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

Thank you @VenusStarr @CailinInUK ❤️

@Enfys23 good luck for the tww. That’s interesting info, thanks. I’ll look Himfertility up and see if I can find it.

17 is young but at least you know it isn’t an age thing for you necessarily, I guess? I definitely think it is for me.

I feel very old tbh, just sad about it all, the waiting is making me think we’re never going to get there because it’s just an endless amount of time ahead of us and no future point where another cycle is possible right now and all the while my eggs are deteriorating. I could be peri menopausal any day for all I know, I’m so tired of failing and being scared of aging.

I ordered hormone tests for dh @VenusStarr, I’ll let you know what ours come back with. Has a doctor spoken with you about the borderline testosterone result?

Who here has done immune testing and what tests did you do? I’m a bit overwhelmed by how many there are. I need to email my clinic and ask which they would advise but I’d sort of like to do it with Fertilysis and show them the results because it’s less expensive.

@thislittlebird yes let me know.his result only came back from the GP last on Friday. Am hoping he'll hear back from the specialist on Monday. Kind of want him to say try the clomid, just for a try. I'll let you know too.

I'm under Dr Shehata for immunes. I did previously do the uterus nk biopsy but not sure I rate that as a test. Dr S puts your blood in a pregnancy state and that seems to be where my issue is- very overactive in pregnancy. It's abit of a minefield to be honest xx

@VenusStarr interested to head your thoughts about the nk biopsy if you’re ok to share? I’m having that done next week but have been feeling mixed about the value of it.

@Lori2022 I think its just because it looks at numbers only. My first was normal and my second was so low. But when I had my peripheral bloods done, my nk cell count was normal but its the activation that's the problem for me so I just feel that numbers don't really tell you much x

@VenusStarr that makes sense. When did you have it done? The doctor gave the impression that the test has improved and only a single biopsy now. Thanks for sharing the info ☺️

I did the biopsies with the Coventry implantation clinic @Lori2022 I'm not sure if it's the same now, but they wanted you to do 2 biopsies to compare. I had the first one just before lockdown in 2020 and the second was in 2021 just before my first ivf cycle (would've been earlier but I had another miscarriage 7 months after the first biopsy). X

@VenusStarr yep same place :)

Morning Everyone,

I haven’t been early testing but I 100% know this hasn’t worked. I’ve not felt a single thing. I’ve been pregnant twice and always known, had cramps and implantation. So I’ve had my meltdown for a couple of days and prepared myself. I’ll still be sad next week on OTD but I’ll know what to expect. I never expected the first transfer to work but it’s still horrendous!

It’s been so tough on us. It’s been 2 years since we lost our girl on Wednesday and still no sign of another baby or pregnancy. It just feels unfair. If I didn’t catch covid she would be here and turning 2 this summer :(

Question is now I’m booked in for a lap on the 8th Feb. Do I throw everything into it and get a lap and then down regulation for my adeno (as they can’t remove it) and then FET. I just wish I was able to have one more FET then the lap but I can’t change my dates again and I don’t want to just keep prolonging things. I’ve joined an IVF group on Facebook and had a look for posts with adenomyosis as I’m really worried about the diagnosis especially because it’s so close to my lining and it’s obviously causing the symptoms of the brown spotting etc. Some women have been successful but some haven’t.

i hope eveyone is getting on okay. Sorry I haven’t managed to read much I’ve been awful on google looking at adenomyosis and also how my transfer pic looked odd :( not like everyone else’s. The lining looked odd and even the placement of everything. Not the embryo but anyway it doesn’t look like the ones online or on IG so I just never had much hope anyway plus the adeno. :(
xxx

@Loz2467 ❤️ I hope you are pleasantly surprised later this week. But I do get it, you know your own body. Its so difficult. Especially with an anniversary coming up. Baby loss and infertility is one of the cruellest things life can throw at us.

I think if you have the option for the lap, I'd definitely go for it before another FET. If you do have endo, that can be removed as it can cause inflammation which could affect implantation. I know there's the recovery time to factor in too but it could give some answers. I also think the mental head space could be helpful too. Lots of love xx

**

Thinking of you @Enfys23 ❤️

@Loz2467 can you do a test, it should be showing up by now if it's positive and then you will know whether to set up plans. It's def best to do a lap before a FET.

@Loz2467

I’m sorry you’re going through this. It’s good that you’re not testing early as that can make things worse. Try to take one day at a time. I have heard that every pregnancy is different so I’m hoping that it’s positive for you.

@Gardenlady543
Thanks for your reply. I’m doing quite well with canesbalance so wondered if I naturally lack lactic acid and glycogen. I think I’ll wait a week or so and do a test with Invivo. I think sometimes taking antibiotics all the time can make things worse.

I’m getting anxious about catching viruses at present as my clinic told me if I get a cold again it should be cancelled. It’s to do with the immune suppressants. Anyway how are others doing? I’m not going out much. It seems hard but I’m hoping it will be worth it.

@CailinInUK
When is your next visit to the clinic?

@Loz2467 thinking of you and I will have everything crossed it’s a positive for you.

@Janefx40 thank you for sharing your experience, it’s given me hope. I hope you are well.

@MyEasterEggs thank you for the information you provided. I hope you are well.

Update from me, I have obtained the report from the NHS and I have an intramural fibroid of 4mm. My uterus is normal in size and outline but it is now hetregenous in echo texture. I have no idea what this means and if it is going to affect fertility further? I don’t know if it’s come about because of the fibroid? I think I may need to see a specialist now but don’t know who? Does anyone what this means?

