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Original poster

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

995 replies

seven201 · 09/03/2021 16:19

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!

OP posts:
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Gardenlady543 · 15/06/2021 07:23

@Cream123 yep, negative on a FRER, I've never seen anything but 1 line so it's not really any different than normal. I know I'm not completely out yet. Not sure what I'll do next though if it is all a no go, my hours at work automatically go up from August so it will be really difficult to manage the treatment and I have to face the annoyance caused by the high oestrogen with the specialist insisting I have to have it checked once meds stop. Maybe I'll look at a repeat ERA (to see if we catch the receptive window) and EMMA (to see if I need any more treatment). Then there are obviously add ons, but I'm not sure there is anything to target really.

bluepixie · 15/06/2021 07:25

@Gardenlady543 test again on Thursday (was it?) and if a bfn again can think of ideas. Not discussing them until we know for certain. I’ll keep hoping for u x

Gardenlady543 · 15/06/2021 07:35

@Cream123 thanks Thanks will let you know if anything changes, I just have this fear that for some reason it's impossible for things to implant in me.

I hope you're ok and not too worried about Thursday.

bluepixie · 15/06/2021 18:46

I know it’s hard to not trust your body once it let u down lots :(
Are u waiting till Friday to retest,

Gardenlady543 · 15/06/2021 19:26

@Cream123 I don't know what to do, if I keep testing negative then I'll be upset. But if I don't test and it all ends up as a no go, then all I've done is delayed the upset.

bluepixie · 15/06/2021 19:42

Will u manage work if it’s a bfn tmrw? And does that matter? I wouldn’t
Manage work so I never test on a work day….

Gardenlady543 · 15/06/2021 19:58

@Cream123 yeah I think you might be right, with patients all day tomorrow and the day after it will make life very difficult for me. It seems that false negatives can be quite frequent at 5dp and 6dp, so maybe it's best for me to wait for a bit longer. The FRERs are there so I'll see how I feel when I wake up over the next few days though.

I just have this really weird feeling that m embryos try to implant in me on 7dp transfer since in both my fresh and FET I got abdominal pain radiating into my back at this time, given my longer progesterone that would equate to 6dp in this cycle. I hope the company were right with only asking me to take one more day of progesterone.

bluepixie · 15/06/2021 20:51

Well I’m Pretty sure my son implanted on day 6/7 my hcg on day 7 was 10!!! He then went to 13 (hence chemical in my mind) but then really took off. And I couldn’t see it on a frer that am (but my husband could). I think just wait 2 more days and then test again when u don’t have work. Then u have the long weekend to either celebrate and start worrying or to get some support and plans together.

Weirdly this time I’m sure i implanted the day after transfer as I felt the cramps and I text my husband as we were having lunch with my husband. And I didn’t have any cramps while just in the progesterone. So maybe it changes each cycle depending on embryo and lining progression

Gardenlady543 · 16/06/2021 07:15

@Cream123 so the good news is I've flushed away my FMU so I can't do a test today. I'm not really feeling any kind of symptoms.

bluepixie · 16/06/2021 09:54

Good. Just test again on Friday is it?apart from the 1 hour of on and off cramps I had zero symptoms either. And with other pregnancies I haven’t had the cramps…so it’s not over till u test again in a few days x

Original poster
seven201 · 16/06/2021 19:43

@Gardenlady543 sorry I missed all this. You're not out yet so don't overthink the negative. Easier said than done!

@Cream123 best of luck for tomorrow!

OP posts:
Gardenlady543 · 16/06/2021 20:02

Thanks @seven201 someone has mentioned waiting until 9dp5dt to test. So maybe I should just hold off now.

@Cream123 good luck tomorrow, will be thinking of you Thanks

bluepixie · 17/06/2021 16:28

Not looking good :( but need a rescan next week to confirm it.

