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!

Thanks girls  I seem to feel better in the morning time and then things build up during the day, I imagine because oestrogen will be rising as I take the meds three times a day starting first thing.

The counselors first appointment is next monday, I booked it in a few weeks ago. I did try searching for another counsellor but didn't make any enquiries. I was seeing the acupuncture person but he's on holiday this week. I guess the most difficult thing is that because of the hormones I have very little control over how I'm feeling. I had a good distraction last night though, I found 4 baby goldfish! So have been focusing on getting them set up. Just a few more days until the transfer now 

@seven201 how annoying about the medication, I hope you can get it ASAP. When do you expect your next cycle will start?

There seems to be a shortage of prognova and I have some other 2mg oestrogen - u reckon that’s ok? Just look different to stick vaginally!

Glad ur better @Gardenlady543 have u got some plans post transfer?

@Cream123 I mean if you can't access the one you normally take then it will have to do. It's just a different brand, it might be worth calling around a few pharmacies to see if they have any stock in before changing across if you haven't called them already though.

Nothing planned, my friend said she can meet me next Tuesday but I'm worried about booking that in as that will be 4dp5dt and I think that's the earliest it would show up if positive and while I know it's early if it is negative, I'll still be devastated.

I tired 3 pharmacies no one had it….it will have to do I’m just being paranoid.

Are u working next week or r u off?

Hi both. @Gardenlady543 are you usually an early tester? If it's a good friend you might like the distraction even if it is a bfn. If she's understanding she won't mind if you last minute cancel.

My pharmacy have said they can't get me the lentogest so I'm having a new prescription sent out and will try elsewhere. 

@Cream123 I had no idea different brands of meds could be a problem. Always something to worry about isn't there!

@Cream123 have you ran out yet or still have a few days left. I'd imagine the main focus is on maintaining constant oestrogen levels so any brand is better than nothing. Have your clinic said anything? I would ring around a few more pharmacies if I were you as it would be more reassuring for you to get a supply of the stuff you're on. Asda often have things in stock still when everywhere is unable to order. If you can at least get one box from somewhere then you should have some time to source more.

I'm just working today and then not back seeing patients until Wednesday, although it's all working from home so it's not a big effort.

@Cream123 yeah she's a good friend, one of the only ones I talk to and knows everything. So I've told her what's happening and that I'll decide on the day. I think it's best for me to test early as I've had so many issues in the past like bleeding early that I'd rather know it never implanted if faced with another problem. And while I know chemicals can happen, given I've never had a BFP I think that would at least be a step in the right direction. I also don't want to walk around thinking it's finally worked for 2 weeks only to be massively disappointed. They only issue is last time when I got a BFN at 4dp5dt I was devastated and if I was pregnant but it wasn't showing up yet then that might have an impact.

Meant to take @seven201 in the second bit.

@Gardenlady543 I know what you mean about worrying about an early false negative and the crying. My brother in law died a few days after my last transfer. I cried so much and will always wonder if that had a part to play, although I don't think it did. I think just test when you want to. I usually leave it longer but never on a work day morning! Sounds like you have a supportive friend which is great.

Yes I always test when dh is home and never on a work am. And I always put a bottle of wine in the fridge this time I went all out and put 2 in!

@Cream123 I love the idea of the wine prep! I usually make a cake or cookies after. Is your scan next week?

My period has arrived. I did have my baseline (needs to be cd 2-4) booked for Monday but have managed to bring it forward to tomorrow and during my teaching frees so I'm feeling happy! It's weird feeling happy when your period arrives when you've been hoping it would have worked naturally. I think I'm mainly relieved there's no more sex for ages and obviously that the ball is rolling on the FET! I hope my cyst has gone. Sorry for the rambling.

@Gardenlady543 it's nearly Friday so not long now!

@seven201 gosh that's awful about your brother in law, I'm so sorry. I feel like this infertility stuff is so much in itself that it's beyond unfair when other awful things happen at the same time.

Oh yes, the period is suddenly a good thing as we can move forward with a cycle. Where abouts is your cyst? What do they do if it's still there? I'm worried this fluid collection that I have is actually some kind of cyst with my oestrogen through the roof, but does it actually matter if it is? Loads of women have cysts so it can't have that much of an impact.

