Please or to access all these features

Infertility

Our Infertility Support forum is a space to connect with others in the same position, discuss causes, treatment and IVF, and share infertility stories of hope and success.

ERA/EMMA/ALICE Testing thread 4

987 replies

Janefx40 · 02/05/2022 21:22

New thread ladies! @Gardenlady543 @MyEasterEggs @seven201 @VenusStarr @Violette22 @Yuliaaa

OP posts:
Thread gallery
20
MyEasterEggs · 18/07/2022 19:54

@seven201 I’m going to upgrade my statement to say that’s utterly shite of them. Virtual hugs coming your way for tomorrow 💛

@Yuliaaa sending love and strength. I was in a pretty dark place in 2020. It was like I’d lost all hope after our last loss and so I won’t feed you ‘stay positive’ vibes - feel what you need to feel - but I did come through it 😚

Janefx40 · 18/07/2022 20:08

@Yuliaaa I'm so sorry you're feeling rubbish. I totally get it. Sometimes it feels like doing this treatment is like being repeatedly punched in the face. We get up again and get punched again. All we can do is be kind to ourselves and ride it out. Sending love x

OP posts:
Gardenlady543 · 18/07/2022 20:17

@MyEasterEggs ureaplasma definitely wasn't in mine or my friends, and I'm likely the one that told you to do a test, so sorry if it's included in yours! I was looking at the website and igenomix have quite a few labs so the results likely vary by country.

I'm so sorry @seven201 it is a terribly shit day and you deserve to feel angry.

I'm sorry you're having a tough time @Yuliaaa sending you a big hug. What is happening with your treatment at the moment, you've been a bit quiet recently.

seven201 · 18/07/2022 22:25

Thank you everyone for the solidarity!

@Yuliaaa sorry you're not ok. Do you want to have an offload on here?

birdbybird · 18/07/2022 23:00

@Yuliaaa I’m sorry… this is such a difficult journey.

I’m still waiting for either the scan or bleeding (which I don’t think will start while I’m on the progesterone).

I had the consultation with crgh and it wasn’t great (couldn’t warm to the consultant) although I did get information about Pgt testing. I have 2 day 6 frozen blasts remaining, and I think I’d be lucky to get a similar number in the next two cycles. Is it still worth doing PGT? Or should I just transfer and hope for the best?

I’m 41.5 and CRGH recommended testing the miscarriage tissue, PGT on remaining/new embryos, possibly dna fragmentation (my husband is 48), a hysteroscopy, immune testing, and I think I should do emma/alice (is that the same as a uterine biopsy?)

So a lot to think about.

Also, are the CRP clinic figures well published? I’ve come across 80% success rate but is that officially published somewhere?

a lot of questions! :(

Janefx40 · 18/07/2022 23:16

Hi @birdbybird sorry you didn't warm to the consultant. I am with Mr Theodorou who I really like. Are you able to switch to a different consultant if you go over to CRGH?

The decision on testing is very personal. One option would be to start with testing the current pregnancy and go from there. If that comes back normal then you may want to skip testing the others (because you will know that you are looking for a different issue). If not normal then you can think about it then?

You could potentially do the ERA, Emma, Alice etc while you wait for the results of the tissue and get going on any treatment. You could also do DNA frag now as if it does highlight an issue that could take a few months to correct.

Sorry don't know about CRP stats

Feel free to mull over any thoughts on here. Sorry you're still in limbo too

xxx

OP posts:
Janefx40 · 18/07/2022 23:18

@MyEasterEggs ureaplasma wasn't included in mine either. Not sure how come it was in yours but bonus! X

OP posts:
Janefx40 · 18/07/2022 23:19

Hope everyone survived heatwave day 1. Bit nervous about this 42 degrees!

OP posts:
MyEasterEggs · 18/07/2022 23:36

@birdbybird I thought I’d share my experience as we recently had PGT-A and it felt worthwhile because three of the seven embryos were normal. I know some people have reservations about the testing but it was the right thing for us after six consecutive losses. And I suppose it’s all a risk anyway.