I hope everyone has a nice evening xx

@RPishopeful intramural fibroids aren't an issue unless they are very big and yours is very small, so I don't think it's a problem

@2021ivfagain yes save antibiotics for when there is an issue, eg symptomatic.

@Gardenlady543 thank you for your reply. Do you know what a heterogeneous uterus is? My ultrasound in June last year showed a normal uterus but now it’s heterogeneous. Is this likely to cause problems now? Sorry for the questions but I have just come home to the report and going crazy googling and I can’t seem to find the answer. Have you booked your HSG?

@RPishopeful the heterogenous bit doesn’t mean an awful lot just that it wasn’t all uniform, which could just be the intramural fibroid effect. It isn’t a diagnosis in itself. Are you under a gynae already for them to take a look at the scan? Ultrasound reports by sonographers are always a bit vague. It’s best to get an actual gynae consultant to do/interpret. The imagines can be transferred between centres if needed.

Hope everyone else is doing as okay as can be.

I’m resigned that it’s likely tomorrow’s test will be negative. I’ve felt really hot and sweaty in bed the past two nights which always happens in run up to period for me, also been feeling quite itchy/tingly and uncomfortable down below which again is a period is imminent sign for me. I’ve given myself a tiny bit of hope that not bleeding yet (as bled before OTD previously) and Lubion info says you can get these vaginal symptoms but think I’m out, I’m feeling dry too and imagine if early pregnancy I’d have more vaginal discharge. I guess at least I’ll be out of limbo and can plan next steps. Not sure how many more of these I can do without any sign of hope/ a hint of a positive tests. How many failed implantations did others have before proceeding to more complex tests like immune testing? I’ve already had EMMA/ALICE/ERA and hysteroscopy now. The consultant says it’s not worth us doing PGTA as I just don’t have enough eggs and therefore embryos to risk losing in the process. We do get 100% fertilisation and 100% day 5 blasts from eggs but it’s my ovarian reserve that’s the limiting factor.

@Enfys23
Personally, when I was younger as in my 30s and did IVF I had success with a fresh transfer at 38, 3 months from 39. I had a double transfer and did IMSI but no pgs testing. I think if you are under 40 and you’re not getting as many blastocysts, I would avoid PGS testing and perhaps do a double day 5 fresh transfer as I did. By the way, we were dealing with male factor then and did IMSI. It took 3rd transfer but two egg collections to succeed.

I’m really hoping your test is positive. Sweating more is a sign that progesterone is increasing. I get this when I take more dhea and when I’ve been on norethisterone as well.

Thank you @2021ivfagain . That’s interesting. I think we would be allowed to opt for a double transfer next time according to NICE guidelines even though I’m on younger side IVF wise, but we only have one frozen day 5 blast left. Then we’d be looking at our 3rd fresh cycle. Problem is in my fresh cycles, lining hasn’t been good. However they have been giving me huge doses of FSH and a consultant in greece we asked for a little second opinion from said I should never have been given these massive doses in the fresh cycles, so maybe with change to stim meds/doses my lining may do better.

thanks for the reassurance and glimmer of hope ❤️

Hope everyone is OK. No news from my results but dh has got a Doxycycline prescription today... they were waiting for my result, so reading between the lines I think my ureaplasma was clear. As I expected because my endometrio tests were all clear. I'm half tempted to just do a course of the antibiotics anyway.

No news about his (what I think is borderline) testosterone result.

That's interesting @2021ivfagain our clinic were pushing us to pgta and I've got very low amh, we barely got a morula from the recent round. If we do ivf again I don't think we'll test embryos. Dr Shehata doesn't support it for us either.

I'm restarting my meds tomorrow in preparation for April. Not missed them!

I'm feeling awful today, had some really bad news. Feeling completely deflated, wondering if things will ever work. I have the HSG on Thursday it has to be normal because I don't think I will cope if it isn't. Anyone else feeling horrendously sad today?

I'm really sorry to hear that @Gardenlady543 I've been quite angry and irritable these last few days. It's overwhelming when things are outside of your control. Where are you having the hsg? I really hope it all goes smoothly for you xx

@VenusStarr it's with interventional radiology, they have booked me in with the same radiologist who did my HSG in mid 2021, it will be sad going back almost 2 years later in an even worse position than I was then. But she was nice and did the procedure smoothly the first time. I'm at the point where everything is more painful now just because I've had enough of it all.

@Enfys23 thinking of you tomorrow. If it helps I was also very dry on this last transfer. Best friend and I were both frantically googling this but it always seemed to be bad news. And it wasn't. Hope the same for you

@Gardenlady543 I'm sorry you are sad and have get more procedures to face. I wish there was something I could say to make it better. Sending love x

thanks @Janefx40 ❤️

@Gardenlady543 I am so sorry to hear this. Bad news is not what you need right now. I can get feeling really sad and hopeless. I wish you strength as you face this next HSG and process this news. Sending love 💕

@VenusStarr my gut feeling would be if my DH was being treated I would do a week’s course too. Just in case. Providing I have no allergies etc to worry about or other meds that react. I hope you can make the right call for you.

@Gardenlady543

I’m really sorry you had bad news. IVF is a long and difficult process but you’re really strong. I’m hoping everything goes ok for you on Thursday.