@Cream123 you'll have to save that wine for a special occasion now! Give it to your child on their 18th birthday- here's what I was going to drink before I knew you existed!

Yep I am hopefully all set for transfer day tomorrow, trying not to think about it, as I won't really know what's happened with my lining until tomorrow, since transfer day is when it usually looks bad!

@seven201 yes cake of course too! Yes my scan is next Thursday thanks for asking. Bricking it. Really struggling with the anxiety I had a few missed mc so I just don’t have any trust that things r going well in there. I have zero symptoms and wouldn’t even know I was pregnant which is unsettling too. The week is obviously dragging. But I’m trying to keep busy. Great af here - u can get started now too yay!

@Gardenlady543 oodles of luck tmrw. Don’t even ask or look at ur lining tmrw it doesn’t matter what it looks like it’s meant to thin out and compact once u start oestrogen. Stay postive and calm (impossible I know says me who cried and woke up at 3am the morning of testing !) we are rooting for u!

Once u start progesterone!

@Cream123 I bet you are anxious after your previous losses. I know this won't really reassure you but when I had my daughter I had zero symptoms for the whole first trimester.

@Gardenlady543 to be honest I can't remember where my cyst was, I'm not sure if they said. On my era cycle they found it at the baseline and did a blood test to see if it was releasing estrogen and it wasn't. I think it was 6cm by 6cm.

@Gardenlady543 my clinic won't measure lining on transfer day.

@seven201 it's more the appearance of the lining on transfer day that's the issue, the specialist doing my last FET had said it looked very thin. In the ERA cycle they measured it and I think it was 8mm, but then it wasn't actually there and the appearance on the screen was all patchy. I hope it was the microflora doing it and that it looks normal tomorrow.

I hope the cyst has gone now, will they repeat the oestrogen level if it's still there?

@Gardenlady543 oh I see. Would be really interesting (and good!) if it has been improved by the microflora 🤞.

I assume they will do a new blood test if the cyst is still there.

Good luck @Gardenlady543!

Officially PUPO, I asked about the lining the specialist said she thought it looked good, so no patchiness this time, she mentioned it looked a bit thin towards the bottom but ok at the top. We has a plan to put the embryo at the top anyway, normally they go 1.5cm from the top but in my case it was put 1cm away, the specialist said they have to be careful with going high as the embryo could implant in a tube.

@Gardenlady543 amazing!! Well done. Bet you're relieved!

It sounds like maybe the probiotics have helped your lining then 👏🏻

I hope so @seven201 my specialist came in to say hello before they took me in and when I said I wanted to know how the lining looked she said not to ask as it would add stress. I think the specialists who do the transfer avoid telling you if it doesn't look great for that reason. So I only found out about the lining issues at the first FET in my review appointment, even though I specifically asked.

It's a bit worrying that she mentioned it looked a bit thin towards the bottom, but maybe I'm a person that contracts a lot and I asked as it's going at the top where the lining is thicker, does the lining size at the bottom matter and she said no. So I mean I hope they're not hiding anything from me. The only thing I could have done differently was to keep going to see if I could get to 9mm again, but since the whole cycle was about to get cancelled and the concern about there being a follicle it kind of had to happen with the lining as it was.

@Gardenlady543 it all sounds very promising to me. They've put it in the thick part and hopefully it will burrow in to kate a home for 9 months. Sometimes your body just doesn't play ball so waiting longer may have made zero difference to the thickness. I've often been told to wait and then have waited and the lining hasn't changed at all, or goes down a tiny bit!

I still have a cyst but it's less than 3cm now and the nurse didn't seem worried and just told me to start my meds. I didn't bring up whether I should have a blood test as I didn't want her to cancel the cycle 🤣. She must think it's fine though.

Good call @seven201 I will be very worried about having my Oestrogen level taken again. I don't see how an oestrogen releasing cyst makes any difference anyway. I get the worry about a follicle with a high oestrogen but not a cyst.

Congrats @Gardenlady543

More bleeding here. Scan not great. Looks like mc no 7 but got to wait till next week for confirmation. Physically and emotionally broken. But know I’m so lucky to have my son.