My partner had sperm DNA testing and a urine culture through Jonathan Ramsay (who also checked for varicocele) and was treated with antibiotics earlier this year. I think this was a huge part of the puzzle for us after years of being told his sperm was wonderful based on a basic sample. We also had some issues with sperm testing at an overseas clinic which gave us false hope and wasted time.

A hysteroscopy can be useful at the time of doing a uterine biopsy for the EndomeTRIO. My investigations were clear although I’ve invested a lot in nutritional and supplemental support and also followed @Gardenlady543 advice so I suspect it might’ve been different had I had ALICE/EMMA six months ago. The ERA showed I need an extra 24 hours of progesterone so, again, worthwhile I hope. Immune testing also showed I would benefit from treatment.

It’s been a hard slog going through all of this since my first IVF consultation in January. We decided on this route so we could have ICSI and PGT-A testing and try and up our chances because natural pregnancies haven’t worked in the last six years. But I wasn’t banking on having so many tests!

It took me two years to decide to try again though so figured I had to throw everything at it this time, if only to know we’ve done all we can.

I’m with The Evewell who are covering everything besides a few extra tests that CRP do.

Happy to answer any Qs. That was way longer than intended but quite cathartic!

MyEasterEggs · 18/07/2022 23:43

@Janefx40 yeah, hoping I can get a refund from Medichecks since I haven’t been to TDL yet. They’re usually pretty good about stuff like that and I’ve had a refund once before.

I’ve attached the pathogens they covered if you’re interested @Gardenlady543 I’m sure the info doc I got from clinic didn’t list ureaplasma.

ERA/EMMA/ALICE Testing thread 4
MyEasterEggs · 18/07/2022 23:47

It was “only” 30 degrees where we are @Janefx40 so hate to whinge but I’m just refilling the ice cube tray for more decaf iced coffees tomorrow 😅

Gardenlady543 · 19/07/2022 06:54

@MyEasterEggs omg I just looked again at my results and it is on there on the ALICE list, and it's on my friends too, she had 2 x EMMA ALICE and both missed it. She then had menstrual fluid testing x 2 and both picked it up and a vaginal swab picked it up. I mean based on her experience I'd just go ahead with the extra test if you've got it and it's not too expensive. I just assumed they hadn't tested for it at all because I couldn't see how they could miss it like this.

@Janefx40 I'm already hot, not looking forward to today!

VenusStarr · 19/07/2022 08:30

Thinking of you today @seven201 I hope you get the meds and feel supported today 💗

Just arrived for my scan. Glad they've moved it to this morning. There's nice air con here too.

Hope everyone slept OK, I had a good night's sleep. Had a fan on but poor dh is knackered as he couldn't sleep.

@MyEasterEggs I realised I that I didn't reply to your message re TEG. I think I'm ok for now but thank you x

Gardenlady543 · 19/07/2022 08:37

@VenusStarr good luck for the scan, enjoy the air con. I had to go out to work yesterday and made 2 x supermarket stops on the journey home (supermarkets are very cold with their air con).

I hope today goes ok @seven201 ❤️

VenusStarr · 19/07/2022 09:24

Not good news, I'm due to ovulate, 20mm follicle but my lining was 6.2mm and no triple layer.
Going to try another medicated FET next cycle 😕

seven201 · 19/07/2022 10:34

VenusStarr · 19/07/2022 09:24

Not good news, I'm due to ovulate, 20mm follicle but my lining was 6.2mm and no triple layer.
Going to try another medicated FET next cycle 😕

Oh no. That is rubbish. Medicated sounds a good idea. Crappy news. Sorry. Wish there was something I could say to make it better.

birdbybird · 19/07/2022 10:39

I’m sorry @VenusStarr

how are you going @seven201 ?

birdbybird · 19/07/2022 10:43

Thanks for all the info @Janefx40 and @MyEasterEggs .

