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

Thank you.
does anyone know if there any benefits to antibiotics for implantation In the run up to an fet cycle?
Because if not I might just skip it. I have been told In past that antibiotics are given as precautions to infections which are very low risk.

Hi, what vaginal probiotic are people using now and where do they get them from? I feel I should have got my microbiome retested ahead of this next cycle but I've left it too late so think il try with a vaginal probiotic in the lead up to egg collection and transfer. I used to use canesflor. I think I've seen people on here talk about vagibiome but no idea where people get it from, and flora femme - is that the libby Bido one? I'd be so grateful for your suggestions. Thanks

@BewilderedBee I buy Vagibiom from this website https://betterhealthinternational.net

Hi all, just checking in to see how things are.

@Gardenlady543 hope all ok with surrogate pregnancy

@Enfys23 thinking of you and hope you are doing ok

@2021ivfagain how are you getting on? Is the pregnancy confirmed twins?

Everyone else I hope you are all managing ok!

@Dochas12111 I was pregnant with twins but lost one at 8 weeks. I’m taking one day at a time and having weekly scans. Still waiting for a scan from the nhs. They actually forgot to refer me even though I had bloods done and spoke with a midwife who did the initial telephone appointment. It is scary.

I did not go on steroids due to my son bringing home viruses and I seem to have a low immune system now. Also I had low nk cells in endometrium so had treatment for that. I’m worried about all vaccines I need. All changed since I was pregnant with my son 4 years ago. Has anyone had covid vaccine in pregnancy and RSV?

@2021ivfagain I’m so sorry for your loss. I hope the other twin is a fighter. Definitely need to take it one day at a time. How many weeks are you now? They recommend weaning off steroids after 12 weeks anyway in most cases so if you are nearly there it would seem you have managed without them?

I had the covid, flu and whooping cough vaccines all on the same day around 17 weeks - I was exhausted and a bit flu like for the weekend but then ok. RSV isn’t offered here but if it was I would take it as I presume baby will get some immunity. Just try do them on a Friday so you can rest over weekend. I’ve had scans since and all ok with both me and pregnancy. I’m 25 weeks now.

edited to add I also had all these vaccines with my toddler and no adverse impacts. Toddler actually got Covid at 3 months old but was barely affected so I think the immunity I passed on helped there.

@Dochas12111 so pleased things going smoothly for you and hope you’re feeling okay?

Thanks for checking in.
I felt very down facing the due date of our ectopic pregnancy loss in October and having such a disastrous cycle in September. However the clinic did agree to use our old stim protocol and we have had a much better result this time with 4 eggs (about my usual no collected), 100% mature eggs fertilised and we have had a 5AA hatching blast transferred 7 days ago. Also have a 5AB in the freezer. One was a 3CB and apparently our clinic doesn’t freeze at that grade which I was disappointed about. So more like our usual egg to good quality blast ratio from before. It was agonising waiting for day 5 call after what happened last time with having no embryos survive. My worry is my lining was thin though at 6mm though they said looks healthy and trilaminar. Trying not to go too crazy in 2WW currently. Progesterone giving me lots of boob and cramp symptoms which make it hard to ignore!!

@2021ivfagain I am sorry to hear one of the twins didn’t make it 💔. Hope the other goes from strength to strength.

@Enfys23 @Dochas12111 Thank you.

I’m not on steroids. I opted not to have them. I’m pleased I did as feeling like I have a bad throat at present.

@Dochas12111 That’s reassuring about the vaccines. Did you have high nk cells in blood? Mine were slightly high but I didn’t think high enough to warrant steroids. Didn’t use steroids with my pregnancy with my son.

@Enfys23 I’m pleased you had a transfer. 5AA is a good grade. I never had that grade. My clinic uses pluses and minuses. I’m keeping my fingers crossed for you. 5AB is also very good. Could you ask for oestrogen? My lining was always too thick but the cycle where two implanted I had the thinnest lining ever! It shrunk down to between 9mm and 10.2mm.

@Dochas12111 I don’t like looking too far ahead as it scares me. I’m 11 weeks 5 days today andthe surviving twin is usually measuring 4 days ahead.

Delighted you had a good round @Enfys23 and back to responding similarly to how you did. It infuriates me when clinics are so quick to blame egg quality when something goes wrong. Fingers crossed for a successful outcome from the transfer.
Will you test early or do a HCG?

@2021ivfagain my NK were slightly high so I was on a low dose of steroids until 12 weeks. So it sounds like you’re nearly there anyway. I get what you mean about taking it day by day. But it’s good to acknowledge things are going well for you right now.

@Dochas12111 how are you getting on? We're doing good, surrogate is 14.5 weeks so hopefully everything keeps going well, she's had 3 scans, last one was 12 weeks next one is 16 weeks.

