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 😊

Thanks @Gardenlady543 that’s really helpful. Number vs activity is important isn’t it. Does Prof Brosens clinic mainly use pred/clexane/aspirin anyway do you know? As then def seems limited for me given I’m on bits anyway empirically. My DH isn’t too sure about us seeing an RI. He’s worried about potential health impacts on me of various “stronger” treatments, he already had mixed feelings about me having to take pred and clexane, which I can get. Bit more research and talking it through I guess.

@Enfys23

This was the report they send me:

The results suggest some cycle-to-cycle variability in the preparation of the lining for pregnancy but not a heightened inflammatory response during the implantation window.

On basis of the clinical presentation and previous endometrial assessment, I suggest the following treatment plan:

1. Mid-luteal endometrial biopsy (‘endometrial scratch’) – this was performed on the day of uNK cell testing.
2. Progesterone support as instructed by the Fertility Team.
3. Our uNK cell test indicates that prednisolone is not warranted.
4. We advise against taking aspirin in the early stages of pregnancy (before 7 weeks) as it may interfere with the preparation of the lining of the womb for pregnancy.
5. We recommend early pregnancy scans from 6-7 weeks onwards to check on fetal development and viability.

This was back in November 2021. There was a waiting list to be seen and then several months to do the biopsies and then a review appointment and the report, so it was quite a while that it took pursuing this and I mean it didn't add anything.

Thanks so much for sharing this @Gardenlady543

@Gardenlady543 I am worried about my scan tomorrow. The last few days I have started having mild nausea but last night and this morning my symptoms have reduced a lot. I am still needing to wake up early to wee but it’s worrying. My mother in law is coming with us to look after our son so my husband can go with me. I really am worried.

@2021ivfagain I'm sorry you're feeling so worried. It is such an anxious time regardless of worrying about symptoms. The only way of finding out what is going on is at that scan but it is terrifying. I felt like I was walking towards my execution every time I got scanned. It is so so hard and it takes so much courage. All I can say is that I've been there and been through it and you have my support - you have all of our support as you go through it.

I have everything crossed that things are going ok in there xxx

Good luck @Spin101 I'm thinking of you today ❤️

@Enfys23 Thank you ❤️ I hope you’re making progress with your clinic search

@Gardenlady543 Thank you ❤️
Why did Dr Gorgy advise you to start aspirin? Did you start it at 10 weeks? How many weeks are you now?
I’m so sorry you have to deal with this horrible person at work. It must be horrible having to see and deal with with them. If they continue to be unprofessional, could you raise a case, even if you have done so in the past?

@clhiu Thank you ❤️ Keeping sane yesterday was imposible. Thank you and for outlining all of that information regarding aspirin! I asked today at the clinic and it was a case of you can take it if you want to but it’s not included in any of their protocols. So I’m still a bit stuck

@2021ivfagain Thank you ❤️ I hope your scan goes well tomorrow! My nausea comes and goes so I hope it’s nothing for you to worry about.

Thank you all for your well wishes. My scan went well today. I was a nervous wreck yesterday evening. We saw the foetal pole, measurements looked ok and we saw the heart beat. It was so surreal.

@Gardenlady543 @2021ivfagain @Janefx40 Which prenatal are/did you using/use? I’ve just run out of the pregnacare pre conception which I finished off and am really stuck on which one to buy. I started reading Brain Health so am trying to find ones with the vitamins she mentions. Any views on Proceive? I’m also wondering if 1000 - 2000 IU a day is sufficient. In the book she mentions 60-80ng/ml is a good range to aim for in pregnancy so I think you’ve done the right thing @Gardenlady543.

I hope everyone else is doing well x

@Spin101 I've been coming back all day to see your update!! So glad it went well. I think in general low dose aspirin is recommended to prevent pre eclampsia. I started it after I asked Dr Gorgy but I'm sure I could have started it before. I was on LWMH so I don't think it made much difference early on. Unfortunately the person at work is high up and I'm sure they would be protected, I have people coming to me crying because of the way they speak to them :( it used to be such a friendly place to work.

I use this one NATURELO Prenatal Multivitamin - Natural Vitamins & Minerals Including Active Folate, Iron & Calcium - Essential Nutrients During Pregnancy & Conception - No GMOs - 180 Vegan Capsules | 2 Month Supply amzn.eu/d/1i9NurL

You have to take three a day but I like it as it has methylfolate in rather than folate.

I hope everyone else is doing ok, @2021ivfagain thinking of you for tomorrow ❤️

@Gardenlady543 Aww bless you, you’re so sweet!! Sorry I didn’t message sooner! I think I will consider starting aspirin after I do more research.

I’m so sorry about this colleague. It’s a horrible situation to be in. I’ve left a job before because of a terrible manager so understand how unpleasant it must be.

I was looking at Naturelo too for the same reason you mentioned regarding folate. Do you think the vitamin a portion is ok, as I read something about not taking extra vit a supplements?

