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!

Girls once you have ur ERA bleed can u tell me if it’s lighter heavier or the same as your usual period?
Hope the sickness is ok!

So I’ve made it to just over 9mm this morning and I’m booked in for my ERA on Thursday am, which is good, I was worried that I wouldn’t be there yet and would have to be scanned again on Monday prolonging everything further. My clinic don’t do ERAs very often and initially said I should start the progesterone tomorrow without giving me a time and said they’d arrange the time of the procedure the day before. I told them I was quite sure the timing was very specific and they spoke with my specialist and came back with exact timings which is good.

Hi @Gardenlady543
Good luck! Let me know how ur af is.
When u do the era they just need to know exactly when u start the progesterone so they can work out the hours between starting and biopsy. Mine ended up being 126 hours
Hopefully results soon!

Thanks @Cream123 I’ll report back. Was your withdrawal bleed different ?

It could be because your lining was different this time, if so. My periods are really light usually, if I start seeing heavier periods then that will be reassuring as it means I’m building up a thicker endometrium.

I didn't realise there'd been posts on here this week!

@Cream123 yay. Well done on getting the era done. Must feel good to have it done. I agree. I hate FET meds and how crap they make you feel.

@Gardenlady543 that's great you've got yours booked in for Thursday.

My period arrived this morning. Was meant to be driving to cornwall early hours of Monday morning but now have to go a day later due to baseline scan Monday afternoon (the only appt they had) as my clinic insist on a baseline scan between cd2-4. I did have a back up plan if my period arrived in cornwall. The bath clinic agreed to see me, but that's still a 4 1/2 hr drive so probably better to miss a day of holiday at the start. Just another example of how ivf really does piss on your chips at all opportunities! I'm glad it's happening though.

@seven201 I think going a day later is a good idea, sounds better than going all the way there and then having to do a long drive. Really annoying that they’re insisting on this scan though, what are they even looking for?!

Thanks. To check no cysts and that lining is thin enough to start the meds apparently. It's so crazy how different the clinics are in their approaches!

Hi all

I’ve been following your thread as am due to start an ERA cycle and immune testing next week. Good luck to those of you ahead of me in your ERA cycles.

Sorry for a silly question but I assume you stop progesterone after the day of the ERA therefore do you have a withdrawal bleed earlier than usual that month? My clinic does baseline scans day 2-3 and only does the nurse instructions at that point so I always feel a bit in the dark until then if I’m doing anything new! Thanks

Hi @GreyGoose1980 welcome!

I'm in the dark too. On my prescription I have progesterone suppositories but not the injections I usually have too (although I do have one left at home they know about). So that to me suggests that as soon as the biopsy is done you can stop all the drugs. For me that will probably mean a bleed 5/6 days after (that happened on my first transfer, hence the extra progesterone injections for subsequent rounds). It's all a bit of a mystery at the moment.

Hey guys

Yes u will take ur progesterone am dose. Prob have your biopsy in afternoon and then my period was 4 days later. Waiting for my results now!

@seven201 that’s totally how to put it. Pissing on our chips. It’s really getting to me atm. I’ve been at this years now (break when had son) and I’m sick of it all. Think a day less of trip prob better and u can go down relaxed knowing all well to get going.

One clinic used to scan me at start too. This one doesnt - they are all so different!

@Cream123 thank you. That's good to know. I'm sorry you're finding it hard at the moment. It is just crap! I hope you don't have to wait too long for your results.

@seven201
@Cream123
Thanks both. Good to know! Also been on the ivf treadmill for years. This process is so hard!

Aghhhhh. I have a cyst! I am so fed up of this shit. I've had two cycles cancelled before (one FET when the first lockdown started) and one when my lining wouldn't thicken. I've had a blood test to see if the 6cm cyst is producing hormones, if it is cycle is cancelled. If it isn't it's up to a doctor to decide if the cycle is cancelled. It's also the not knowing how long it will take to get rid of the cyst!

