ERA EMMA ALICE testing thread #6

[Gardenlady543]

@Janefx40 @birdbybird @seven201 @Gardenlady543 @patientpatient @MyEasterEggs @thislittlebird @Yuliaaa @Violette22 @2021ivfagain @OrangeBengal @Enfys23 @Loz2467 @DEIVF @Hopeful199 @ER12 @greendress789 @Douchas12111 @Lori2022 @AdviceForJane @Anonbaby @Molls87 @ChickenT2b @GoldenElephant @IVF22 @StillTrying10000 @warrior101 @whatcangowrong @Yaynayokay

Oh yes it really has happened we are onto thread #6.

All are welcome to join us, we started out as people interested in ERA EMMA ALICE but we seem to have had every test available between us.

So if you want to know about the microbiome, reproductive immunology or you just feel your case is complicated and what like minded people to talk to about it you've come to the right place

@Gardenlady543
Thanks for adding me.

@Enfys23

I’m sorry you’re going through this. I just want to say I’m 41 and I find the mild stimulation FET cycle works well. I have high fsh so my amh must have also dropped. I do oestrogen priming with progesterone and dhea two weeks before my period. It lowers fsh and then I take 225iu meriofert every other day from cycle day 3 until trigger. It really helps my lining. I’m doing a mock cycle for era, Emma, Alice and nk cells and on day of ovulation my lining was 12mm.

Just to put things into perspective my fsh spiked in July and rose to 24. I was devastated. The next month I lowered it to 2 with acupuncture, dhea, zumenon etc. It really helped.

so acupuncture, vitamin e 400iu, ubiquinol 600mg, oestrogen priming, dhea 50mg for 2 weeks in luteal phase and mild stimulation FET cycle really helps with lining.

@Gardenlady543 while I’ve thought 2 would be nice I would be very happy with the 1 if I am lucky enough to have this. I know what you mean though time of the essence isn’t it. But I think if that’s the cards I’ve been dealt. Don’t think we could afford the embryo banking right now without having the refund money and obvs have to exhaust that package first to get that back. Wish I knew more and knew how things would go before signing up.

@2021ivfagain That is so helpful thank you. I’ve started ubiquinol and vitamin e since seeing a webinar on endo and DOR. Also acupuncture believer now. It’s definitely good to have idea of meds and regimes so I can raise this with the specialists as potential options.

@2021ivfagain how long do you need to be off hormones to check an accurate FSH?

@Enfys23

I would say a month but problem is ubiquinol also lowers fsh so I would just focus on preparing for transfer. Do you have any embryos to transfer? I’m only using mild stimulated FET cycle as I have 7 day 3 embryos frozen from my best first cycle at 40. Fsh can change so much. If you are under 40, age is on your side and that triumphs over a lot of things.

If your reserve is getting low and you are under 40, I would recommend doing a fresh transfer and transferring 2 day 5 blastocysts. When I was 38 (3 months from 39), I got pregnant on my third transfer but second egg retrieval. It was a fresh transfer. I would also look into IMSI or pimsi and not just icsi. This will optimise your chances. We did IMSI as my husband’s morphology was between 2-3% a lot of the time. Embryologists even recommend IMSI even when morphology is at 4% on cusp of normal. Direct message me if you need to.

Thanks @2021ivfagain I have 2 frozen blasts at the moment. One ok quality day 5 and another good grade day 6 blast.
That’s true it’s a bit academic to check levels when we can see what’s happening and just need to crack on.

We are lucky that my husband’s SA (also 34-35yo) was excellent, best consultant had seen, and we’ve had 100% fertilisation by IVF which helps given the very poor yield over our two egg collections. At least he’s balancing out my issues. Feel like I’m letting the side down though!!

@Enfys23

Please don’t put pressure on yourself. At 34-35, you have a good amount of normal eggs so that’s a positive. I would strongly recommend doing oestrogen priming with progesterone tablets. I take progesterone tablets from cycle day 14 until cycle day 25. From cycle day 21 until first day of period I take two zumenon tablets a day. It works so well.

The mild stimulation FET cycle is fantastic. In my opinion and experience it’s the best. I’m a lot older than you with probably worse fsh and I respond well. I take 225iu meriofert every other day for lh. It’s like doing a fresh cycle because you stim every other day until trigger. Then two days later ovulation is confirmed with a scan. Then next day you begin progesterone for 5 days then transfer. Please look into this.

thank you @2021ivfagain ❤️
just got my hysteroscopy date in the post it’s less than 2 weeks away on 22/11 so perfect timing after bleed from stopping mock cycle meds.
feel positive things are moving ahead and will have some answers between this and biopsy to aid next step.
i will definitely be asking about mild stim FET.

thanks so much for all the support through what feels so bleak and uncertain xx

@Enfys23 that's great you have a hysteroscopy date and the timings are in your favour!

How is everyone else? Sorry, struggling to keep up!

I'm currently at CRP hooked up to intralipids. I'm on a letrazole round and have 3 follicles so triggering on Sunday. Got a bit of fluid in my uterus, which is annoying, but not enough to need to cancel. It feels nice to be doing 'something' again.

@Enfys23 infertility is such a money out, your refund package sounds good. Amazing that you've got the hysteroscopy booked in.

I got my LAD result back and I've responded to the two extra sessions of LIT. So at least I can go into the transfer cycle knowing I did all I could with the LIT. Not sure if it would make a difference but I'll give the transfer a go.

"Money pit" although "money out" also works

That's great news!!! You thought you hadn't responded. That's a good way to start the weekend!

