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!

Thank you @seven201 ❤️ had a big cuddle with dh after and I asked him how much more we have to go through and he said we can stop when I can't take it anymore 😢 I'm glad he was able to come with me, but it was horrible and I know it can't have been good to see me go through it. I just hope we get some useful information to help us move forward. Just need to wait for af now, the doctor said it would be 7-10 days, which I thought seemed late after stopping progesterone. I'm looking forward to a month off hormones.

I'm sorry you argued, it's really hard. Ttc sex is awful, just going through the motions, trying to muster the energy. It must be so hard not knowing where abouts in your cycle you are. How are things today? X

@VenusStarr I'm glad your dh was able to be there with you. He sounds very supportive. I think my period takes about 7 days after stopping the progesterone - I think the progesterone takes ages to leave your body, but I may be talking nonsense!

All fine here today thanks. I think I've decided no more ttc sex this cycle and just hope that it's not a random long one!

Hi @VenusStarr I’m sorry to hear the biopsy was difficult, but well done for getting through it! I hope the results come back quickly.

I’m doing much better thanks :) a bit drained but bleeding and pain has settled and I'm doing more activities, not too much though, still avoiding heavy lifting.

I am monitoring for the LH surge at the moment and will book in for the Nk biopsy. Mr Trew said it should be fine to do it this cycle, hopefully it won't cause any damage, I would rather get it sorted this cycle since I'm on the bench anyway.

@seven201 me and DH often do the cup and syringe method! TTC is a lot and I think both of us need a bit of a break from it during the fertile window.

I think taking the pressure off @seven201 sounds like a good idea.

Glad you're feeling a bit better @Gardenlady543 i hope you can catch your lh to book in the nk cells biopsy - it's a lot but good to be able to get it out of the way too.

Well, my period arrived last night! So no real waiting around. I'll be glad to be off hormones and meds for a while.

Hey guys I hope everyone is doing well. Looks like everyone is at different stages. I'm waiting for a Hysterscopy- I'm thinking of going an era test before? Does anyone if results are still valid after you've had a hysteroscopy?

@Hema902 supposedly they are not validated after any surgery to ur uterus. In real life lots of people are having to use their era result pre op and fine (I wouldn’t have repeated my era post op for example if I needed more surgery) but if u have a choice I would do it after , as any surgery or child birth in theory can change the window so ignomix tell me.

@Gardenlady543 oh that makes me feel better you do it that way sometimes. My dh has been in a funny grumpy mood since I suggested it but this morning we cleared the air and have agreed that sometimes we will do it that way. I feel relieved! I think next natural cycle I might pay for a 21 day blood test to see if I am ovulating. I just don't know why opks don't work for me anymore, they always used to but stopped showing anything a couple of months ago. I've always thought I do ovulate anyway, but I think I should check again. No point in all that sex if there's no egg!

@VenusStarr congratulations on the period and being drug free for a bit. I love that moment of sweeping up all the meds and hiding them away!

@Hema902 I don't think they're valid but I don't think it matters a huge amount. I had my era etc not that long ago yet will potentially be having a hysteroscopy in a few weeks and don't plan to repeat the biopsy.

My period has arrived 5 days early. Which means we probably missed the fertile window anyway!

Oh @seven201 I'm sorry. Ugh, just wish it could be easier. Hope your period isn't a bad one x

Sorry to hear your period is here @seven201 sounds like you can get the saline scan booked in which will hopefully be helpful.

I picked up the LH surge today so can book in for the NK biopsy in the next 7-10 days, they do them on a Monday and Friday so I think it will prob be a week on Monday but can't book in until they open up on Monday.

@Gardenlady543 oh good. I'm glad you've picked up the surge so you can book in. Small steps in the right direction.

I have my saline scan booked for the 25th but will prob need to move it forward a bit now, so I too will be calling on Monday.

@Gardenlady543 good luck for biopsy and hope he’s a little more sensitive at the apppitment . Are you planning on cycling soon after era results?

