ERA EMMA ALICE testing thread 10

[Gardenlady543]

Last thread is maxed out... happy for anyone new to join to chat about anything ERA EMMA ALICE or pretty much anything else fertility investigations and treatment related

@2021ivfagain @Enfys23 @clhiu @CailinInUK @Loz2467 @Mybabydream @ChickenT2b @kerrym87 @Sar1010 @thislittlebird @APSR @VenusStarr
@Dochas12111 @SallyLovelady @Lyrabee @Lauralozzle @Sera9 @Twigg12 @Wren123 @Summerishere83 @Vicky81B

@Enfys23 yes upping the dose like that is what I did, I went from 75mcg to 100mcg. It should be your gp testing and keeping an eye on your thyroid, but they clearly won't do it in your case. You can order this one www.medichecks.com/products/thyroid-function-blood-test I just ordered one with this discount code KNOJI10

There aren't really pregnancy ranges, but fertility wise you want tsh under 2.5 so should probably aim around there for pregnancy as well. T3 and T4 you can use the usual range. I became hyperthyroid during pregnancy so it's important to have regular tfts in pregnancy and midwives won't see you at all until booking and then don't see you much until towards the end of pregnancy.

Hi there, hope you don’t mind me jumping on.

I was wondering if anyone has changed clinics in order to do the EMMA/ALICE tests, and if so what your outcome was?

My situation is I’m 34, no known fertility issues. 1 egg retrieval last year - 8 eggs - 3 blastocyst embryos all BFNs. None left. No idea if it’s my egg quality or something with my uterus or total bad luck. Current clinic don’t offer EMMA/ALICE so unable to gauge if they are indicated, but really want to be well informed before I do a second egg retrieval.

any advice anyone has is really appreciated. Wishing you all the best of luck x

@Gardenlady543 thank you.

@enfys23 just catching up and wanted to say I have everything crossed for you. 🤞🏼

@Quickdraw23 you may not need to change clinic. I think Dr Gorgy in London does the EMMA ALICE, so you could go to him just for that or look at other places who could just do this test. There is an alternative, the full female microbiome test here uses menstrual fluid: www.fertilysis.com/tests/female-infections/fertilysis-female-microbiome

@cailininuk we've got 4 from 13 fertilised, waiting results, should be back next Monday at latest 🫣

Thank you @ChickenT2b hope you’re feeling okay.

@Gardenlady543 @CailinInUK so helpful thank you! I’ve ordered the medichecks. Pretty shocked at my GP tbh. I am finding my HR is up on my Fitbit and sometimes feel it’s up a bit/more reactive on small exertion, so hope I’ve not overdone it with increasing the levo and yes super important is checked. Sleep is slightly better with pred now! I’ll get TFTs for now and hopefully do one in 4 weeks.

Hi all, for some reason I didn’t get the tag on the new thread - had to go on a hunt to find you all!

@CailinInUK thanks for the well wishes! Going for my (3rd!!!) biopsy start of March. Really hoping for some improvement! are you all set for March? How are you feeling about it?

@Enfys23 how are you doing?

I came on to post this new probiotic I found - I am currently taking optibac and physioflor oral probiotic but they’re giving me awful indigestion so I’m on the hunt for something new - this one looks great - 60 billion strains. Just thought I’d share in case anyone was interested.

https://www.thefitclinicnutrition.com/product-page/natures-plus-gi-nutra-probio-women

@Dochas12111 I really hope your biopsy is good and you can transfer soon!
Thanks for sharing.
I am doing okay, trying to keep distracted. Scan is booked for Wednesday. Just have to hope for the best now. I did check another urine test (had the tiniest brown discharge when wiped on Wednesday so panicked but think was just from the progesterone pessaries and nothing since) and lines seem a lot darker so there’s definitely an increase in levels. Just hope it’s enough.

@Gardenlady543 Thanks for the add.

@Dochas12111 Thanks for the link. I’m currently taking optibac but they do look good!

@Enfys23 Fingers crossed for you.

My last post was quite some time ago after our 3rd failed transfer.

Following that the consultant advised doing a ANA test (antinuclear antibodies). That came back negative so still have no idea why I’ve yet to see a BFP.

I’m currently in a cycle for our fourth transfer and last embryo. Day 6 expanded blast. Quality is 2.2 apparently (I hate that CARE have a different grading system). I’m not sure how I feel about it, it’s a day 6, the day 5s haven’t worked so I’m not getting my hopes up for this one.

We’re doing a natural-ish FET this time, I triggered on Wednesday and started progesterone today. Blood test Tuesday to check levels and transfer (all going well) on Wednesday.

If this one doesn’t work I imagine we’ll be down for a whole host of tests before the next egg collection.

@Enfys23 that's great news! I also did a random test about a week before my scan just to give myself some reassurance which it luckily did. I have everything crossed. What weeks gestation will you be by the scan?

@Lauralozzle best of luck for Wednesday. Try not to over focus on the grades now. I know it’s not easy. You’re doing everything you can.

