ERA EMMA ALICE testing thread 8

[Gardenlady543]

@2021ivfagain @kerrym87 @Janefx40 @seven201 @thislittlebird @Spin101 @Enfys23
@CailinInUK @BewilderedBee @Loz2467 @Lori2022 @VenusStarr @clhiu @Faithhopelove83 @APSR @ChickenT2b @Mina209 @IVF22 @Lizzybeth1988 @AM08 @Fluffykins33 @Sar1010

Continued in from thread 7 :)

@Spin101 thats wonderful news!! My clinic normally arranged a scan for between 7 to 8 weeks; some other clinics are earlier. I tended to book a private scan for between 6 and 7 weeks to check for heartbeat. 9dp5dt is equivalent to 4 weeks pregnant.

@Enfys23 I was told by fertility acupuncturist that massages are not recommended after transfer. My acupuncturist uses a lot of pressure so lots of pressure must be avoided. It’s ok before transfer.

@Spin101 oh wow this is so exciting. Fingers crossed for you. I have always had a scan just after 6 weeks to check for heartbeat. One of my clinics did this routinely but the others didn't but ended up at EPU for both (mostly due to anxiety). Otherwise would have booked a private scan. Those early weeks are tough so be kind to yourself and fingers crossed for your bean xxx

Good luck @CailinInUK

Oh wow @Spin101 that's great news! Earliest you can have a scan is 6.5 weeks. So I had my transfer on 1st May and first scan was 27th May. At 5 weeks you could see the placement hopefully but not heartbeat, you may see heartbeat at 6 weeks but it's a bit hit and miss I think. 6.5 you should see heart beat. My clinic wanted one at 8 weeks though as they feel less can go wrong by that point.

@Enfys23 I would probably avoid it, too much prodding and poking at such a important time.

Thank you ladies, you’re so right @CailinInUK !

@CailinInUK every good wish for today for you 🍀

@Spin101 such wonderful news❤️ I hope your clinic get you booked in as soon as possible for a scan. Crossing everything for you!

Good morning @Enfys23, I hope you’re managing to keep distracted during the tww x

@CailinInUK good luck with EC today 🤞

@Spin101 so pleased for your good news ❤️

@Gardenlady543 Thank you for your advice. I’m keeping an eye on symptoms. I feel better using Flora Femme and canesbalance. Can I just ask when you use both in the past, do you use the probiotic first then the acid product? I use Flora Femme then canesbalance but wonder if I should do it other ways around.

I did test again today as I have blood tests at my clinic tomorrow and never tested early before. I’m still getting slight twinges and sometimes breast tenderness. I do get breathless sometimes but that could be due to higher progesterone. I do worry as with my pregnancy with my son I had subchorionic haemorrhage in lockdown so couldn’t go for blood tests but I had multiple symptoms then early on.

@Sar1010 That sounds good. I’ve never had implantation bleeding just twinges. The earliest scan I had for my son was at 6 weeks 5 days but usually it’s 7 weeks I think.

@CailinInUK Good luck today.

@VenusStarr Thank you. It is an anxious time. I hope your husband is getting better. I had my best cycle at 40. I hope it works out for you.

@Enfys23 Acupuncture without heat and massage is advised after transfer. My fertility acupuncturist recommends weekly acupuncture in tww, but I just could not afford any more. I found word games helped a lot. I like puzzles but I know how hard it can be.

@clhiu How are you getting on?

@2021ivfagain appreciate worrying about symptoms, it's inevitable, but it's honestly true that every pregnancy is different, hard to think in those terms for those in our situation I know, but it's true. So you have to travel all the way to CRGH in Portland Street tomorrow for the blood tests or can you have them done locally somewhere else? Such a trek sometimes isn't it?

I'm doing ok thanks, definitely feeling much less stressed about testing than I did after FET, trying really hard not to think about symptoms especially since tooth infection and meds would most certainly be skewing them.

I don't want to speak too soon as literally just last night and even first thing this morning I was convinced I'd have to be put on the stronger antibiotics (the one that's less baby-friendly than Amoxicillin) or have an extraction, however the pain might have finally started to subside, despite me not taking any pain killers since about 11pm last night and in fact it was worse when I first woke up a few hours ago. Today is day 6 and second to last day on Amoxicillin so I'd have thought it should have been working by now, but after feeling better the first couple of days it got quite bad again over the weekend which I read as a bad sign. Anyway, I called the dentist first thing, but they couldn't do anything to help me today as my dentist is off, I have to call back tomorrow when he's in and continue the amoxicillin, the receptionist was adamant that even if the infection is bad an extra day won't make a huge difference, not sure how I feel about that, but since I'm in less pain now she might as well be right...

Hi ladies,

sorry for the late reply and thanks for all the well wishes for surgery next month.
@Gardenlady543 i need a bowel resection due to the extent of my endometriosis.

