ERA/ALICE/EMMA testing thread 2

[seven201]

Link to the old thread
https://www.mumsnet.com/Talk/infertility/4187520-era-testing-after-multiple-implantation-failures-anyone-had-it-done?msgid=110302437&utmsource=mentions&utmmmedium=email&utmcampaign=2020-10-19&utmmterm=You+have+been+mentioned+in+a+post&rei=438192#110302437

Welcome to the new thread. Anyone welcome.

Thanks for starting the new thread @seven201 :)

@Cream123 I guess a lot of things could have messed with my current cycle with the hysteroscopy, the biopsy and the stress I've been under this week. I'm not in full flow yet. The nurse from my clinic has called me back and said just to keep an eye out for full flow and starts the meds when it comes on.

Hi everyone! I’m doing an ERA at the moment, about to start progesterone tomorrow.

We have 5 embryos on ice but they have been really hard work to create (severe endo) so we are doing a lot of prep work. Hoping to transfer the first of them in October.

Has anyone done Chicago tests or similar?

Thank you for starting the new thread @seven201 :) hope you're doing OK xx

@Gardenlady543 I always find after a biopsy my period comes a bit earlier. Will it affect your plan if it's full flow tomorrow?

Hi @Porridgeislife welcome 🤞 for for era. I'm due to do my FET in October too, we have 2 frosties on ice. If neither work, we might look at embryo banking, I have low amh and recurrent losses.
I haven't done the Chicago tests, but I have had immune testing with the CRP Clinic, Dr Shehata and I am on an immune protocol with hydroxychloroquine, intralipids, prednisolone, clexane and aspirin.

Hope you're OK @Cream123

Hi @Porridgeislife are you doing the EMMA and ALICE at the same time? If not you should ask if you can. It's the same lab and they use the same sample. It tells you about the microflora in the uterus which is really important.

The prep work sounds like a very good idea with what you've been through to get your embryos.

I'm about to start a repeat ERA EMMA. I just has a NK biopsy on Monday at the recurrent implantation failure clinic in Coventry.

@VenusStarr I do wonder if the biopsy has affected the timing, this is my first biopsy in a natural cycle, so not sure how it would have affected my body.

The earlier period would be good news for me, even starting 3 days earlier will be a good thing for me. I'm hoping that once I start this ERA EMMA repeat I can focus on that. It's good to know I'm doing something to actively move forward. I have all the meds ready.

@Gardenlady543 I am doing the Endometrio so Emma and Alice as well. I keep forgetting about them but my consultant thinks I’ll get some results there due to having a few surgeries.

Does the biopsy hurt?

@VenusStarr did you have the tests where they check whether steroids, intralipids or IVIG will work for you? I listened to a seminar with Mr Shehata a little while ago and he was very effusive about this test vs. the Chicago tests.

@Porridgeislife that's good that you're having all three!

The way they do a test is similar to a smear/transfer. My specialist used suction to get the sample. They are only taking a sample of the stuff that comes out in a period. You can feel a cramp similar to a period pain. I'd say I found it uncomfortable but not painful, and in my case it took 3 attempts so took longer than it should have. It was the uncomfortableness of the speculum that I found the most difficult rather than the actual biopsy.

I'm just had a second biopsy this week for NK cells and will have 2 more biopsies in this repeat cycle. So I hope that reassured you.

Thanks @Gardenlady543, that’s really kind of you to explain. I was asked if I wanted to be sedated for it and was a bit as I thought it was a relatively simple procedure as you say.

@Porridgeislife of the one person I know that had this done under sedation, they knew they have issues with the position of their cervix. If someone knows that a smear is excruciatingly painful then I would say to take the sedation, but I think these cases are rare. And if you're fine with smears I'm sure it will be fine. Honestly I wouldn't be having 4 biopsies if it was awful.

Ouch! Four biopsies is rough.

Hopefully it will be ok, we have had only one embryo transfer but it was fine

Sorry to jump in. Do these tests affect your next cycle, ie would it be OK to do a fet straight after?

@Scottishgirl85 it’s been explained to me you would need to wait one full cycle as you’ll have a withdrawal bleed straight after the biopsy, and it takes about 2 weeks to get your results. You may also need to treat issues before the FET if you get abnormal results from Emma/Alice.

With my test next week, we are pencilling in early October with my doctor to start our FET.

Clinic have booked me in for a scan in two weeks time to check if everything is looking ok. Is this normal procedure after a failed pregnancy? Like I have mentioned before I had a miscarriage at 6 weeks.

Financially, this IVF journey is beginning to take a toll on me. I just don't want to be going for tests that aren't necessary.

@Moonstarr sorry for ur loss. A lot of clinics don’t do that but I think it’s a good idea to do it post natural or medical mc tbh. I had a natural mc thought it was complete and 3 weeks later had a huge harmrrogahe where my husband nearly rang 999 due to the huge amount of blood. I had retained products and had to have a surgical ercp for retained products. After that I’ve always insisted on a scan to check it’s all clear as it was a really scary and emotionally unsettling experience

[quote Cream123]@Moonstarr sorry for ur loss. A lot of clinics don’t do that but I think it’s a good idea to do it post natural or medical mc tbh. I had a natural mc thought it was complete and 3 weeks later had a huge harmrrogahe where my husband nearly rang 999 due to the huge amount of blood. I had retained products and had to have a surgical ercp for retained products. After that I’ve always insisted on a scan to check it’s all clear as it was a really scary and emotionally unsettling experience[/quote]
Thanks, that experience sounds really scary.

