in reproductive medicine: natural killer ... https://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/parenting/pregnancy/conception/7010...

life & style Log in

conception

ISTOCK

"I wish that the natural killer cell testing would've happened sooner ... it could have been a
quicker path to having children, and there aren't a lot of people who know about it".

Leigh Travers and her partner Matt endured a six-year long struggle of seven
heartbreaking miscarriages and $25,000 in IVF treatment before the successful
birth of their daughter Ava.

Ms Travers believes they owe Ava's birth to the treatment for arguably the most
controversial cells in reproductive medicine: natural killer cells (NK cells).

NK cells are part of the normal immune system and are responsible for cleaning up
abnormal cells in our bodies, such as early cancer.

The contentious question is whether high levels of NKC contribute to infertility or

increase the risk of miscarriage.

Doctor Gavin Sacks was the fertility specialist who recommended Ms Travers
for an experimental treatment he developed, called Bondi Protocol.

"By lowering the body's immune response through the Bondi Protocol, we are
trying to stop the natural killer cells from attacking the embryo in the womb
because they see it as a foreign body," Dr Sacks explained on the IVF Australia

2 sur 11 19/03/2023 11:51

One of the biggest controversies in reproductive medicine: natural killer ... https://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/parenting/pregnancy/conception/7010...

website.
life & style Log in

A blood test measures the number and activation levels of NK cells, and the
conception
treatment includes an immunosuppressant (such as steroids).

Dr Sacks has tested the Bondi Protocol on 87 women who had a poor
prognosis; 56 had been trying for a baby for years with continued IVF failure,
while the other 31 women had experienced recurrent miscarriage.

"For the women in the recurrent miscarriage group, 80 per cent became pregnant
within a year naturally [after the treatment]. In the repeated IVF failure group, 68
per cent fell pregnant within three cycles of IVF," he wrote.

"The live birth rate in women under 38, with clinical history of no reproductive
issues, was 86 per cent, which is very promising."

Researchers from the UK also found a link between NK cells and recurrent
miscarriage.

However, Associate Professor Mark Bowman, from the Fertility Society of

Australia, said there is yet to be a randomised controlled trial to confirm that the
Bondi Protocol works, adding that "it's disappointing that no one has tried harder
to make that trial happen".

He admitted that "for a small proportion of women who have had repeated
miscarriage we think some of them have an altered immune response [which the
Bondi Protocol targets], that makes it harder for them to remain pregnant".

But in addition to the lack of proper trials, he says it is difficult to determine how
valid the NK cell tests are, and whether people are truly benefiting from the
treatment.

"It might be reasonable for an doctor to say to their patient 'this treatment is not
proven, but I've had some personal experience and if you want to try it you can',
but it would just be important for that person to make a proper informed consent
discussion," Prof Bowman said.

Doctor David Wilkinson, the medical director at City Fertility Melbourne, said
doctors should try to provide a balanced perspective, but to not discount the
treatment for the lack of evidence because "it's very difficult to always offer things
that have absolutely been proven".

3 sur 11 19/03/2023 11:51

One of the biggest controversies in reproductive medicine: natural killer ... https://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/parenting/pregnancy/conception/7010...

"There are a couple of doctors who are very strong believers in the NK cells …Log
and
life & style in
others are not, but have some patients who are having a terrible time, and will do
anything if they think it might increase their chances," Dr Wilkinson said.
conception
"And you'll think 'well if something isn't dangerous, and everything else has been
tried, and the patient wants to try it, then we'll go along with that'".

What's devastating for Ms Travers is that she was given this choice "too late", only
receiving the Bondi Protocol treatment after seven failed pregnancies.

She remained on it for 16 weeks and had her healthy daughter Ava naturally in July
2013.

Sara La Cava also had repeated IVF failure following years of infertility.

On her fifth attempt of IVF and after eight months on NK cells treatment, she gave
birth to healthy twins Alexander and Antonio in April last year.

"I wish that the natural killer cell testing would've happened sooner ... it could have
been a quicker path to having children, and there aren't a lot of people who know
about it," Mrs Cava said.

If doctors at least gave couples the option to have the testing earlier, rather that
"not even mention it", Ms Travers believes it could avoid much trauma of emotional
and financial pressure.

"It makes me mad that IVF clinics are not doing these NK cell tests as routine … we
spent $25,000 on IVF and we didn't need it in the end. Even if it's not entirely
proven, at least let people know this could be a possibility. I don't want anyone to
go through what I went through," Ms Travers said.

Both Prof Bowman and Dr Wilkinson hope more trials will be done to confirm
whether NKC treatment is effective, but Ms Travers and Mrs Cava said they have
their evidence.

"Seven losses and then an eighth pregnancy on the [NKC] drugs that results in a
take-home baby is too much of a coincidence for me," Ms Travers said.