@seven201 good luck for scan I hope he finds something which may explain your bfn.

All ok here, am still very anxious but trying not to be.

Hi all- good luck o everyone having biopsy's in the coming days. I've been booked for a Hysteroscopy tomorrow via the NHS they told me to take painkillers for one hour. Does anyone know if they can remove small things like polyps during the procedure? Or do I have to go for another procedure to remove these thing under anaesthetic. I have a small filling defect could be bubbles, polyp, fibroid or scar tissue?

I was booked in on the nhs for a hysteroscopy @Hema902 and it was a see and treat procedure. But I ended up having to cancel as I was pregnant but I got it done later in the year under general anesthetic instead and they removed a polyp that I didn't know I had as it didn't show up on scans. Hope it goes well.

Did you get booked in @Gardenlady543? Professor Brosens didn't do my biopsies, so you might not see him until your review.

Good to hear from you @Cream123 I wonder if the anxiety ever truly goes away. I hope it's maneagble ❤️

@seven201 did you manage to change your appointment?

Nothing to report from me. Can't believe it's been a week already since my biopsy. Only 10 more days for my results (kinda hoping it'll be next week but I know it's working days, so end of August really) but I've got a few things to keep me occupied 🙂

@Hema902 good luck for today! I hope it is useful and not too painful.

@VenusStarr the waiting is the worst!

@Cream123 how many weeks are you now and will you find out the sex?

@Gardenlady543 hope you managed to book in ok.

I've got my saline scan this Friday. Also finally have my care fertility follow up after my previous failed FET from ages ago on Friday too. I think I will request the PGT-A testing.

@seven201 oh good luck! Take some paracetamol 30 mins before I hardly felt anything with that! I think doing the pgs is a good idea they are quite experienced at defrosting and frosting again. Even my abnormal ones survived it all the freezing techniques are so good . How many blasts do you have left?

I’m nearly 16 weeks. No keeping it a surprise. I weirdly have no interest in the sex - I did same with my son. Either will be wonderful. Think I’ll get another scan this week as I keep waking up at night worrying.

@VenusStarr hope results come soon. I was going mad waiting for mine and rang care about 20000 times about it! I think as mine had a normal bacteria it took a bit longer vs @seven201 who didnt . Mine took 3 weeks exactly.

@Cream123 wowee 16 weeks is great. If a scan will help a bit then definitely go. I found out with my dd but would have been happy either way too.

I have 4 embryos left. Do you know how long it takes for them to be tested? I think that wait will be awful!

I've had an email from my clinic to say part of the results are back, so I confirmed my dob and contact details for them to send and I'm still waiting 👀 👀 really surprised some are back already - was only last Monday. So do you think it might mean things are normal? Going a bit mad 🤪 @seven201 @Cream123

Glad you've got your saline scan booked @seven201 hope it goes well

It's going fast now @Cream123 (although probably not for you!)

@Hema902 I hope the hysteroscopy goes well, you'll have to report back with what they find.

@VenusStarr I hope the results come back ASAP! The ERA doesn't take as long as the EMMA ALICE, so that could be the bit that's back.

@seven201 that's good that you have the scan so soon! And Pgt-A sounds like a good thing to discuss!

@Cream123 I'm glad things are going well, I hope as things progress the anxiety eases!

I've booked in the Nk biopsy for Monday, it feels so weird tracking and not trying! It's also a bit upsetting that I'm just sat around waiting for months on end. I'm doing that thing where I add 9 months to everything. For some reason x-mas is a big thing, last x-mas the first cycle of IVF hadn't been successful but I thought I'd have a baby by the next one. Now I'm thinking, will this ever work. I know I could say screw it let's do transfers until it works, no need for investigations, but it didn't work in the last 3 transfers despite such good quality embryos so it wouldn't surprise me if I end up needing an immune protocol.

