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

@kerrym87 I don't know much really but here's my tuppence worth. Your FSH has to be relatively low (below 10 or 12) on days 1-3 because otherwise it prevents the drugs working (some stims are also FSH). FSH fluctuates month to month so if it's high one month it might be fine the next month. If it's consistently high then you may need to do a bit of work to lower it. It's not usual a big issue for natural conception but important for IVF.

@2021ivfagain sorry you are feeling so stressed. Your lining sounds good as usual - it's a great thing to have going well. I hope you have a lots of normals too xxx

@Janefx40 they tested my amh and fsh only 2 months after an ivf cycle which failed as I had covid and my eggs were fried....they could tell from -bloods and symptoms of covid that covid affected it as suddenly my oestrogen stopped rising. Amh is good fsh was 12 in June. Then 8.4 in Jan but my afc was reduced (16 instead of at least 27) this month my afc was good but fsh 9.7......I have pcos and on so many supllemnts to help with egg quality and lifestyle and diet overhaul for past 2 years. Is there anything you can suggest for helping fsh? X

@Janefx40
Thank you. I do worry it could get too thick! I’m having an extra hcg treatment on day of transfer for some low nk cells in endometrium. I’ve dropped ivig as my nk cells in blood are marginally high, so will be on blood thinners and steroids.

I’m just worried as this is it. These are my last embryos. Did you do acupuncture? When I got pregnant with my son, I had stopped acupuncture at least a month before as my transfer day was the same day we went into lockdown!

@kerrym87 testing FSH at random times will tell you a little about aging - our FSH rises as we get towards the end of childbearing - but it doesn't help much in terms of an IVF cycle. Your levels sounds ok anyway. You'd need to test days 1-3 to check relevance for an IVF cycle. You don't seem massively to need this tho as your levels are ok.

DHEA is amazing at lowering FSH but unfortunately if screws up everything else if you don't have low testosterone. So if you have low testosterone (you would need to test) then you can take that but if not then best avoided.

I think people usually say watercress? I'll double check.

Your AFC sounds fine. Of course higher is better but it's still perfectly healthy at 16.

Not sure why they used these results as an excuse to stop your cycles? Clinics don't routinely test FSH days 1-3 but I think they should at least in older women or where there could be an issue.

@2021ivfagain thick linings are generally good. It's unlikely to get too thick.

I did acupuncture but I doubt that made the ultimate difference to be honest.

I know how it feels using the last embryos. It is terrifying but there is no choice but to go for it. It takes a huge amount of courage doing these cycles. It's hard but believe in yourself and your ability to get through it xxx

@kerrym87 sorry it's wheatgrass not watercress!!! X

@Janefx40 they test every ones fsh and oetradiol on day 1-3 as well as doing afc. I have pcos and testosterone is normal so dhea may make things worse (I've looked into it). It's my 3rd and last nhs round so I think they are trying to get best it can be but I think if its similar at end of march they'll have best of 3 and go with it . My bloods and scans were great before covid and I was poorly for a month and now have long covid so I think it's had a big impact.
@2021ivfagain will you be having any progesterone? Lining does compact a bit when you start it, fingers crossed for you x

@kerrym87 Yes I did Emma, era, Alice and nk cells last November. I’ll also be on lubion twice a day and cyclogest 400mg twice a day too. Last time I did my biopsy I had my progesterone tested to emulate what it would be for a transfer and it was 113.

@kerrym87 ah sorry - I misunderstood what you meant when you said they tested you 2 months post cycle

Thank you @Janefx40 I still feel off even though I'm negative now, seem to be having a mid-afternoon crash where I need a nap!

@seven201 thinking of you today ❤️

I'm sorry you've had long covid @kerrym87 I hope things settle with your cycle

Love to all xx

@VenusStarr are you still off work with the covid? If you're needing a nap I think you should be be at work.

@2021ivfagain I sympathise with the wobble. Has you lining ever got too thick before? I think that's pretty rare? It's so hard not to overthink everything.

I am in annoying limbo again. Did a test this morning and was pretty sure it was negative then did another this eve and I have one of those lines that could be an indent or could be a feint positive. I think there might be a little colour in it but I've been here many times before! Obviously regretting not doing my two cyclogest yesterday! Have done tonight's though and will test again in the morning. How bad is it that I missed two cyclogest yesterday evening? I'm not on any other progesterone for letrazole rounds (but do have extra during ivf as I started heavy bleeding 6 days after embryo transfer). I'm concerned I've fucked it up. Of course it definitely could just be an indent. The line should be clearly visible by now as it's 13dpo ish. Sorry, that was long!

Do you want to share a pic? @seven201 I don't think missing cyclogest for a day will make a difference because you'll be producing your own progesterone. How many follicles did you have? Keeping my fingers crossed for you for the morning 🙏

No, I'm back at work now but managing to work at home for the afternoons x

@seven201 was it a frer because I feel like it's pretty difficult to get a false positive with them from my one experience, like at 5dp5dt the line was pretty much invisibly but I was sure there was something there.

