ERA EMMA ALICE testing thread 9

[Gardenlady543]

@2021ivfagain @Enfys23 @clhiu @CailinInUK @Spin101 @Loz2467 @Mybabydream @Janefx40 @ChickenT2b @kerrym87 @Sar1010 @AM08 @thislittlebird @IVF22 @APSR
@Faithhopelove83 @KLM25 @VenusStarr
@BewilderedBee @Dochas12111 @seven201 @StillWishingHoping

We've maxed out the other one so here's thread 9 😊

Huge congratulations @Gardenlady543 🥰. You deserve her so much. Wishing you a speedy recovery from the c-section xx

You did it @Gardenlady543!! Welcome to the world baby girl, you are so wanted and so loved.

@Gardenlady543 huge congratulations 👏🏼 💕 so happy for you. You’re not allowed to leave us though, you know? 😂

@Sar1010 congratulations to you too 😌.

Two more natural cycles for us before we start our first round of IVF. Awaiting lad results post two sessions of LIT and hubbys DFI retest post 3 months of supplements and zero alcohol. Microbiome retesting pending also but fertilysis are very slow at the moment! That’s all from me !

@Gardenlady543 gorgeous news. Enjoy and I wish you a smooth recovery and transition into motherhood, so lovely for you.

@clhiu
20mg prednisolone from FET and I believe until I get to 12 weeks. No other immune treatment but I was going to book dr gorgy if this transfer had failed as I’m certain my immune has been the issue. Though nothing showed up on my ERA EMA ALICE.

@kerrym87 a few quite big differences this time round:
it was a naturally modified FET cycle only using estrogen from CD11 I was very apprehensive about this
I really upped my protein, went to the gym more and ate kefir everyday and drank kombucha but also was way more lenient with eating takeaways & junk this time. Think I’d given up in that respect.
had Laporoscopy in September which removed very very early stages of endometriosis
acupuncture day before and 2 days after FET
Therapy - I was much more happier going into this transfer and had started to heal a little from the all failed years and attempts (this is still a massive working progress and a lot is coming up now which i did not expect! )
the euploid embryo was low-ish grade 4cc but had been PGTA tested but this meant our expectations were definitely lowered.
canesflor for 7 days straight after period stopped then continued 1 a week after FET. I’ve stopped now because nobody has given me clear answer to whether it can cause any harm.
mr Davies (director of evewell) actually did the transfer himself
put on Aspirin 75mg and Clexane from 1dpt
oh and a glass of pomegranate juice every day post transfer, hot water bottle on feet every day, stayed very still 1-2DPT but after that just got on with normal stuff (this is very different from last 2 transfers- I stayed on the space for almost a week for both of them because I was worried I’d do too much)
Oh and finally I reduced all my supplements down to just folate and vitamin d.
I think that’s everything

s x

Wonderful news @Gardenlady543 💖

Thanks everyone :)

@ChickenT2b I have spent too long over the years reading up on the microbiome to disappear!!

@Gardenlady543 Congratulations

Huge congrats @Gardenlady543 I am so so delighted for you!!!!

happy new year everyone - I hope we all have a successful year. This thread is going so long I’ve lost track of all the people currently responding! Would anyone be interested in a recap?

if so my history is - here since the first thread. 5 years, 3 clinics, 6 rounds of IVF to get a BFP with my now 18 month old. I’m 38 now and trying again. I have 3 frozen embryos all are poor quality. Planing a transfer of best embryo then another egg collection. My emma/Alice has come back 0% good bacteria, antibiotics didn’t make a difference and second biopsy was the same. I’m now on stronger antibiotics and will do a repeat biopsy in Feb.

side note - do others take probiotics while taking antibiotics? I previously waited until all antibiotics were done then took the vaginal and oral probiotics but I’m wondering if that’s wrong and I should be taking them both together and continuing the probiotics after!

@Dochas12111 so quite often it's advised to take probiotics with courses of antibiotics as long as you space them out from the antibiotic. The idea to take vaginal probiotics while on them comes from the fertilysis doctor treatment plans, I've attached an example of one.

Thanks @Gardenlady543 I’ve started doing antibiotic in the morning, optibac and physioflor oral tablet in afternoon, antibiotic in evening, Canesflor pessary at night! Hoping upping everything will help! I presume you can’t overdose on probiotics 😃😃

I was reading a thread about the microbiome on the Irish infertility website - I thought I could post it here in case anyone was interested. One girl got from 0-100% good bacteria without antibiotics!

https://rollercoaster.ie/community/fertility-issues/lactobacillus-information/

Huge congrats @Gardenlady543 so well deserved after everything!

