ERA EMMA ALICE

[Sera9]

Hello!
I would like to hear from anyone who has had any of these tests ERA EMMA or ALICE.
Did they help?
Thanks 😊

Check out these threads

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/infertility/4861183-era-emma-alice-testing-thread-9

Hi, I’ve just had the EMA, ALICE and ERA a month ago. I’ve had 4 failed transfers of good quality embryos and everything always looks good but they never stick.

I just got my results. ERA said i was pre receptive and need an extra 24 hours of progesterone. So I’ll be transferring on day 7 of progesterone rather than day 6.

ALICE found no bad bacteria.

EMA found no good bacteria. 0% lactobacilli which is needed for pregnancy. I had antibiotics in December and think it wiped out my good bacteria. This doesn’t explain the previous implantation failures though. But this is good to know as I know I have to get lots of probiotics in there before my next transfer. I think that’s going to be in a few weeks so my concern is whether that’s enough time for my bacteria to build up.

I’m glad I did the biopsy. All my embryos have been transferred a day early so thank god I know that before I continue. Hopefully this will make a difference.

I’ve been searching for people with similar results and trying to find out if it worked out for them but it’s hard to find people with these experiences.

good luck x

Hello - just had my Era Emma and Alice results.
Era says an extra day of progesterone needed.
Alice and Emma show 0% lactobacilli
and an abundance of streptococcai.
Starting antibiotics and then probiotics after.
Any success stories with these results without a retest?
My consultant thinks we should just do the treatment and go straight for a frozen transfer.

Thank you for any feedback xx

Hi @Sera9 I had the same Emma/Alice result as you and the same ERA. I took antibiotics and probiotics and repeated a few months later and then retested and my good bacteria was 75%. I kept taking probiotics and did a transfer a month later using the timing of the ERA which was successful. I am now trying for a sibling and did another Emma/Alice and got the same result (0% good, high strep) I took the same antibiotics and probiotics and the retest showed no change. So I guess it can go either way. I am waiting on the results of my retest after stronger antibiotics and if there is no improvement my consultant wants to go ahead with transfer but add antibiotics into my protocol.

so I guess what I’m saying is it could be worth doing at least one re biopsy - if it improves great and you have that information to inform you if your FET is successful or isn’t and if biopsy shows no improvement you’ve more information to make a decision or to add antibiotics to FET if you go ahead!

Hi, would you mind telling me what probiotics did you take? Was it vaginal or oral?

Hi @TinkerTinkerbelle i am wondering how you got on with the transfer after the testing etc? I’ve had 4 failed transfers and am looking to pay privately for these tests.

Thanks in advance

@Laurenm1990 Hi, After the EMA, Alice and ERA I had lots of probiotics and an extra day of progesterone- so my 5th transfer was on day 7. I was sceptical but it worked! BFP and I’m 33 weeks pregnant x

Thank you so much for your reply and congratulations to you 🎉. Do you think that it all helped? Can I ask how long you were on the probiotics before the transfer? Did you mimic what drugs etc you took on the ERA for the embryo transfer? Sorry for all the questions.

thanks in advance x

@Laurenm1990 It definitely helped! I don’t think the transfer would have worked otherwise as it turns out all my transfers had been too early. The biopsy showed that I was pre-receptive and needed an extra day of progesterone. My clinic took this seriously and timed it exactly. I followed the exact same medication protocol down to timings - it was just the extra day of progesterone. I had 3 weeks of probiotics but I used LOADS - I didn’t follow the one a day instructions. I used 3 a day canesflor vaginal probiotics before my transfer. X

Thank you so much for all your helpful information! I am definitely going to go ahead with it all now. Thanks so much! One last question I promise, were all those probiotics prescribed to you or did you buy off the internet? If so would you mind sharing what ones you purchased!

thanks so much again
xx

@Laurenm1990 you’re welcome ☺️

I used Canesflor - I was recommended them by my consultant but bought them myself off Amazon. I used 3 a day. But I have seen on forums people saying you can’t get it anymore. I think just try to get any vaginal probiotic you can and lots of it - you can’t use too much and it needs to establish. When I tried using one a day it didn’t work - I had to up it to 3. Good luck x

@Laurenm1990 I didn't do EMMA or ALICE but did vaginal microbiom test twice. The first time I had only 2 percent lactobacillus. I then changed my oral probiotic to Fem Dophilus Advanced, and Physioflor. I started on vaginal probiotics as well.

Canesflor has been discontinued in the UK. I buy Vagibiom from the USA and they are very good (they are very expensive in the UK). They have different strains of lactobacillus including crispatus, which is apparently very good for fertility. By contrast, Canesflor had only one strain.

After 4 weeks my lactobacillus increased to 84 percent. So these things definitely helped improve my situation.

Thank you so much @Serendipity24 for your help and reply! Xx

Thank you so much @TinkerTinkerbelle xxx