@2021ivfagain I've sorry to hear about losing the twin, I hope everything goes well with the surviving baby. For vaccines I just had whooping cough, I waited until 24 weeks for it. I think RSV may be coming if it isn't available already, it wasn't when I was pregnant. In USA most people I knew held off as long as possible, I heard there is a very small risk of preterm birth. I would do RSV if I could. I didn't do Covid or flu vaccines as I wore a FFP3, I contracted Covid at 20 weeks so wore it more often after that.

@Enfys23 that sounds like a good outcome! Fingers crossed for you

Hope everyone's doing good :)

@Dochas12111 thank you we have been really relieved and as you say it is a bit unforgivable.
I am in work this week so I’m sticking to OTD as I don’t want to test on a work day. I will send a postal HCG tomorrow which is 9dp5dt (though quite likely results won’t be back until Friday anyway) not look until we also do the home test on Friday morning. I have had lots of symtoms which I know is the progesterone but it does mess your mind doesn’t it.
@Gardenlady543 thank you. I am glad to hear all is going well with the surrogate.

Hello, new here and this thread has been really helpful - thank you!
I’ve recently done a freeze all IVF round and have three embryos frozen. Before my transfer I’m trying to do everything I can to help implantation. I’m not sure I’m going to do EMMA/ALICE as it sounds quite invasive and expensive but I do think I’m prone to thrush so have bought Optibac probiotics.
Just wondering how long anyone has taken probiotics for before they’ve started to work? Thanks!

@BalmySand if the microbiome is abnormal oral probiotics may not help alone, I had 0% lactobacillus twice and had taken oral probiotics aimed at the gynae microbiome for years. There are some less invasive options like a vaginal swab test or menstrual fluid test.

@Gardenlady543 thanks! Did you then take vaginal probiotics too or targeted antibiotics?
I'll probably do the Daye test www.yourdaye.com/products/at-home-vaginal-screening/

@BalmySand so I did the Emma Alice and took coamoxiclav followed by vaginal probiotics (as well as the oral ones) but still had 0% lactobacillus on a repeat Emma Alice, so ended up taking metronidazole and clindamycin based off the new result, again followed by vaginal probiotics and then did the fertilysis test which was fine.

@Gardenlady543 OK thanks. I'm actually having a polyp removed soon, wonder if they might be able to do a biopsy at the same time.

@Gardenlady543 that good news! Can I ask if my ema/alice was fine, no nk cells or anything immune going on, after 5 failed tramsfer with inhinxa added in from start of cycle in case of antiphospholipid syndrome, I have prontogest to keep progesterone high enough.
@2021ivfagain cautious congrats, I think I'd be a wreck the whole time, you're doing so well.
@Enfys23 sending all the hugs and good wishes hoping it's a sticky bean

@kerrym87
Have you had the Emma Alice? Not sure if you're asking if I can look at it or if there's other things to consider if it was normal, sorry I have a bad memory for details so you may have told me already:

Are the embryos tested?
What immune tests did you have? -nk biopsy, blood test- nk, th1/th2, lad, dqa1?
Did you check for endo with a lap?
Has any issue arisen during treatment- eg lining issue, issue on other blood tests?
Sperm fragmentation checked?

@laurenm1990 here is the thread you are looking for

@Gardenlady543
I had the Emma Alice, all fine but treated for endometritis anyway while waiting, nk cells in blood and lining normal, th1/th2, lad, dqa1 fine, went to dr gorgy. Only thing he suggested was LIT. sperm frag was raised but within range for icsi about 20% i think, we've had icsi.
2 embryos were untested, last 3 were euploid. Left endometrioma removed 3 years ago but no reoccurrence of symptoms.
Lining always trilaminar and between 8-9.5mm at scan before starting progesterone. All FET have been medicated due to my unpredictable cycle.
I have pcos so mamage my weight, Mediterranean diet, low sugar, yoga, metformin, inositol. Husband lost weight, cooling pad, impryl, better diet, reduced drinking. I have been given inhixa from starting oestrogen in case of any microclots (my karytope has me at increased risk of clots) and if any antiphospholipid syndrome has developed.

BFN
Would those who’ve done modified natural FET with low dose stims for lining mind sharing their protocols? Thanks 🙏🏼

Does anyone know if the vaginal pessaries (I'm using Balance Activ) are ok to use daily until embryo transfer?

I’m so sorry @Enfys23 I hope you are doing ok. I haven’t done that protocol but am sure someone will be along soon to give you some information.

@greendress789 I’m using them in pregnancy as they are safe. I also use Vagibiom. I have a history of vaginal infections in the past due to my microbiome being destroyed by all the antibiotics from ivf egg collections.