"The proof of the pudding is Ava."

4 sur 11 19/03/2023 11:51

One of the biggest controversies in reproductive medicine: natural killer ... https://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/parenting/pregnancy/conception/7010...

life & style Log in

conception

essentialbaby.com.au

paid content Recommended by

Seven books you are C’est voté, l’Etat paye vos Investir 9,000€ dans un
forbidden from reading panneaux solaires si vous parking rapporte jusqu’à
The Economist êtes propriétaire ! 14 %
lesnewsfrance Actualité des placements

5 sur 11 19/03/2023 11:51

One of the biggest controversies in reproductive medicine: natural killer ... https://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/parenting/pregnancy/conception/7010...

life & style Log in

conception

A crucial battery material Des abris conçus pour EDF ENR présente sa
is suddenly durer et maximiser votre dernière génération de
superabundant espace extérieur à un… panneaux solaires ultra…
The Economist Cabanon de jardin | Rechercher des … Autoconsommation : la
solution ultime pour réduire…
Photovoltaique.io partenaire d'EDF …

A television show about

Jesus Christ has…
The Economist

"Quelle indécence" :
Jade et Joy Hallyday e…
People

"C'est une catastrophe",

Russia’s vaunted second offensive is a le nouveau film Astérix…
damp squib News Gaming
The Economist

Ukraine is building up its De plus en plus de Les nouveaux monte-

forces for an offensive personnes passent aux escaliers mobiles ne
The Economist téléphones VoIP… nécessite pas…
Forfaits VoIP | Rechercher des publi… Ascenseur d'escalier | Liens de rech…

6 sur 11 19/03/2023 11:51

One of the biggest controversies in reproductive medicine: natural killer ... https://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/parenting/pregnancy/conception/7010...

life & style Log in

conception

Villas de luxe à Dubaï : les prix peuvent vous surprendre !

Villas à vendre à Dubaï | Liens Sponsorisés

Johnny Hallyday : Les America and China are Les 4 conditions pour
deux chanteurs qu'il ne preparing for a war over avoir des panneaux
supportait pas Taiwan solaires subventionnés
Oh!MyMag The Economist lesnewsfrance

7 sur 11 19/03/2023 11:51

One of the biggest controversies in reproductive medicine: natural killer ... https://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/parenting/pregnancy/conception/7010...

life & style Log in

conception

Que devient Natascha "Nous nous aimons", la Le nettoyage des

Kampusch, 25 ans après révélation d'Emma canalisations pourrait
sa captivité dans la cav… Watson sur sa relation… être plus facile que vou…
Oh!MyMag News Gaming Voir Options
Nettoyage de Canalisation

"Mourir comme un Indien" Les nouveaux monte- Oubliez le remplacement

: Florent Pagny face au escaliers mobiles ne coûteux du toit : les prix
cancer, ce qu’il souhait… nécessitent aucune… peuvent vous surprendre
Oh!MyMag Monte-escaliers | Liens de recherche Prestations de toiture

Classement des Angelina Jolie révèle que Les meilleurs nouveaux

most popular

1 Want to move out of the city but not sure where? Here are the regions
ranked

2 Recap: Black Caps vs Sri Lanka - second test in Wellington, day 3

8 sur 11 19/03/2023 11:51

One of the biggest controversies in reproductive medicine: natural killer ... https://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/parenting/pregnancy/conception/7010...

3 Radio station ZM admits fault for staff parking in disability spot

life & style Log in

4 Person in serious condition after incident in Canterbury

conception

5 Quiz: Afternoon trivia challenge: March 19, 2023

6 Recap: New Zealand Sail Grand Prix on Lyttelton Harbour, Christchurch

7 No funds for fix at dangerous rail crossing means highway to be closed

8 Greens call for Capital Gains Tax and end to petrol tax cuts at party rally

9 Sail GP: Peter Burling says New Zealand hard done by on 'soft' umpire call
after bittersweet second

10 Boris Johnson's 'bombshell' that will 'exonerate him from partygate'

9 sur 11 19/03/2023 11:51

One of the biggest controversies in reproductive medicine: natural killer ... https://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/parenting/pregnancy/conception/7010...

life & style Log in

conception

Neighbourly | Stuff Coupons

WildClean | Family Notices | Stuff Events | Advertising
Careers | Privacy Policy | Cookies Policy
Terms & Conditions | Editorial Code | Contact Us

Breaking news?
Send your photos, videos and tip-offs to

10 sur 11 19/03/2023 11:51

One of the biggest controversies in reproductive medicine: natural killer ... https://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/parenting/pregnancy/conception/7010...

newstips@stuff.co.nz, or call us on 0800 697 8833

life & style Log in

conception
© 2023 Stuff Limited

11 sur 11 19/03/2023 11:51