I’ve tried to read the last couple of pages to see where everyone is up to and I’m sorry I’ve been AWOL.

Our 4th transfer happened to “work” until it came crashing down on Wednesday when we went to our 13 weeks scan only to be told the news AGAIN. “I’m sorry there is no heartbeat”. We had our clinic scan at 7+4 which was correct with my transfer date. Another scan at 9+3 which was 27th December. Had all my antenatal and booking in and managed to get all the referrals to Tommys rainbow clinic etc. I literally had a bump! Thought I was pregnant! So another MMC. 3 weeks previous the baby had stopped and my body had no idea yet again. The same as what happened exactly 3 years ago but at 18 weeks.

we Are just devastated and I know now isn’t for making any decisions but I’m 99% sure we are done. It’s been 3 years of “exisiting” and 20k down. I can’t do it any longer.

I feel like I did so much for this transfer. Down regulation, added intralipids every 4 weeks. Had Predisolone 20mg. Inhixia 20mg. Both types of prog: lubion and cyclogest. Infact tons of prog because of my adenomyosis! Then added asprin at 7 weeks.

If we did decide to continue in the future do you think seeing Gorgy would be helpful?

Im having the baby tested and also bloods done because it’s our third loss.

i just can’t understand this is so so unfair and I finally thought we had cracked it.

this was an “early blast” and I’ve got 3 early blasts left and a full cycle paid for but I just can’t do it. Xx

@Loz2467 my heart is breaking hearing this, I am so sorry, this makes me so sad. I do think seeing Dr Gorgy will be helpful as you already had steroids and intralipids so maybe something more specialised needs to be used, this will involve a lot of tests I'd imagine. I think testing the baby would be useful. Have you done this before? For progesterone you could look into adding PIO. Once again, I'm so sorry, thinking of you.

I am so so sorry to hear this 💔 @Loz2467 thinking of you and your DH as you try to find a way through this ❤️

Thank you @Enfys23 . Have you started your down regulation? Is that where you was up to?

@Gardenlady543 yeah I’m thinking If we do decide to go ahead again (which I think will be unlikely). I need to get proper immunes testing incase my steroid and intralipids weren’t enough. Is it worth any infection testing? Or not really if I got to 9 and a half weeks. Is it more likely immunes? Or the baby? :( I’m just so so sad.

I knew it was a long journey ahead but I thought the first trimester was done. I’m so down about it.

@Loz2467 I am so sorry to hear this, it's utterly utterly heart shattering and there are no words about how the world comes crashing down on you when you hear those words at a scan, especially when you've done so much, completely unfair 💔
Testing the tissues should indeed give you some answers as to whether it was likely an immune issue or not at least. May I ask if this was PGT-A tested and would you consider that on your remaining embryos if not?
Sending love and strength and hope you have a good support network around you as you go through this difficult moment x

I’m so so sorry for your loss @Loz2467 devastating for you both. I have no advice as I don’t know much about immunology but I would say give yourself time before making any big decisions. ❤️

@Loz2467 I'm not sure how much infection testing will help, I had done 3 tests but then I didn't have any tests for about 18 months and had multiple collections and the fibroid surgery and didn't restart. I just knew that it tended to be BV so treated it the cycle before and then did the doxycycline for 3 days around the transfer time. I think it would have to be a really awful infection to cause this loss and the last one, and it would have been picked up already. Honestly, I am devastated for you :(

@Loz2467 I am so sorry its happened to you again. Just take all the time you need to process it and what path you want to take later may become more clear. Lots of hugs x

Quick question regarding canesflor...I take 1 a week now after treating reduced lactobavillus. How done go about it in regards to egg collection possibly Wednesday or Friday. What's best to do with this, pessary due today. Didn't do this last cycle so unsure

@kerrym87 probably space it out a few days before the planned collection and then hold off for a few days after. They will be going through your vagina with a needle so you don't want to be putting things in your vagina really for a day or two to give it a chance to heal.

@Loz2467 thinking of you both a lot

@kerrym87 best of luck with egg collection. How are you feeling? I do hope this protocol works better for you.

Update from me is that we have had lots of advice from 3 specialists now, who all suggest to give natural conception a go for a few months given the extent of work to remove the endo and the hope that this was the main issue which is now addressed. I guess with my poor response, IVF hasn’t worked that well for us but I still haven’t felt that comfortable with not proceeding to more IVF in a hurry, especially with age ticking up. However with post op complications, also not felt ready for IVF just yet.

