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!

@seven201 it’s hard re diet isn’t it. I think as long as ur not eating crap and drinking loads of alchol it actually makes zero difference. I think it’s more important for a fresh but still not that essential . But I still often guilt trip myself that I’m making things worse if I have a glass of wine / or a chocolate. I had a fertility nutrition appt when trying for my first with Mel b so she gave me lots of great tips but again not sure how big a role it plays.

I basically have healthy meals - med diet and low GI food - lentils salads fish meat yoghurt olives nuts etc. But I have about 2 (large!) drinks a week till 2 weeks before transfer and I attempt to fully cut out sugar and gluten 6 weeks prior to transfer. The sugar doesn’t happen I prob have a sugar binge once a week mine was last night with some chocs!!!!
But then that keeps me going for a week!

This is what I did with my son cycle and it worked - infact I was quite crazy and I kept a log of my units per week I had a wedding and had 10 units 3 weeks prior to his transfer! So I think it makes little difference esp a FeT. I think the best evidence is for men for fresh sperm samples.

Despite me saying I don’t think it’s hugely important as long as your sensible I’ve just banged on about what I do to torture myself further in this lovely IVF rat race

And I’ve just spent last half an hour deliberating if I should or shouldn’t have 1 drink tmrw when I go out with a friend when my transfer is either 5 or 9 weeks away!!

So in conclusion I think healthy and things in moderation but I do put pressure on myself and guilt trip myself if I don’t follow that.

The ERA I was terrible . I was feeling sick and hormonal and sorry for myself as it was another month on the oestrogen (had to take similar doses post ashermans op) and I ate utter crap!

I’m on metformin for the PA1 mutation so I figure if I do have some sugar it’s at least controlling my levels a bit!

@Cream123 gosh, you're also a very good one! Although your ending paragraph does make me feel better about not being 'good'. I'm also on metaformin so that's got to help a bit.

I'm going to a friends garden on Friday night and am trying decide if I should treat myself to two glasses of wine or just the one! The things you end up over thinking during ivf. It's a balance of enjoying life (our lives have been impacted enough already) versus does it make any difference in terms of making a baby... if only someone could tell us for sure!

Have 2 drinks!
I’m having 2 tmrw I decided after all that deliberation!

Thanks @Cream123 I think I will! Enjoy your 2 drinks too!

Hi. I was advised an era after 3 failed

Showed I needed more progynova

I did take it for longer as went on holiday then clinic was going to shut for their annual summer break

That cycle no 5 worked

Was it due to t her era and extra drugs

Or just lucky

I will never know

But def worth having an era

@Blondeshavemorefun thank you. Always good to hear a positive story. I'm glad it worked for you.

Also about diet I used an app called Cronometer, it’s worth running a couple of days of diet through the app, it will tell you if you’re getting the RDA of all vitamins etc.

I added all my vitamins in and taking them into account with my breakfast smoothie (spinach, spiralina, strawberries, banana, flax seed, calcium powder, dried super berries, cashew milk), I seemed to have met my daily intake for all the important nutrients, on some days I found my potassium was a bit low so I could add in an extra banana during the day. I think if you are getting all the right vitamins and minerals then you can be reassured that your diet is fine.

Thanks @Blondeshavemorefun that’s reassuring my clinic told me that they don’t normally do ERA but when they last did one, the girl needed one extra day of progesterone and got her BFP.

@Gardenlady543 which clinic are u with? Hope ur feeling better after ur appt
I’m still waiting for results. Suspect I won’t be doing the cycle in May !

@Cream123 I’m with Care, when I asked for the ERA my specialist said they usually do them much later and when I said I wanted the EMMA ALICE she had to contact the company to check the sample requirements as they’d never done this before. So glad I pushed for all of it as the microflora is going to be really important in my case.

Very annoying about the delays, I really hope they come back soon.

I’m feeling good today, I had got really worked up before the appointment, but a lot more relaxed now I have a plan. I’m sure I’ll be worried about the HSG but glad it’s going to be happening soon hopefully!

@Gardenlady543

Thanks *@Blondeshavemorefun* that’s reassuring my clinic told me that they don’t normally do ERA but when they last did one, the girl needed one extra day of progesterone and got her BFP.

It’s a very fine line. The implantatation date

Most Clinics I know my own and friends ones do advise an era after 3 failed

Some find shows nothing

Others that need more

[quote Gardenlady543]@Cream123 I’m with Care, when I asked for the ERA my specialist said they usually do them much later and when I said I wanted the EMMA ALICE she had to contact the company to check the sample requirements as they’d never done this before. So glad I pushed for all of it as the microflora is going to be really important in my case.

