Embryo batching with PGS testing

[2021ivfagain]

Hello. I thought I’d start a new thread. It seems like the old one has been closed.

It’s been really good to share advice and experiences when going through the ups and downs of embryo batching.

@clhiu Thank you so much for the positive wishes that’s really kind of you! I’ve had my transfer today and now have to wait until next weekend so see if the embryo implants 🤞That sounds like a really comprehensive set of tests you’ve had, I really hope all the results are as you’d wish and you are able to get your transfer and a positive result soon 🤞

@Lucy2023 Sorry to hear about your transfers that didn’t work out 💐I haven’t had any of the endometrial biopsies you’re thinking of but I did have the Invivo vaginal microbiome test @2021ivfagain mentioned which was useful and a lot cheaper and quicker than the biopsies (although different and nowhere near as comprehensive - you do it at home and send it off and it was about £200 including interpretation by nutritionist). It might be worth considering as an intermediate step if your partner is still concerned about cost and timing.

Quick Q for anyone who has had a Hysteroscopy D&C. I had mine on Friday (day 24 of period) and I asked the doctor if I would know the difference between bleeding from the procedure vs period and he said I would just know. However, I had light bleeding Friday/Saturday which got heavier yesterday (Sun) and today feels like a period (although I wasn't expecting it until Weds). Anyone have an experience of this and know how to tell the difference or tell when the period has actually started? Thanks!

I had the hysteroscopy D&C and the doctor said it was all clear, so not much help there as to why implantation is failing. Hoping to start another round of FET with this period so keen not to miss it.

@CharlotteYorkMacDougal Thanks for the tip about the Invivo vaginal microbiome test. Can you share what kind of nutritional advice you received?

@Lucy2023 I had a hysteroscopy/ D&C last month but I took Norethisterone to time my bleed afterwards, I found the bleeding from the procedure was more pink and watery than a normal period though.

For the Invivo microbiome test; the nutritionist shared the results with my husband’s urologist who prescribed us both a course of two antibiotics (one week of each). I also got a list of pro/pre biotics from the nutritionist to take for the following 30-60 days. Some of them were oral (capsules/ liquid/ powder) and some were vaginal gels/ pessaries - in my case I had excess of two opportunistic bacteria (bacterial vaginosis), thrush, and low levels of some of the ‘good’ lactobacillus strains. I’d had no symptoms so didn’t realise there were any issues. There are loads of nutritionists and other professionals like acupuncturists who can interpret the test but the person I used is called Melanie Brown, she also gave me a general fertility supplement plan and dietary advice and I’ve always found her to be excellent.

Hi @Lucy2023 ,

I had a hysteroscopy D&C 3 weeks ago, on day 17 of my cycle also had an endometrial biopsy at the same time so cannot say whether that would have impacted things, but…

The doctor advised that because of the scrape, my next period may be very light and I mat find it difficult to distinguish it from spotting and to just ‘pick the day of heaviest bleed even if light’ and count that as the first day of my period.

In practice I had 3-4 days of really light spotting after the procedure, barely anything on the paper when wiping, very pale pink and watery. 1-2 days of nothing and then what was actually like a regular period started, about 4 days earlier than I normally would as my cycle is usually very regular at 28 days. I should add I was also on progesterone pessaries and injections for 5 days before the procedure as it was an ERA mock cycle.

I hope this helps, your clinic may also be able to advise.

@clhiu Thank you so much for passing on the advise from the doctor and for sharing your experience. It is really helpful. My period is usually 28 days too but I think it came 3 days early this time (just 2/3 days after the scrape, so overlapping with the light pink bleed from the scrape).

Great you did the ERA test! I was keen to do it as I thought perhaps the WOI would be a key factor to implantation and I would have liked to know if I was pre/post receptive but we decided against it because it seemed like a lot of effort with Progesterone etc and my partner wasn't keen. I hope it is useful for you and please do share your experience if you want to.
Thanks again!

Hi everyone

I have not been on here for some time. I have very low AMH. Also have hypothyroidism. My Dr advised me to batch as many eggs as possible prior to fertilisation.

I am 34 but started batching the eggs when I was 32.

I have had 16 cycles in the last 17 months and managed to collect 28 eggs.

Cycle 1 - ARGC - Utter disaster
Cycle 2 - CRGH - 4 mature eggs
Cycle 3 - CRGH - 3 eggs
Cycle 4 - CRGH - 0
Cycle 5 - CRGH - 2
Cycle 6 - CRGH - 0
Cycle 7 - CRGH - 2
Cycle 8 - CRGH - 1
Cycle 9 - CRGH - 0
Cycle 10 - CRGH - 5
Cycle 11 - CRGH - 3
Cycle 12 - CRGH - 2
Cycle 13 - CRGH - 1
Cycle 14 - CRGH - 0
Cycle 15 - CRGH - 1
Cycle 16 - CRGH - 4

@Ivfhoper I’m sorry you have had to go through so many cycles. Have you done these without a break? That is a lot of eggs, but age is on your side. Can I just ask if you have taken antibiotics every time?

Is your partner having tests done to assess sperm quality? I’m not sure whether you said something about dna fragmentation. PIMSI might be a good option and CRGH are very good at that. I would go with PIMSI just to increase your chances.

Are you doing anymore? One thing I would say is perhaps consider a low dose of dhea to help with thyroid problems. I know you were taking 75mg before, but perhaps 25mg might be better. It’s definitely been good for my thyroid but also vitamin D. I take 3000iu a day. That can also improve thyroid function. I have found it is safe to take this. It’s in the book It Starts with the Egg.

Also, if I were you, I would look at doing Emma, era, Alice and Nk cells but also do a swab with Invivo or Fertilysis. https://www.fertilysis.com/
Invivo is cheaper and very in depth but they cannot prescribe medication. You will have a nutritionist but I have found my nutritionist clashing with what CRGH say. Invivo picked up gardnerella and atopobium vaginae when CRGH and GP said everything was normal.

It might be a good idea to start taking probiotics. Vaginal probiotics are also good. I would start as soon as possible or do swab first then start.

The reason I say all this is I did batching, but my fsh quickly rose and now I only have 7 day 3 embryos left. My amh at 40 was really good, but now at nearly 42 my fsh is really high so egg quality is bad now. Also, I’ve been having lots of vaginal infections which CRGH cannot pinpoint. I think taking doxycycline several times was the start of my problems.

@2021ivfagain

Hi all,
The thread has gone quiet, I hope you are all well.
I have an update, I ended up getting pregnant naturally in the end - I took a month off from treatment and became pregnant. I am currently 6 months pregnant.

I wish all of you the best of luck and good fortune.

@Ivfhoper Congrats I am glad you have had success. Amazing you were able to get pregnant naturally. I have also been lucky to have a baby girl who is now 6 months. I’m hoping others have had success too.

Congratulations @Ivfhoper and @InvisibleDreamer I also have a six month old daughter now, via IVF ❤️