I had an NHS referral appointment for reproductive medicine a few weeks ago. I thought it was pretty pointless as we don’t qualify for nhs funded IVF due to being a step mum. However, they did some bloods anyway, a scan and checked me for BV.
I’ve now had a couple of random text messages from my GP surgery.
One saying to call and book my vaccine as instructed by the clinic (I can only assume this is for rubella as they did mention it). But why get me to have a rubella vaccine if I don’t even qualify for funding?!
Then another text saying to pick up my prescription for metronidazole 🤦🏻‍♀️ so I assume I have BV now.

I literally just did a course of metronidazole AND clindamycin last month due to my fertilysis results which didn’t even mention BV but instead some other anaerobic bacteria. I’ve been taking probiotic pessaries too but I guess that’s been a waste of time.

Surely, taking antibiotics every month isn’t going to help anything 🤦🏻‍♀️☹️

Uff. Even when not even TTC just can’t seem to escape bad news.

@2021ivfagain I put balance activ and the probiotic in at the same time. Good luck for the blood test tomorrow, will you get the result the same day?

@clhiu when are you going to test?

@ChickenT2b your gp really should have discussed the results! Have you managed to get the antibiotics? When did you have the BV test was it after you took the antibiotics last time.

@CailinInUK thinking of you, how did you get on?

Awh thanks @Gardenlady543 @Enfys23 @2021ivfagain. We got six eggs and five mature. A far cry from the regular hey day numbers of 18 eggs a few years ago. Egg decline in reality! It is annoying that the clinic only does ECs Mon, Weds and Fri as if I stimmed a little longer I would’ve got a few more eggs but then consultant always goes on about losing eggs if we stim ‘too long’. Anyway, it is what it is. We’re doing ICSI (required for PGT-M) and Zymot so hopefully good fert report tomorrow. Last cycle in May we got 8 eggs, 8 mature, 8 fertilised, 3 blasts biopsied but no euploids. In March it was 6 eggs 6 mature, 4 fertilised, 2 blasts and 1 euploid, so hopefully lower numbers doesn’t necessarily mean we’re out. Next cycle will be in September, yawn.

Thanks ladies. I’m going to step back for a few days to stop me over googling etc and limit phone time but glad all went well today @CailinInUK and hope there’s good news tomorrow and with the testing.
@clhiu I hope the dental appointment brings some positive news for you.
Good luck to everyone testing soon.
@ChickenT2b I’m sorry things are like this at the moment. I think it’s normal that all standard tests and basics eg rubella vaccine will still be done as part of fertility work up on NHS even if you’re not eligible for treatment funding. I really hope all goes well with the surgery ❤️

Hi ladies I’ve been lurking here for a while after @Spin101 suggested it to me on another thread. @Spin101 I was so happy to read your news this morning, that’s absolutely wonderful. I paid for a private scan between 6 and 7 weeks with our son, as I remember, and that gave me a lot of reassurance.

I’ve just had my Era/Emma/Alice results sent though this morning. I’ve had 3 failed implantations and a CP with donor egg embryos in the last 18 months. We were lucky enough to have our little boy who is now 2 through our very first transfer but since then have been struggling. There was some suggestion that there might be a niche in my c section scar during a scan for the last (cancelled) cycle so we decided to go and see Mr Lower in London for advice. Fortunately he said there was no problem with my scar but suggested that I have the Endometrio testing before any further transfers.

I’ve got an online consult with him later on today so I’m just wondering if there’s anything in particular you’d suggest me asking him based on my results? The Era has come back as pre receptive saying I need one more day of progesterone. The Emma has said I have 87.34% lactobaccilus (I know from this very helpful thread that it should be over 90%) and the Alice has said 0% to all the pathogens. The report says that they don’t suggest a repeat biopsy for any of the tests.

Mr Lower had already suggested I take Canesflor on an empirical basis 7 days on 7 days off, but I had only just started this before the biopsy (interrupted by my period which started just after I had started the 7 days) and obvs not after starting the progesterone, it was before I had started that.

Thanks very much for any advice x

Hi @KLM25 I'm not a fan of the ERA as it gave me inconsistent results and I had no implantation with the timing then I ignored it and did normal timing with a modified natural cycle and implanted. Can you do a modified natural cycle if you aren't already? There is evidence that over 80% lactobacillus is sufficient so your result is pretty normal, but taking the probiotics would be good to boost up levels. There are some better vaginal probiotics than canesflor but you have to order from USA: flora femme and vagibiom are good ones.

I hope this is the one @CailinInUK you deserve a low risk euploid now!

@CailinInUK Thank you! I hope you’ve recovered well post EC get positive news today on fertilisation rates. Have you already signed up for another cycle in September? Is it part of a package?

@Janefx40 Thank you so much. I am so anxious atm with the various twinges and very tiny brown spotting. I know I need to relax.

@Gardenlady543 @Enfys23@clhiu @2021ivfagain Thank you ladies for your well wishes and guidance on scanning timelines. The clinic have booked me in for a scan at 6 weeks.

@KLM25 Thank you and it’s great to see you on this thread.As I haven’t had those tests, sorry I’m unable to advise. I hope your call this afternoon goes well.