Very annoying about the delays, I really hope they come back soon.

I’m feeling good today, I had got really worked up before the appointment, but a lot more relaxed now I have a plan. I’m sure I’ll be worried about the HSG but glad it’s going to be happening soon hopefully![/quote]
I'm with care too. When I asked for the Alice and Emma too they just said "yes, we can do that". Although I'm sure different branches do run quite differently.

Thank you for the app tip. I will take a look! I am very impressed with your healthy smoothies!

Although I have no idea how much it will cost. I don't want to know so I haven't asked . I saw the approx cost of the era on their website, so it's not going to be a complete surprise, but I should probably find out!

@seven201 they’ve charged me £1000 for the ERA and an extra £500 for the EMMA and ALICE, so £1500 altogether. She said other clinics had done the EMMA and ALICE but not the one I’m under.

The good thing about the smoothie is that I have it first thing in the morning, that’s when my nausea is at it’s lowest, so knowing I’ve got all the vitamins in and the nutrients from that means I can relax then and eat what I can during the day.

This page gives some really good advice on making a tasty green smoothie where you can’t taste the green stuff :) and her tip is to use frozen spinach, that works out great as you don’t need to mess about washing leaves first trying in the morning.

joyfoodsunshine.com/green-smoothie/

Thank you @Gardenlady543 I thought it would be nearer 2k so that's good! Thanks for the link, I'll take a look

I think mine was £750 but was 5yrs ago

Only had era

Alice and Emma not about then

So resukts not in! I rang again and now need to stop being so mad! Though I’m wondering why I can’t just start the cycle and treat any issues during it? It’s often antibiotics for 1 week or probiotics for ten days or so....or both which I can do while on oestrogen one after the other. If I need a repeat era I don’t think I’m going to do it as I don’t believe that’s my issues for not getting preg (my consultant feels same but though should do it) it’s clearly the masses of scar tissue I had!

So they back! Well she can’t find Emma and Alice she thinks they with my consultant and he’s not in today but ERA saying I need 139 hours
So prereceptive. Just got to hope nothing major with Emma and Alice and I can start next week.
I

@Cream123

So they back! Well she can’t find Emma and Alice she thinks they with my consultant and he’s not in today but ERA saying I need 139 hours So prereceptive. Just got to hope nothing major with Emma and Alice and I can start next week. I

Yay! At least part of a result. So when did you take progesterone from before? How far out is it?

Oh that’s interesting @Cream123 ERA is supposed to come back quicker so EMMA and ALICE might not be back yet, good that you can get started.

My HSG is booked in for a week on Thursday, as I started spotting yesterday, it hasn’t turned into a full blown period yet though. I met with my Gp I’m feeling very emotional, I keep crying at the smallest things.

Meant to say I met with my Gp about the insurance form for the hsg and any intervention that might be needed, she hasn’t filled it in and wants to speak more about it, it’s causing me too much stress I don’t know if it’s worth it.

@Gardenlady543 hugs. It’s really though. I find when i don’t know Wots going on and don’t have a plan I tend to be the most upset by this whole *hit show! I would say when I had ashermans before my son was pRob the lowest I got to. I rem going to the GP and hysterically crying after I was so sick of it all and couldn’t believe I had another drama to deal with. Take a breather and know you are closer to some answers / ticking something important off and get some hugs from your husband / partner. It is so hard :(

My Emma and Alice came back yest. So no chronic endometritis but some abnormal pathogen in my Emma - though can’t understand this as says I mainly have lactobilluus so not sure what issue it ( I think I have too much of this maybe?!). Anyway I need a week of metronidazole (queue me ringing gp and now harrasing him to prescribe it my gp is amazing and done it for me) and then ten days of probiotics. It suggests a retest after but I’m not doing that(for various reasons). I’ve not spoken to my consultant yet a kind nurse rang me yesterday. I think I can get all this done before I start / during my FET but on Monday I’ll prob get it confirmed by my consultant.

Thanks @Cream123 . It’s great that all the results have come back and you have a plan. Microflora is so important so it’s really good that you know about this and it can be treated.

How was your period after the ERA? I started spotting the day after I stopped progesterone and have had 2 days of it, it’s only when I wipe and hasn’t increased up. Was your period a lot lighter after it? I normally have light periods but not this light.