So the blood test came back with cyst not releasing hormones and they've said I can do the ERA cycle after all! . Was not expecting that!

@seven201 - that’s great news, another delay would have been so frustrating and unfair!

Nothing to report here just waiting for AF to start!

Great news seven201!
I’m going to be that annoying patient who rings the clinic today to try get results
I really have to start my cycle in May so if I need some tx as did EMMA and ALICE need it ASAP ! Will keep u posted!

Thank you @GreyGoose1980 and @Cream123

Good luck with the results cream 🤞

So I’ve had the ERA today, they freeze the tissue and say they’ll send it off on Monday which is a bit annoying, as it won’t be in the lab until at least Tuesday. My specialist said to carry on with progesterone for a few days, so that will give me a bit more time, as I’m desperate to start in around 4 weeks (after 1 natural cycle). She said she’ll call me and discuss the plan when the result is back.

During the procedure they measured my endometrium and said it was 8.4mm (it was 9mm before progesterone). I was happy with that as they said in my last transfer it looked really thin.

They had trouble getting the sample which was worrying, it took 3 attempts and given my bladder was about to burst and I was legs akimbo with a speculum in, I was close to fainting. The actual procedure wasn’t that bad, it wasn’t like it was painful when they took the sample, it was just the uncomfortableness given the time it took. I was worried as my specialist was perplexed as to why the first two samples didn’t meet the criteria, she kept saying things like “why isn’t there tissue, there is supposed to be tissue”. She was content that the last sample was ok. I really hope I don’t get an “inconclusive” result, I’m not sure what I’d do, if that did happen. I’d probably go for another transfer before doing this again/if ever.

@Gardenlady543 have u had the era before? But not enough sample? Sorry sounds so stressful! I find half filling my bladder for transfers and procedures is actually better for me. I experimented this last few times with ERA and my last transfer and the go in st away. With a full bladder they always struggle to get the catheter in!

@Cream123this was the first ERA for me, the first sample she took wasn’t big enough, she was looking at it and discussing it with the nurse and I still had the speculum in, she went for a second sample, same thing happened. It wasn’t until the third try that she felt she had enough, she was saying 5mm so I think it needs to be that size minimum. They were asking if I was ok etc and she explained it wasn’t enough and I said, “well you’ll have to do it again then”.

With my first transfer my bladder was less full and they had a nightmare getting the image, for my next transfer it was very fully and everyone said what a good picture it was. I had a lot more urine in today though.

Oh well at least it’s over, I really hope the sample will be enough to get the result.

Sounds like she must have been confident there was enough there! Funny coz ur lining is thick enough. I’ve no results yet
I have to cycle in 2 weeks so they better get back to me ASAP!

@Cream123 fingers crossed the results are back soon, I wonder if your clinic took a few days to send off the sample like mine said they’re doing. It sounds like results could be back any day.

I have to say I’m a bit worried with the palaver today, my initial scan in September showed a lining of 5.4mm on 9dpo, then they said it looked thin at my last transfer. After this ERA literally the only test left that I haven’t had is a hysteroscopy. I’m hoping it won’t come to that, things just don’t make sense, I really hope this ERA gives me some answers.

Obviously I hope the same for you girls too, that these ERAs you guys are having fills in some gaps.

You know the only good thing about today, is as 3 biopsies were taken it’s like a really good endometrial scratch! And there have been some good results for women after scratches!

@Gardenlady543 have u not had a hysteroscopy? I thought u had?

Sorry got u confused with seven!

@Cream123 nope I haven’t had a hysteroscopy, it’s pretty much the only thing I haven’t had now.

Interestingly my specialist just called me and explained what happened this morning, she said it looked like there was endometrium there but there wasn’t which is really strange and she’s had to go really high up to get the sample (third attempt). She thinks maybe there are adhesions, but with no surgical history etc, the only thing she can think of is some kind of chronic infection. Luckily I had insisted on the EMMA ALICE which my clinic has never done before, so we should get some clarity on this.