I had an itchy throat last night and this morning woke up with quite a sore throat. I feel groggy and not much energy to work. I hope it’ll pass. Has anyone experienced dull aches around the abdominal area as early as 4 weeks and tiredness this early on? I think I’ve dropped my calorie intake and lost a small amount of weight unintentionally so need to work on putting that back on.

@Spin101 sorry you're feeling unwell. Spotting is all normal. I think there are a lot of twinges in the early weeks and it's either implantation or could just be the body recovering from being poked and medicated during the cycle! Either way it's not anything to worry about.

Glad you have your cycle booked in now x

@Spin101 sorry I meant to say "glad you have your scan booked in now!"

I had blood tests today tsh, hcg and progesterone so hoping everything is ok. It’s an anxious time as with my son I had subchorionic haemorrhage so had weekly scans until week 12. That was so stressful.

The canesbalance seems to be working but there still seems to be some symptoms.

@Spin101 Twinges are normal. I’ve never had implantation bleeding but it is common.

@Janefx40 I am worried about lifting. My son is 2.5 years old. I just need to lift him out of his cot. How did you cope with lifting?

@2021ivfagain It probably makes no difference but I avoided lifting where possible. I would get her to stand I'm on something and lift her from there. DP would do most of the cot lifting but if I had to lift her I would just try to really bend my knees first and take the impact there as much as possible. But I wouldn't worry too much. The baby is in your uterus not your abs!!

@Spin101 I had implantation bleeding with 2 out of 3 pregnancies. It always feels scary seeing blood but it's nothing to worry about. X

@Gardenlady543 I think I’m gonna test tomorrow morning as I’m working from home then although my OTD is technically Thursday, tomorrow should be 9dpt according to the clinic’s estimate and I think something would show on a FRER.
I’m NOT looking forward to it to be honest, having lots of symptoms, but telling myself they’re just progesterone ones more or less, was feeling rather optimistic till yesterday than this morning I had a slight drop in BBT and my RRH also dropped by one bpm since at the same time so I think that’s bad news. I put a dip from 3 days ago down to implantation, buy there shouldn’t be another one. I measured very early mind at 4.20am so over an hour earlier than the day before a much earlier than my standard…but my point as you can see is that I’m just torturing myself over symptoms so I’m gonna put myself out of my misery tomorrow morning I reckon.

@CailinInUK I hope it was good news with the fertilisation rate x

@clhiu I think it's fine to use a frer tomorrow but you should remember this is the very earliest that a positive might show, so you're not out if it's negative.

@2021ivfagain I have my fingers crossed, when do you get the results?

@clhiu Good luck with testing. I ended up taking 6 tests! I know how difficult it can be.

@Janefx40 Luckily he can walk down the stairs and refuses to sit in his high chair so I will not be lifting much. Will bring nappies downstairs.

@Gardenlady543 Will not get results until tomorrow. I’m hoping everything is ok.

Thanks so much for the advice @Gardenlady543. I have my doubts about the ERA too, given that my first ever transfer which was 5 days of progesterone and then the transfer on day 6 gave us our son. This result is saying 135 hours so if my calculations are correct, it’s not suggesting to start the prog much earlier than that anyway. With this mock cycle, I started the progesterone at night rather than in the morning. We’ll see. I’m happy to try something new after all the failed transfers this year.

We’re currently in the process of moving our three frozen embryos from our previous clinic in Prague to a new clinic in Barcelona. I’ve reached the age limit for treatment in the Czech Republic but I have a few more years grace in Spain thankfully! It’s been a stressful time with the transportation but I’m hoping we’re almost there now 🙏

I’ve never done a natural modified cycle, only medicated, but the doctor at my new clinic has suggested it as an option. I’m unsure about it due to my age and the worry that my cycles won’t be regular enough. I’ve done transfer after transfer since having my son (some have been cancelled) so it’s been hard to tell if my periods are still fairly regular as I’ve been on medication for a lot of that time. Hopefully they are and it might be worth a try. Thanks for the advice regarding the Canesflor and the alternatives. Mr Lower said similar about the 80% lactobacillus so that’s reassuring.

It’s a tough one to weigh up - on the one hand I’m thankful that I won’t need antibiotics and a repeat biopsy but on the other hand, I feel like we still haven’t got a reason for the failed implantations other than the Era, which I’m not totally sure about, as you say.

Thank you @Spin101. The call went well although it was quite a short one! Mr Lower said he is happy to work alongside my new clinic in Spain and scan me mid cycle, so I feel quite happy about that as he knows my history now.
Sorry to hear you’re not feeling too well. I had lots of twinges at this stage, so I think that’s completely normal, although I know it’s really disconcerting. I also caught a cold and felt exhausted so I think that’s very normal too. I hope the days pass quickly until you can have your scan as I think that will give you a lot of reassurance ❤️ x

@clhiu good luck tomorrow morning. It's not a nice feeling waiting to test I know. 9dpt is equivalent to 14dpo so should be accurate especially on a FRER which is super sensitive. Will be thinking of you x