Some have said try for 6 months others 3 - I’m a lot more comfortable with reviewing situation in March than leaving things too long and having regrets. But also trying to be positive that the surgery may have made a big difference. We are both using this time anyway as a big 12 week push on diet, exercise, following it starts with the egg advice etc etc so even if doesn’t work out we then feel time worth spent to put ourselves in best position for next IVF. You might remember as well that Mr Ramsay’s clinic said my DH should ejaculate daily for best DNA frag/morphology - so he is complaining how tiring this is by now 😂. I’ve still been sore so have been mixing things up by also using the TwoPlus applicator extra fertility kits some days, as I’m doing work with a pelvic floor physio post op and she’s keen I don’t upset my muscles by pushing through any slight discomfort. So will see how we go.

I was told by Prof Brosens I could start pred as soon as have early positive test but didn’t want me going on and off pred like a yo-yo given I’d be trying every month; which makes sense. Though it does leave me in the murky realms of early testing. But I am wondering if I just use some of the progesterone I have left to supplement post ovulation. Do people usually start straight after with timed intercourse? I’m nervous to start too early and disrupt ovulation. Or maybe I should just check bloods and boost if low. Hard to know!

How are you doing @CailinInUK and @Dochas12111 ?

@2021ivfagain been thinking of you and really hope things are a bit better at home.

@Gardenlady543 I hope life with the new bubba is settling in well 💖

Missed your update @Sar1010 lovely news hope all going well xx

@clhiu I didn’t have the embryos tested. I had 7 and this was my 4th one. I was planning on using these and for my next cycle which I’ve already paid for collecting and PGT testing straight away but being honest im not going to get anywhere near that point. I’m just so physically, mentally, emotionally and financially drained after the last 3 years and the later losses and IVF. I know we all feel it in this group.

I think immunes would be a good thing to explore or even if I can get under Tommy at st Mary’s and get another opinion and maybe get some hydroxyclorine but I just think we are done. I haven’t really lived my life at all and struggled.

@Dochas12111 @kerrym87 thank you!

@Enfys23 thank you! Can’t believe 3 years and history is repeating itself: I was naive and thought we’d cracked the first trimmester. It’s just devastating.

I think that sounds like a good plan re trying naturally. I’m assuming you had a lot of endo removed? I often wondered how the pred works in natural cycles. I was always told to start cyclogest at 2 days past ovulation or even 3. No earlier as it can disrupt it so you’d need to monitor it closely.

The Dr I saw when I had to make my choices about the baby so not option for surgical D N C because it will irritate and may worsen my adeno. He said how come you’ve gone to IVF and I said since my adeno I can’t get pregnant naturally, so then he says many women with adeno get pregnant naturally: yes many do! But I don’t! I tried 2 years including medicated cycles and adding prog; my partner thinks we might be one of the lucky ones! Absolutely not!

@Gardenlady543 im worrying it could of been BV as I didn’t treat as a just incase for that. I only did the doxy then the vaginal probiotics and then the oral probiotics. I’m just so upset and worried it could have been something so simple like this which may of been avoided.

@Enfys23 better than last time but not up to working now (Neonatal Sister 12 hour shifts!) Collection Friday or saturday, this time less follicles bit nice even growth, private treatment is amazing and they are so caring, world's away from my nhs experience. This makes me so sad as an nhs nurse as the level of care I'm getting now is what we do fornour parents and babies on the ward so it was a rude awakening!

@Loz2467 it was suggested by clinical director at this clinic we have pgta due to history of severe embryo fragmentation and I'm nearly 37 with poor quality eggs, pcos and endo. We've also paid for 2 cycles package but can't proceed to 2nd one until transferred any frozen, however we have only ever had 2 embryos transferable out of 23 fertilised. Just take any time you need to process your loss and what you want to to will become clearer in time, there's no need to think that far ahead yet. Sending biggest hugs x

Hi - I’m just starting a cycle for the endometrio - era Emma Alice test.
I have some questions please, if anyone has any personal experiences…
Is the biopsy painful? I’m a wimp.
Has anyone here with high estrogen had the test please?
Is it possible to have the test and delay a FET for a few months or do the test results for receptivity only stand valid for the next cycle ? I mean can you have the test once and the results be used for all future FET because your receptivity window won’t naturally change?

Thank you xx