Sorry for brief message but have horrid migraine

@Gardenlady543 yay!! So glad the LIT worked x

@seven201 glad you're responding well to the cycle. Xxx

@Janefx40 nightmare! I bet you can't even take any of your usual migraine meds.

I wondered if others are having issues with cyclogest. I’m taking them for my mock cycle. I know it’s tmi but how quickly is progesterone absorbed if taken rectally? Also, if taken rectally, how long should you wait before you can poo again?

Great news on the LIT @Gardenlady543.

I hope the clinic gave you some alternative coping mechanisms @Janefx40!

@seven201, I hear you re moving forward. There is power in a plan.

I’ve always done my cyclogest rectally @2021ivfagain. It only v v rarely causes any mess and it also makes intimacy for me more likely (which I find important as everything around IVF is so unnatural). I take them around 10am and 10pm and usually make sure I go before putting a pessary in (straight in once I’ve cleaned up, balance it on a folded bit of tissue). Whether that’s morning or night doesn’t seem to matter, on the rare occasion the timing doesn’t work out I try and hold on as long as possible as I want to get the most out of the pessary.

@seven201 that sounds very positive! Fingers crossed for you

@Gardenlady543 great news! So glad the results were good!
haha yes money pit and out 100%

@Janefx40 as a migraine sufferer my full empathies hope it’s better soon x

@2021ivfagain ugh hate Cyclogest. Vaginally = instant thrush (seems impossible would come on that quick but it does), Rectally = IBS city (and that can be diarrhoea or severe constipation which means bowel movements really unpredictable on timing and then always seem to want to happen after you’ve just risked a dose of Cyclogest) so I completely get your concerns! I looked it up and one of the NHS hospital had an FAQ saying it’s very rapidly absorbed so 30 mins should be sufficient if inserted vaginally, but needs to be 1 hr for rectally. I have had to do a second dose a few times just in case.

How did you all find hysteroscopy? It’s without sedation I think so am a bit nervous. Any tips on managing it? I found biopsy quite painful as she had to do it a couple of times to get enough. Think first time was like yeah expected that but second time I was like I can’t put up with this much longer. But the HyCoSy/saline scan I was ok with.

Hi everyone. Does anyone on this thread have any experience with male factor infertility?

Thanks everyone.@Enfys23 @OrangeBengal

I waited 2 hours with cyclogest! Hoping that’s ok. Worried about taking more as this is mock cycle and doing era etc.

@Gardenlady543 would you recommend I still use vaginal pessaries whilst preparing for mock cycle biopsy? I’m doing cyclogest rectally due to previous infections. My biopsy will be Monday and nutritionist weeks ago advised I take canesflor vaginal pessaries and Physioflor vaginal pessaries but to stop 5 days before a transfer. Obviously I’m not transferring but wonder if same issues apply!

@2021ivfagain I always do them rectally as didn't get on with vaginally. Sometimes I struggle to leave enough time before needing a poo, especially in the morning. My ivf protocol has 1 morning and 1 before bed but CRP clinic is 2 before bed which I've found more manageable. I read something about 20 mins so I always tried to wait at least 30mins but I hadn't factored in that that was probably for the vaginal route! Could you manage an hour?

@Enfys23 sorry, mine was under sedation as I was having stuff removed at the same time. I recently had a saline sonogram (which was fine) and forgot to take paracetamol half an hour before hand, just saying in case you'd not thought of that. I find it depends on the day, so you can't predict how you'll react. It may well just be the odd twinge and absolutely fine. Fingers crossed.

@Anonbaby sorry, I don't. We did icsi as my dh's was slightly low on the shape, but within range.

@Gardenlady543 great news! You must feel so relieved! I know you’ve been on quite the journey with LIT 😀

@seven201 so pleased things are looking up. Hoping for a positive outcome 🤞🏻

@Janefx40 feel better soon. I’m struggling with general headaches so can’t imagine how you’re feeling with migraines 💛

2 hours will be plenty @2021ivfagain don’t hold things in too long! I found the FAQ it was the NHS clinic in South Wales www.thefertilityinstitute.co.uk/en/page/frequently-asked-questions-during-treatment

@2021ivfagain I generally go for 30 mins! It seems to have worked. It is also worth working out your bowel movements. So if you tend to go in the morning take them later and then adjust your later dose accordingly so 10 and 10 rather than 8 and 8. I don't think it matters what time you take it if it is evenly spaced x

@Janefx40

Thank you. I take lubion at 8:30am and 8:30pm but cyclogest I like to take later. The nurses said all at same time but it’s not realistic for me.

Also I have stopped canesflor at present as don’t want it to interact with progesterone. Did you take canesflor straight after biopsy? Thanks x

I had acupuncture appointment last Thursday. I’m sorry it’s off topic but she said I should just make peace with the fact it might not happen. I understand that we all need to think like that but I have 7 day 3 embryos left from my one good cycle. Do you all think I should still have hope?

@2021ivfagain you have chances, so you have every right to feel hopeful.

People often try to say the right things but put their foot in it. A friend of mine offered up adoption as a solution in the very early days of our fertility struggles but that, accepting it won’t happen or deciding to stop are the kinds of conclusions you arrive at yourself. So take it with a pinch of salt when someone tells you how to think or feel or deal with this.

That said, I think you can be accepting of the fact it might not happen and also be hopeful that things could work out. Because for many people they can and do even when the odds are stacked against them. When I decided to start IVF on the back of a two year break from TTC I went into it with an attitude of “no matter what, we’ll be okay” and sometimes that’s still enough to ground me. If your whole life depends on the outcome it can become a very desperate place.

Rambling a bit now but wanted to share some thoughts 💛