ERA testing after multiple implantation failures. Anyone had it done?

[seven201]

I've had four transfers so far (first 3 from 1 batch, fourth from a second egg collection) and 4 BFNs. I have a naturally conceived 4 1/2 year old and had a natural pregnancy with early miscarriage a bit over 3 years ago. My lining struggles to get to thickness, I have polycystic ovaries (on sukkarto), a fibroid, slightly high thyroid thingy (on levothyroxine), high bp (on meds) and a midline septum (ridge/divide in the uterus). I had surgery to unblock a tube 2 years ago. I'm in the healthy weight range.

My clinic have suggested PGS testing (we have 5 embryos in the freezer) but I'm really not keen on it as I've read about actually fine embryos being shown as poor and therefore being disposed of.

They also suggested ERA (endometrial receptor assessment). Has anyone had that done and found it useful? I just hate anything that delays the next FET but I think maybe it will be worth it?

Any other suggestions? Last FET I was on lots of estrogen, extra progesterone injections, clexane, neupogen infusion, aspirin and probably a whole load of other stuff I've forgotten.

I am so fed up with it all!

@ForeverAintEnough12 has someone been able to have it in the Uk? Hopefully I won’t need it but it would be good to know where it’s available if I do.

@Gardenlady543 was it today? How was it?

No it’s tmrw! Ignore me and good luck :)

@Gardenlady543 I’m in a FB group for thin lining and I’ve seen PRP discussed by patients in the US and Australia. Actually the Dr who operated on my scars (Thierry Vancaille in Sydney) and is one of the 3-4 specialists worldwide of Asherman’s syndrome does it...

@Cream123 thanks, yep it’s tomorrow. I emailed my clinic today as I’m now wanting the ERA EMMA ALICE results back ASAP. It was 3 weeks ago now, I know they said they wouldn’t send the sample off for a few days, but was hoping the results might be back by now. The secretary told me she would check to see if the results are back and get back to me, but hasn’t. I wonder how Care deal with this stuff, surely someone should be monitoring for results coming in. I think you mentioned that you called Igenomix, did they give you any info on your results?

I had my biopsy on 1st results on 23rd. In my case the results went st to my consultant. I had 2 working days in there which were bank holidays which prob delayed things. You can be impatient like me and ring again tmrw (!) and ask who gets the results and then chase them. I just hate thinking they were sitting there waiting to be actioned Upon esp as I really wanted to cycle this month for various work related reasons. And more importantly scarring can come back post op and mr lower says to crack on ASAP. Anyways good luck chasing. I’m so impatient :)

Ignoemix absolutely wouldn’t even check if they had my sample or discuss it with me
“Data protection”.

@Cream123 yeah I thought that may be the case with Igenomix. I don’t get why the secretary from Care would email me back and say she’s find out if the results are in and get back to me today, and then not do it. Now I’m second guessing: did they forget to send the sample, could the sample not be processed and they missed it, is the result bad. Hopefully I’ll hear from them tomorrow so I can get a review appointment with Mr Trew booked in with all the information.

@Gardenlady543 u sound just like me! I was fine until the 2.5 week Mark then started chasing then got worried they sample went missing! I rang care in end to ask them to confirm the sample went and luckily the results were in that day. I asked ignomix to just check if they had it and if not to let care know (not me coz of data protection issues) they must have thought I was insane
What date was ur biopsy?

@Cream123 it was 15th April but my specialist said it wouldn’t be sent until the 19th which seems like a really long time. My friend checked how long her result took and it was back in 2.5 weeks. So hopefully it should be back any day now.

@Gardenlady543 I based in mine
Should be back tmrw. Fingers crossed

Good luck for tomorrow @Gardenlady543 and I really hope you get your biopsy results ASAP too.

Thanks for the good luck guys, I’ve had the HSG, the radiologist said it looked completely normal, she said the uterus and tubes look normal, she can’t see any signs of Ashermans, I mentioned chronic endometritis and she said she couldn’t see signs of that either. So I guess everything remains unclear. I’ll have to wait for the ERA EMMA and ALICE results, I’m inclined to go ahead with another transfer and then perhaps revisit the idea of a hysteroscopy if that’s unsuccessful.

@Gardenlady543 that’s good news in some ways but also a bit confusing. Will u have another follow up from mr trew? I hope ur Emma/era is back ASAP! When r u thinking of cycling? Hope ur ok x

@Gardenlady543 are u an unexplained infertility?

@Gardenlady543 I bet you're feeling confused now! It is good news though. Hopefully you can get your biopsy results before the weekend.

@seven201 were u asking about diet and FeT? I can’t decide what to do! I’ll have been no alchol for month when I have transfer. And caffeine I was doing 1 a day but 2.5 weeks prior I’ve stopped fully. I eat home made food with lots of veg fruit fish nuts and cook from scratch etc.

But I can’t stop the sugar!