Does anyone know on average how long it takes for PGT A results to come back?

Gosh @Cream123 that sounds like an awful experience

@Moonstarr I hope your scan comes back ok.

The user manual on the lab's website says 10 working days for the ERA and 15 calendar days for the EMMA ALICE. That's from the point the lab receive the sample. My clinic took several days before they sent my sample off. There's been a recent post about the results coming back within 2 weeks. I'm hoping they're maybe quieter at the moment, I'm about to have a repeat biopsy in this cycle and it would be good to get the results ASAP.

Oh sorry you said PGT-A @Moonstarr mine took 11 days, but I think they said it should be around 2 weeks. I had to wait for the embryologist to be available as they need time to thaw and biopsy the embryos.

The embryologist kept me constantly updated, they called me to say how the thaw went, then how the biopsy went and told me when they were back to being frozen, I had one that they had to give another day and they kept me updated on that one. Then they called me with the results as soon as they got them.

@Moonstarr

Does anyone know on average how long it takes for PGT A results to come back?

Mine was recently very quick, 7 days after the biopsy was sent.

So I have now been on the meds for my ERA EMMA repeat for 4 days. My period has been weird it was light for 2 days and then medium flow yesterday. Usually I get 1 day of full flow followed by a couple of days of spotting. I don't know if the stenosis treatment had changed the flow, or the biopsy or the stress. I'm already starting to feel ill on the meds, it isn't helping that I'm not eating properly and not sleeping.

I've had trouble getting in touch with the clinic today to have the cycle formally started on their end and the first scan booked in. They've just called me back. I'm on edge about it being cancelled, my next transfer being booked for November already feels so long away, and if anything happens with this mock cycle it will delay things further.

@Gardenlady543

So I have now been on the meds for my ERA EMMA repeat for 4 days. My period has been weird it was light for 2 days and then medium flow yesterday. Usually I get 1 day of full flow followed by a couple of days of spotting. I don't know if the stenosis treatment had changed the flow, or the biopsy or the stress. I'm already starting to feel ill on the meds, it isn't helping that I'm not eating properly and not sleeping.

I've had trouble getting in touch with the clinic today to have the cycle formally started on their end and the first scan booked in. They've just called me back. I'm on edge about it being cancelled, my next transfer being booked for November already feels so long away, and if anything happens with this mock cycle it will delay things further.

keeping my fingers crossed for you.

@Gardenlady543 do u rem our period was weird after era biopsy to? Mine was super light and really freaked me out I went at down to London for a repeat scan and he said all was fine. It’s prob ur no biopsy. I find it surprising such a small sample can make it lighter but seems a common thing! Hope u got in touch with care.

That's a good point @Cream123 I can't really remember to be honest it was so long ago. I suppose it is a fairly big chunk though as my lining is best at the top and they take at least a 10mm section, so it's likely to be a fair proportion that's taken.

I am day 6 of my ERA EMMA repeat today, I have my first scan this coming Tuesday. I haven't been eating, I'm hoping it doesn't affect things. I know I should but I'm still upset about things and I'm off my food. Plus I've gained a stone during IVF (this puts my BMI at 21, I was underweight before). Throughout the treatment I've focused on how being a healthy weight would help, but at the same time I would prefer to go back to how I looked before so I'm not forcing myself to eat.

I haven't spoken to my friend for over a week now. Each day seems to be getting a bit easier, "out of sight, out of mind" kind of thing. I still find myself waking up early and the first thought that comes into my head is, she's pregnant and I may never be and it just hits me again. We work at the same company which makes it hard, she sent me a work email today and it felt weird as previously she'd just text me. I know she understands, it's just hard.

It feels like I'll be doing these tests forever but I know you girls are in the same boat, so I've got company with you guys. I have another 4 weeks before I speak with the psychologist, I'm really hoping that helps.

@Gardenlady543 please make sure you do eat. How about going out for a date night with your dh to a favourite restaurant or something?

Not very long until that scan, hopefully when that's done you'll be slightly less stressed as it's properly underway then.

Brutal all this endless infertility crap!

@Gardenlady543

That's a good point *@Cream123* I can't really remember to be honest it was so long ago. I suppose it is a fairly big chunk though as my lining is best at the top and they take at least a 10mm section, so it's likely to be a fair proportion that's taken.

I am day 6 of my ERA EMMA repeat today, I have my first scan this coming Tuesday. I haven't been eating, I'm hoping it doesn't affect things. I know I should but I'm still upset about things and I'm off my food. Plus I've gained a stone during IVF (this puts my BMI at 21, I was underweight before). Throughout the treatment I've focused on how being a healthy weight would help, but at the same time I would prefer to go back to how I looked before so I'm not forcing myself to eat.

I haven't spoken to my friend for over a week now. Each day seems to be getting a bit easier, "out of sight, out of mind" kind of thing. I still find myself waking up early and the first thought that comes into my head is, she's pregnant and I may never be and it just hits me again. We work at the same company which makes it hard, she sent me a work email today and it felt weird as previously she'd just text me. I know she understands, it's just hard.

It feels like I'll be doing these tests forever but I know you girls are in the same boat, so I've got company with you guys. I have another 4 weeks before I speak with the psychologist, I'm really hoping that helps.

The testing and the waiting drives me insane. It will be Tuesday before you know it.

I am still struggling to come to terms with my miscarriage, had a chemical pregnancy in July as well. The two failed pregnancies have really gotten to me mentally. Even looking at baby clothes in the shops makes me sad.

Try and not be too hard on yourself, this is not an easy journey.