@VenusStarr First scan is Tuesday and I'm in for intralipids then as well.

@Janefx40 how are you getting on, time flies so quickly I lose track.

Hi there, I can see some of you ladies have been in contact for a while :) Amazing news for those of you who have had success and best of luck for those of you are still trying ❤️

Do any of you have recommendations for a thin lining (4mm)? I had my FET last week and tested negative 9dp5dt so am not getting my hopes up. I had a hysteroscopy last year which didn’t show any scarring. I had an endo scratch before I started the FET cycle. Not sure if it’s that or the estrogen pills/patches that got me to 4mm (it was thinner before then). Would be grateful for any recommendations x

Thanks for indulging me! The line that is barely visible was around 3 mins, the clearer one 2 1/2hrs after it dried out. There's definitely a line but I just don't know if it's an indent. I have had lots of first response indents before - it seems to be random as I've used tests from different packets with the same urine previously and had stark white and an indent. I think there may be a hint of colour in the dried out one but I might just be seeing things.

@Spin101 4mm is pretty thin. How many cycles have you had it measured on? You can get random thinner months. I guess if they went for transfer anyway they must have had some hope. Have you tried without meds? Are you seeing someone privately or nhs? I'd be tempted to have more investigations before another transfer. My ivf clinic put me on viagra, aspirin, estrogen tabs (12mg), estrogen patches (200 every 48 hrs) and I have two neupogen infusions into the uterus before transfer. Personally I don't think aspirin, viagra or estrogen tablets do anything for me. I think patches might do and possible neupogen, but I am doubtful to be honest. Some months it's not got above 4.5mm but once made it to 8.2mm I think.

@Spin101

I’m sorry you’re having problems with lining. I do oestrogen priming in the luteal phase, take wheatgrass, omega 3, some dhea for 3 weeks only, ubiquinol 200mgx3. Also I take lots of other supplements such as vitamin e 400iu. I am doing a superovulated FET cycle and am having 225iu meriofert every other day from cd3 until trigger. I find my lining really thickens and I also try to have weekly acupuncture. In fact, I’m having acupuncture again this week as feeling very stressed but seeing a different acupuncturist as the lady I go to usually has been getting over a cold.

I have high fsh but with acupuncture, tons of these supplements, oestrogen priming and meriofert injections every other day my lining grows quite well. When I did the biopsy, it got to 12mm and the month before my lining was 13.5mm after ovulation.

@seven201 I mean that is definitely a line, you did say you had a good feeling about this cycle, I think you need to see how things look tomorrow am, which isn't long to go.

Hi @Spin101 did they do a transfer into 4mm lining. That is very thin :( I think this is a good paper www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1110569016300589

It's definitely dried darker @seven201 which is promising. And the fact it was there are 3 minutes, I'd be quietly optimistic 🙏

@Gardenlady543 fingers crossed for Tuesday
How are you feeling?

@Spin101 welcome. I have had issues with my lining since I had a MMC after a medicated FET. That cycle I had a textbook medicated cycle but since then I have barely scraped 6mm on higher levels of estrogen. I ended up doing low dose stims and got to 7.8mm (was a bfn though).
Was your lining triple layer? I've heard of success with 5-6mm triple layer but not less. I'm sorry this cycle hasn't worked x

@seven201 I've zoomed in and I think I can see pink too 🤞

@Gardenlady543 and @VenusStarr thanks! Time will tell. I had three follicles.

@Gardenlady543 good luck for Tuesday!

@VenusStarr well done for working but please do make sure you get enough rest. Got to put yourself first sometimes.

We're nearly on thread 7!!

I've just set up a new thread! www.mumsnet.com/talk/infertility/4749782-era-emma-alice-testing-thread-7 trying to tag everyone :)

Fingers crossed for those follicles @seven201 thank you, I'm definitely taking it easy.
Let klus know how tomorrow goes x

Hello,
firstly all the best of luck to all of you going through treatment, may you cope as best as you can with the stress, long timings and any set back.
I just wanted to hop on here as I’m headed towards my first ever embryo transfer, a frozen one, likely to happen mid to end of April.
Today it was the end of an ERA mock cycle and I had a hysteroscopy and endo quartet biopsy for ERA, EMMA, ALICE and NK cells. I also had NKC bloods.
There is no suspected issue with any of these areas however as I only have 1 genetically tested euploid embryo (low grade) and one only chance at a transfer (wouod love to afford more egg collection cycles but I can), my consultant felt prudent to assess absolutely everything possible to give me the best possible chance of successful implantation.
What’s usually the treatment for abnormal EMMA or ALICE please? Is it probiotics ot antibiotics? I must admit I’m not overly clear on the purpose of those tests.
thanks

@clhiu hi and welcome. These threads can only have a maximum of 1000 posts so we have created a new one. See the link just below your post.

No one will be able to respond on here (after my message) so if you post on the new thread people will answer your question.

See you "over in thread 7!"

X