I was told to stop Progynova, patches and Cyclogest after 8 weeks. Does 8 weeks seem too early?

@Gardenlady543 Thanks. Nausea has returned a bit this evening as well as food smells! Very nervous about tomorrow.

@Spin101 8 weeks seems too early. It should be at least 10 weeks for lubion and cyclogest should be tapered. I take 3 a day. How many are you on?

I just take Pregnacare original for pregnancy. When I was pregnant with my son, nausea was so bad, I could no longer swallow tablets so had to use Pregnacare medicine liquid medicine. I used it right up until I gave birth. I also take prebiotic powder and Bio Me femme probiotic.

@Spin101 that’s wonderful news, very happy things are on track for you ❤️

@clhiu thank you ❤️ x

@Gardenlady543 I can post again now. It must have been a problem when I was travelling to London. The scan went well but I’m keeping an eye on progesterone as it keeps lowering. My next scan is 18th August. I was so anxious but had a lovely person who scanned me.

Great news @2021ivfagain . I know you still have a lot of worries, but this must feel like a positive step. Are you on cyclogest and Lubion already? Did they suggest anything else to help keeping your progesterone levels up?

That’s great news @2021ivfagain and @Spin101 really pleased to hear both your news

Sorry to butt in on the positive news, I have an ema/alice question I can't seem to find answer for. I had my biopsy a few weeks ago, got period Tuesday (slightly earlier than expected) slightly crampy but flow is like half what it normally is (have moon cup). What was everyone's experience?

@kerrym87 this is normal, they have taken some of your lining away so the period can be lighter.

@kerrym87 is this your first period since the biopsy or the second? My very first one came quite quickly, but was much lighter than normal as I was advised it may be so light to be more akin to spotting. I also had a hysteroscopy D&C in the same procedure so had even more removed. My second one as far as I recall was back to normal, but that effect may last for more than one period.

@Gardenlady543 @clhiu thanks, I thought that was why but they didn't tell me any of this. Its much lighter but I have had cramps for all 3 days less severe than usual but its usually only for one day. Weird! Gona ring next week to see if results are back then arrange follow up appt

How is everyone doing?

@kerrym87 hope you get your results soon.

I've got cellulitis from an insect bite so currently on doxycycline. Finally some nice weather and am stuck with my leg up! I’m guessing being on steroids (still on taper) didn’t help. Hope antibiotic doesn’t mess up my microbiome. Got a final review coming up and also some new patient assessments and consultations coming up this month. Hopefully will then have a plan moving forward.

@kerrym87 how was the EMMA/ALICE/ERA? I'm likely going to get it if this next transfer fails. I'm not sure what to expect in terms of timeline and procedure? Is it painful?

Hope you're feeling ok @Enfys23!

I'm anxious about the next transfer and struggling to see it working. I had a stressful week fretting about work/money/jobs, and I doubt I'll even get an offer lmao. The interview was OK, but I could not answer some of the questions. In a way I'm sort of hoping it takes the option away, but my limbo career situ still sucks.

Thank you @thislittlebird

The EMMA/ALICE/ERA was just like doing a transfer cycle in terms of the timeline, so you do whatever prep for lining as per your FET protocol, have a lining scan and progesterone check as per usual, then start progesterone, then instead of transfer on day 6 progesterone you do the biopsy. The procedure was quick and I was able to go to work after. I did find it quite uncomfortable during the procedure itself, but it was over with really quickly. Results for me took around 2 weeks. I had to wait a bit to discuss them but after pestering I got the paper report copy once it was back. In theory I could have prepped for a transfer straight away in the next cycle and just hope the results were back in time (which they were) and no microbiome treatment needed, but I was then also lined up for hysteroscopy at the time.

I’m sorry you’re feeling not so hopeful about the transfer. Where are you up to with things?
You never know, interviews are designed to have tricky questions, doesn’t mean you’re out. I really empathise on the feeling in a rut with career due to IVF. ❤️

@thislittlebird I just had ema/alice so if you want era too might be slightly different timing. For mine it was just between days 15-25 ideally d21-23 however for me I had to do it on d20 as was only time I could get down to london and the last day of week for immune stuff was the Wednesday. They had to take 2 samples which was very sore but over within 5 minutes. I really could have done with being a few days later (I don't usually ovulate until at least cd19-22) but there was no scans or prep for me as didn't do era

Anyone know much about sperm issues?
So we’ve always been told DH results “perfect”. We’ve just got all our clinic notes now. While the original SA was all in range, and the total number of sperm and progressive motility remain excellent, the morphology has dropped from the original 4% to 2-3% on recent samples. CARE didn’t do the sperm dna frag test any more just an indirect measure checking for oxidative stress (which was normal for DH). Just wonder if it’s something we should be asking new clinic to explore more, or is the fact his numbers of sperm and motile sperm are particularly high anyway mean he has plenty of normal sperm so the fact the percentage of abnormal is higher, doesn’t really matter. It does seem that when he’s had a fever/COVID that had the worst impact on it.