I want to book an appointment with Dr Shehata, but I need to wait for this miscarriage to happen and collect tissue to test it. I have questions but need to get my thoughts together…

VenusStarr · 19/07/2022 10:49

If you want to see Dr S @birdbybird I'd get an appointment booked - I've heard he's booking into September now. I hope you're OK

I asked about viagra @seven201 and he said no, my blood flow is good and he didn't really rate it. I'm having my first scan with him and he said at that point (6mg of estrogen) he might add in patches. I also said about gcsf in my protocol now and he's happy with that and might see if I can do that earlier in the cycle (Dr S says from 5 days before transfer).

I hope things are going OK at hospital?

Overall feeling pretty hopeless and just crying now x

seven201 · 19/07/2022 11:05

@VenusStarr let yourself have a good cry. That sounds good about him possibly adding patches. I think I agree about the viagra. If they try and give it to me next time I think I'll refuse. Gives me headaches.

I'm in the hospital at the mo. Just had the tablets put in so got to lie here for an hour. They've given me a new pot and have been reassuring with what they test for. It goes to guys and st thomas', so going to bring it back here rather than use expensive CRP. It will take 6-8 weeks though. Given that it was an eupaloid embryo I'm hopeful it comes back as normal.

Yuliaaa · 19/07/2022 11:52

You ladies are amazing! Thank you for the kind words! Nothing really happened, I am just very hopeless and I have a rush of negative thoughts playing in mind. I think it is time I felt this way because for the past years I have chosen to ignore my feelings.

@Gardenlady543 I am on a break atm until autumn. I was supposed to see the doctor and talk about the fibroid, but she had covid so we had to cancel.

My hearts aches for each of you. ❤️

Gardenlady543 · 19/07/2022 12:03

@seven201 you are in my thoughts, I hope you're ok. It all sounds very distressing.

@VenusStarr I'm sorry to hear about the scan, I'm in the thin natural lining club with you and I'm composing an email to update my specialist right now actually with the conclusion that the plan for a unmedicated cycle with letrozole probably isn't an option for me now. I tried viagra for 7 days at the start of a medicated FET in the past, I can't put into words the uncomfortableness, I don't know if it fell into the category of muscle cramps but my legs had an intolerable sensation in them, I was so uncomfortable I was needing to constantly move around and rub them, never had anything like that.

@Yuliaaa that's ok to feel like that, I feel like this too, sometimes I let myself think about having 2-3 children and how I just need to get things right. Then I realise that it's been almost 3 years without a single positive pregnancy test and I'm childless. I'm on a break until Autumn too while I have the fibroid surgery (I'm in the fibroid club with you too) and the LIT.

@birdbybird it does sound like a good idea to get an appointment scheduled in, lots of doctors take summer holidays, so it's best to have something booked.

birdbybird · 19/07/2022 14:01

I hope it all goes smoothly for you @seven201
I'm mentally moving on from this pregnancy loss, even if I’m not yet able to move on physically.
@Gardenlady543 and @VenusStarr thank you…. I booked the appointment with CRP and like you said it isn’t till September…which is probably ok.
I’m waiting to hear from the epu about going in for a scan. Is it easy to catch the miscarriage bit? If it comes out on a pad will it be contaminated? I’m a bit nervous.

I’m so sorry @VenusStarr about what you’re going through.

MyEasterEggs · 19/07/2022 14:08

@Gardenlady543 that’s interesting. Thanks so much for checking. My ureaplasma test was a urine sample and I’m not sure how reliable that will be. Where did your friend do the swab and menstrual blood? I had a menstrual blood test in Greece so might have to dig back through my notes to see if ureaplasma was covered!

@VenusStarr sorry to read your update 😔

@seven201 sending love 💛

Gardenlady543 · 19/07/2022 14:13

@MyEasterEggs menstrual blood was with fetilysis, yes do have a dig, my understanding is it's an STI, so it's unlikely that you would suddenly have it, compared with things like BV and thrush that usually just happen as there is a misbalance. The swab was a clinic in London who did the swab to confirm the bacteria was there before starting her on treatment.

Well done for getting it booked in @birdbybird so much of this stuff is planning ahead so we don't have to wait even longer for things to happen.

I have emailed Igenomix today to see if they think my ERA result will still be relevant since I had hypothyroidism, an abnormal microbiome and I'm now due surgery.

I have the surgeon appointment first thing tomorrow.