Gardenlady543 · 17/06/2021 16:46

Oh dear, @Cream123 what did they say today? I hope next week is more positive. I hope you are ok Thanks

I started getting the weird abdominal cramps last night that always seem to happen on 7dp and have now moved forward a day with the 1 day extra of progesterone. I have looked into it and 12 days of progesterone for receptivity is unheard of. I mean to be fair it could just be my body's reaction to being on the meds for this amount of time. Everyone in the May/June IVF group seem to be getting BFP. I don't think I'll test until 9dp5dt and if that's negative will book in my review appointment. Not sure what's next for me if this is another no go, I don't think my specialist will have anything else to add. So I think I will do a repeat EMMA and ERA before trying again. There are NK biopsies and the receptiva biopsy but I don't think my specialist will have access to them.

bluepixie · 17/06/2021 17:07

There’s no hb and there should be at this stage. I’ve always had one before. Next week will confirm it but for now I have to keep jabbing myself taking all my meds and continue to feel Very sick :(

Gardenlady543 · 17/06/2021 17:30

@Cream123 Ergg that's rubbish, I'm sorry. I hate these meds, it's the clinics normal reaction that things have to be carried on Sad I remember in my fresh cycle when I was having a full blown period and had to keep going. I really really hope this turns out well though. Have you been able to have any more hcg tests?

bluepixie · 17/06/2021 18:02

Yes there r very strict criteria before it can be 100. Percent called a mc.

I’m at 99.9 percent today

bluepixie · 17/06/2021 18:04

No more hcg. No point at this stage it’s all based on the scans

Original poster
seven201 · 17/06/2021 18:06

@Cream123 I'm so sorry. Don't know what to say. How are you feeling? Probably a stupid question.

OP posts:
bluepixie · 17/06/2021 18:37

@seven201 I’m devastated. I’m going to need another op and my uterus is already so broken. I don’t think it can handle it. I also wish I knew what was so wrong with me. Maybe it is immune stuff coz my embryo was strong and I had a good starting hcg. Who knows. I’m just so worn out from it all. It’s my 7th mc. Clearly it wasn’t just pgs playing a role for me.
I have one blast left and then I think I need to move on. As much as I can’t bring myself to accept that. 7mc is more than my heart can take :(

Original poster
seven201 · 17/06/2021 20:24

@Cream123 I can't imagine the pain that a 7th mc after all that treatment must bring.

How old are you? I bet you have the guilt of feeling you're not being a happy mum for your son. I definitely feel that with my daughter, especially when at low points when just bereft.

Did you say you've been doing counselling. Is your husband on the same page?

OP posts:
bluepixie · 17/06/2021 20:50

I’m 37 next week. I started ttc when I was 28 and finally had my son at 33. Then I started again at 35 for no 2 (using my old blasts 2 bfn until my ashermans was diagnosed).

Yes I feel so guilty :(

My dh is wonderful and literally the reason I’ve gotten through all this. Yes he’s on the same page as me. Luckily.

So my scan is next week and then I’ll ring my ashermans doc to get him to operate on me coz I don’t trust anyone else to do it and I never ever miscarry naturally or with the meds. And then try loose all this flab and go in for my last cycle end of year.

I think if next one fails I’ll get a counsellor to start coming to terms with things

How is ur cycle going when is ur next scan?

Original poster
seven201 · 17/06/2021 22:42

That all sounds a very sensible approach @Cream123. No need to make any final decisions yet. I nearly wrote you could take a break then see how you feel about another egg collection but then I realised I'd hate it if someone said that to me!

I'm glad your dh is so supportive. That makes such a difference. Hope you get some sleep tonight.

OP posts:
Gardenlady543 · 18/06/2021 04:34

@Cream123 that's seems very sensibly. I've been thinking about youThanks. Try to take every step one at a time. If there's one embryo left then I think it will help for
you to go into the transfer knowing you've done everything you can to set things up for it. But there's no need to rush in to things.

I decided to take a FRER yesterday evening (I know not FMU) and it was a BFN, then to make matters worse one of my aquatic pets became unwell and died. I knew he was reaching the end of his lifespan but thought I'd at least have a positive test before he passed away. Just trying to face the next steps now, I would have liked to have spoken with my specialist and agreed to go straight into a repeat ERA EMMA without a break but because of the overreaction to oestrogen I know I have to come off everything and have it checked without meds. It will be nice to not be on medications though. I'm even thinking should I pay extra and go through another egg collection because while I have 4 euploid embryos clearly it's going to take a while, if ever, to get success and I would ideally want more than one child (if I can get a first that is). I'm with access fertility and think they don't allow any other treatment while on the package though.

bluepixie · 18/06/2021 07:38

Thanks girls.
@Gardenlady543 so sorry for the bfn. It’s just all so hard :( how r u? When is ur official otd?
I have a list of things u can ponder over which may help your puzzle when ur ready for them. The barrage of tests and consultants for rm and rif are fairly similar and I’ve been on this road 8 years so can least give u some info so u can see if you think any of them are right for u.

Im not at work next week thank god as on leave. Would have been a good time to have my surgery but will have to do it the week after.