I'm with a finance package where I get 2 cycles, (4 euploid embryos left from cycle 1) but I'm just worried at how many transfers it will take and not being able to have a sibling, let's say it takes all 4 so I have no frosties left. I don't know if I should do embryo banking as I don't want to be say 4 years older and trying for a sibling with a reduction in egg quality thinking... why didn't I just collect more back then, I'm about to turn 36. I don't think my package allows for me to do collections outside of their package.

@VenusStarr ooh! That is quick. Probably the ERA part.

@Gardenlady543 I think I'm probably on the same package as you - 2 cycles with access fertility. I'm on the second cycle (had 3 embryos from first round, 6 from second). I know I can't bank any more through care but I'm not sure about if we can do other rounds/collections elsewhere . I'd hope so, but maybe not! It felt like a good option at the time but it is quite limiting if you can't use elsewhere. If you can it probably is worth doing some banking. Maybe you give it another six months of trying then interrupt with another egg collection. You your eggs are a great quality though so they probably be good in a couple of years too.

I turn 39 next week. Really gutted. I don't mind getting old generally but I do in terms of being a mum. If I'd had my way I'd have had my first baby late 20//early 30s but my dh wasn't ready and I had to really talk him into trying when we did for dd. I do resent him for that a bit to be honest as we'd probably have a second dc by now if we'd started everything earlier. I really don't want to be an older mother but it's looking like I'll be at least 40 if it does happen. Do then I have to think about when to stop...

@seven201 they will plan a date when embryologists can do it and then once cells go off takes about 2 weeks for results. It’s a terrible wait!!!!

@Gardenlady543 you make a lot of great normal pgs embryos. And 36 is still considered youngish in the Ivf world. I had same concerns. I ended up doing a cycle at 36 and was similar to my one at 34 and way better than my one at 31

@seven201 you have 4 blasts left fingers crossed even one is normal and lower sorts something out and the next one works.

@VenusStarr the era timing comes back first so might be that one!

It's here, but it's password protected 🤦🏻‍♀️ the person who sent it is in clinic now, so just need to be patient (not my best trait!) I'll keep you posted!

Hi all, just came back from the Hysterscopy- nothing found in there. They said it looks clear. No polyps, fibroids or scarring. I asked about the hsg test picking up something she said could be air bubbles etc . I was hoping they'll find something weirdly. Anyway I'm going to get to my embryos tested next round and do ERA. I found the hysteroscopy a lot easier than the hsg I have to say. They took a biopsy I wonder what that'll Reveal? @VenusStarr please do share the results coming in today.

This is the thing @seven201 I'm fairly young right now with what seem to be good embryos, but there is just so much uncertainty about how long it will take (if ever) to even have one child. And I'm not going to be in a better position in the future for sure. It's only going to get harder. From what I can see it is a case of, if a person can keep producing euploid embryos then there's a good chance. I think my package is worded to say you're not allowed to do IVF or FET that could adversely affect the probability of becoming pregnant unless you have written permission. Well I highly doubt egg collections would adversely effect this but it sounds like there needs to be written permission.

@Cream123 I'm not so worried about being 36, it's more a case of not knowing what my embryos will be like in the future, I started ttc at age 34. So if it takes another 2 years and then 9 months of pregnancy and then time to recover, to be in a position to try again, it just seems like it might be a lot harder to get good embryos in the future, I'm sure I'll look back and think, why didn't I bank more when it was easy. But it's so difficult when there is a contract tied to these things as that includes all my FETS at the moment.

@VenusStarr this frustration happened with mine too! My clinic told me it arrived at the end of the day on a Friday but that my specialist had left and was the only one with the password, I ended up texting my specialist to tell me what the results that she could remember over the phone, as I was close to having a breakdown not knowing for a whole weekend!!

Well done for getting through it @Hema902 after mine the nurse in the recovery read the notes that I had adhesions I got excited that something had been fixed that might improve my situation, then I found out the adhesions were in the cervix and my specialist said it wouldn't have had an impact on the past Ivf transfers and I felt quite disappointed! I guess it is better not to have an issue though.