Thanks @Cream123 and @seven201

Mr Trew said to book in for a review when I have the results of the ERA EMMA ALICE, he had mentioned about doing a hysteroscopy and taking a number of biopsies if everything was normal. So I’ll have to speak with him when everything is back to see what he thinks is best, I think I’d rather just go into another FET and revisit a hysteroscopy if unsuccessful.

I’m due my period in 2 weeks, it was peak fertility today, I asked at the HSG if I’m ok to have sex today and the doctor joked “I’d rather you left the hospital first” everyone in the room thought I was really randy, I definitely didn’t feel like sex after that procedure but given the ERA is similar to a scratch and I’ve heard that the HSG flushes out the tubes, I thought I couldn’t not do it.

It was a weird experience, the staff members were quite oblivious to IVF stuff they were all trying to be friendly but unintentionally saying the wrong things, probing me about why IVF hasn’t worked etc. Everyone kept saying how good I was during the procedure, you know patiently lying still while they did everything. I just said “I’ve has IVF, I’m used to it” they were also quite amazed that I took the 4 antibiotic tablets in 1, I was like, “I take about 15 vitamins/pills a day” I don’t know, I guess it’s quite upsetting to think how normal all this stuff is to me.

I guess it does look like I’m unexplained, maybe “unexplained lining issues” sums it up.

@Gardenlady543 you poor thing sounds emotionally unpleasant. I think u do get used to it all though and having painful procedures or having people look at ur bits just doesn’t phase us anymore!! Plus u don’t really care coz ur just so desperate that if u needed ur arm sawing off u would just do it!! It’s quite sad :(
The things we do :(

U have a good number of good blasts so it makes sense to give it another go and then if not visit the hysteroscopy. However they are quite quick and in the right hands low risk so maybe chat to mr trew . I wish I had pushed for one earlier as I was told I had no ashermans. Then found out after 2 FET I did Infact have it

That’s a lot of in one message!

@Cream123 yes it was me asking about diet. I'm not very good. I generally eat healthily but I do eat carbs and I know I eat too much chocolate. It's a balance. I really love my chocolate and if someone said to me if you don't eat chocolate then you'll definitely get pregnant then I'd be fine with it but I've had 3 1/2 years of not drinking too much, watching what I eat etc and I'm just fed up with it I guess!

@Gardenlady543 it's good you'll see mr trew again. I think that sounds a fair enough plan, another transfer before anything else. Wait and see on the era results etc.

I know what you mean about ivf stuff being normal now and it is depressing. I never thought I'd just become ok with the 'dildo cam', speculum etc but you do just go and do it then get back to normal life straight after. I too am a master pill swallower!

Definitely take advantage of the fertile window after the flush out and semi scratch!

Thanks @Cream123 do you think there’s a chance that I do have Ashermans with this normal looking HSG then?

@seven201 lol at the dildo can, I saw someone refer to it as being twat wanded!

Re: food, be healthy but don’t put too much emphasis on it, I think I’ve spoken on here about what I did in the ERA cycle, my green smoothies, Brazil nuts, beetroot juice, pomegranate juice etc etc, and my lining was thinner than the FET when I did none of it! I think diet makes very little difference, it’s the meds that make the difference. Also I love dark chocolate, and I eat that whenever I want and give you full permission to do the same!

@Gardenlady543 obv that’s a question for mr trew. But the good standard is hysteroscopy. Mine was missed on saline scan and detailed USS. Hsg I think it slightly better than saline scan. He will be able to guide you based on ur hx etc. Sorry things are no clearer for u!

@seven201 yes I ate clean all day. And ended it with one of those Lindt choc bars! I’ve told hubby to hide them all and sticking to the dark !!! I had managed an entire week of no sugar but then these last few days I can’t seem to help myself!

@Gardenlady543 thank you for the permission - it really does help having having that bit of reassurance that it's not that bad. I love Lindt 70%. Personally I find knowing what to eat stressful and that won't help, so I've relaxed my standards a lot! Also, my doctor who told me 1 1/2 years ago to stop eating white carbs last week mentioned she was having a pizza and it made me feel much better!

Hahahah twat wanded! Love that.

I am really upset, the secretary from the clinic called me at 4:50pm she said my ERA EMMA ALICE results are back but she doesn’t know what they are and I need to wait for the first appointment available on Thursday to discuss them. I asked her to email me the results, I said I’m really stressed and worried, to know they’re back and not know what they show. And I can’t book in with Mr Trew until I know them. She said she would check if she can email them, I said if she can’t forward them to me, then can someone call me and tell me why. She then emailed me and said the results are encrypted and she’ll have to speak to my specialist next week about it as she’s left for the week.

I replied to ask what time the results came through and said I’m upset, stressed and worried to be told the results are back 10 minutes before they close on a Friday but be given no indication of what they show.

I’m so upset, should I raise this as a formal complaint? Why on earth would she dangle the results in front of me last thing on a Friday?! And the Thursday appointment will give me just 1 week to plan the cycle, if I can even go ahead with it. Do I have a need for antibiotics and it’s left untreated for the next week while I wait?!

I happen to have my specialist’s personal number so I have text it in a last ditch attempt to find out the results.