@Gardenlady543 I’ll be 6+2 on the scan date. They’ve said they want to check it’s intrauterine but have stressed they’re not expecting to see HB by then, just a bonus if we do, and will then schedule us a week later if all well. I flip from feeling like maybe this is happening to catastrophising completely. But I guess that’s normal and distraction is helping for sure.

Hi all, sorry have been trying to ready through lots of the prior EMMA/ALICE threads but just wanted your thoughts on tests - I’ve seen lots written about the EMMA/ALICE and the Fertilysis tests, but I’ve just found the uterine microbiome offered by the Serum clinic in Greece for €300. Has anyone used this? Is it similar to the other two tests? I’ve contacted them to ask if they still accept posted samples as I can’t get to Greece to submit, but on the off chance they do I wondered if it was a reputable test to do? It seems to look at lacto strains and check for endometrisis.

I’ve just had 3 failed FETs and looking at implantation issues so intrigued by the uterine biome tests. Clinic has been vague and just said do your own research to decide if you want one.

I have also just started taking a course of Canesflor but after about 3 days I have developed horrible thrush and have had to abandon the suppositories. Is this a common side-effect, if so what do you do? Try a different brand or just power through to get the probiotics in there?

Sorry for late night ramble. I’ve just seen another pregnancy announcement on fb and it’s sent me into a ‘need to know everything and get my life in order or I’ll never get pregnant’ panic. Thank you.

Hi @OceanSunday I haven’t done the serum test but I have heard about people doing it who have then been treated and had a successful test so I do think it’s reliable. I would be asking what they test for though - if just infection it could be worth doing a different test as there is increasing evidence that good bacteria is also important and if you just text for infection you won’t know whether that is an issue.

unfortunately I’m not sure what to do re thrush and Canesflor. Maybe someone else will know!

very best of luck in your scan @Enfys23 hopefully the week will go quickly and you will get some clarity. Fingers crossed for you!

@OceanSunday are you sure it's thrush? the pessary will break down and you will get a thick white discharge from it.

@Enfys23 good luck for tomorrow, I'll be thinking of you.

Good luck for tomorrow @Lauralozzle :)

@Gardenlady543 been admitted with left tubal ectopic 😓started with pain and some bleeding yesterday

@Enfys23 oh my god, are you ok, have you had the scan yet, is it confirmed not intrauterine?!

So so sorry to hear this @Enfys23. I was just checking in hoping you had good news. Life can be very unfair. You will get through this ❤️

@Enfys23 so sorry to hear this :(. I hope you’re ok.

I’m so so sorry to hear of this outcome @Enfys23 , it’s so incredibly unfair, there really are no words. I hope they’re taking good care of you and do what’s needed to keep you safe and allowing you to move forward as soon as you’re ready for it. X

@Gardenlady543 @Dochas12111 @ChickenT2b @clhiu sorry for not writing sooner. I’ve not been in best place emotionally.
I’m still admitted under observation. They did a rescan today and found free fluid so initially the drs wanted to take me to emergency theatre this afternoon especially as my pain more persistent and bleeding heavier. But they then had another look at my scans and feel that there’s still a chance this resolves itself/with medical treatment so I’m still in limbo right now and being reviewed on ward round tomorrow, and being kept nil by mouth, unless anything changes overnight.
They are all shit options though, poison your body for any pregnancy for over 3 months (methotrexate) and still a risk of needing surgery , take probably at least a couple of months to resolve with expectant management and still feeling like ticking time bomb that may go off at any time and not being able to draw a line under things for a long time, or emergency surgery and lose tube and create more scar tissue that may lead to another ectopic… so hard to know when they give you these options! I just want this to not be happening.

I'm so sorry @Enfys23 what an awful outcome and even more awful that you're in limbo with the treatment options :(

@Enfys23 I’m so so sorry. I’ve been struggling lately and have just read your post. My heart goes out to you. Please take one day at a time. When I had the missed miscarriage, I was in a state of shock. I think you just need to allow yourself to process everything.

@Enfys23 I had expectant management to prevent scarring. I did have a bit of tissue left over but needed a hysteroscopy on nhs to resolve it. No scarring. I know this is a horrible time for you at the moment. We’re all here for you. ❤️

@Enfys23 I am so incredibly sorry. :( that feeling of hope of finally getting somewhere to being just feeling back to broken. Sending so many hugs. X

@Gardenlady543 @2021ivfagain @Loz2467
really appreciate the kind words and thoughts. We’ve settled on trying expectant management. I was all teed up for surgery on Friday mornings emergency list as they found free fluid on the rescan and worried about bleeding. But then consultant reviewed everything again and said because things look stable we could still try for expectant management. So they’ve kept me in for monitoring and bloods. Have scan and bloods again Monday.

Just want it to be over. But equally I know surgery is not good esp so soon after last and methotrexate would be devastating for me if 4-6 months wait to TTC again.