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

Thanks again @2021ivfagain again, would you take the full course of 6 capsule to rebalance the microbiome after taking metronidazole and then likely be good? Appreciate it’d hard to know how much actual damage may be caused without doing a microbiome test before and after!

@clhiu I think you might need at least one bottle of 6 capsules. Usually balance activ is needed as well. Antibiotics get rid of good and bad bacteria. Metronidazole spares some but it increases ph a lot. I know ph should be more alkaline during ovulation but if it gets too alkaline things like bc or gardnerella can occur. When are you taking metronidazole? Can you take one dose of it rectally? It’s a large pessary.

Just flora femme on its own might not be enough with the antibiotics. It depends on when you are taking the antibiotics and if you absolutely need them. My consultant told me not to take antibiotics for this transfer due to how it affects my ph. Are you looking to do the treatment in conjunction with natural conception next cycle? If so, could you start on balance activ and probiotic soon?

I would not waste flora femme when taking antibiotics. They are better after antibiotics. Are you able to take balance activ whilst taking antibiotics?

@clhiu BV or gardnerella can occur

It’s only a 3 days course of Metronidazole which I started Monday afternoon after the PRP procedure and have the last 3 tablets to take. I ordered FloraFemme and should arrive tomorrow, I will go buy BalanceActiv too.
I’ve taken many antibiotics in my life and never lead to infections or bad bacteria, not that I ever noticed anyway. I only know I had low lactobacillus from the EMMA test I di 2 years ago hence why I’m concerned about losing too many good bacteria.
I’m just trying natural conception from Friday even though the treatment I’ve had is most effective on the second and third cycle after and this will be minimally impacted.
I’ll take a course of FloraFemme after ovulation to avoid impact on sperm survival and that’ll hopefully have me set for the next cycle. Thanks!x

Hi, for those who have had this test (EMMA/ALICE not the ERA) - if it came back abnormal did it delay your next transfer? They’ve said 2 weeks for the results and by then I’ll be starting my next cycle (planning natural FET). Thanks

Hello - yes, it would delay the next transfer as you would want to know the results and also if any treatment is needed. I did all 4 ERA/EMMA/ALICE/NK cells and results came back saying need to get on antibiotics and NK cells had low decidulisation scores. I'm starting VagiBiom (ordered from Amazon, expensive) and oral probiotics very soon. My consultant suggested 2 months of probiotics and a repeat test of NK cells before the next FET.
Hope this helps!

Thanks that’s really helpful. It seems very hard to get hold of vaginal probiotics! How long do results tend to take to come back? My clinic said 2-3 weeks but I’m hoping it’s 2.

Is it these: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Biom-Vaginal-Probiotic-Suppository-Microbiome/dp/B07N31S852/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9._dZCXhwoa7z9uloC7WCok6vIvlj0W_xkI3zFKZwxXdIwiLz61vwYK5FL5l_1FQNT06HewoEzEykHcdHhhtvESGZ4lwaN_Iw4wJE7SpFf9TqtjYzEuHnspyqWAT9b3q6cFHjBtrzgZDnUBVsDbpvw8Q.YQYhP9tPF3NlT68ub6SqmSUlvN8OpLAVXtrrO3zBQuo&dib_tag=se&keywords=VagiBiom&qid=1748958233&s=drugstore&search-type=ss&sr=1-2

Theres some with the same name but different packaging as well. Thanks! www.amazon.co.uk/VagiBiom-Lactobacillus-crispatus-Intimate-Suppositories/dp/B0BF9181FL/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9._dZCXhwoa7z9uloC7WCok6vIvlj0W_xkI3zFKZwxXdIwiLz61vwYK5FL5l_1FQNT06HewoEzEykHcdHhhtvESGZ4lwaN_Iw4wJE7SpFf9TqtjYzEuHnspyqWAT9b3q6cFHjBtrzgZDnUBVsDbpvw8Q.YQYhP9tPF3NlT68ub6SqmSUlvN8OpLAVXtrrO3zBQuo&dib_tag=se&keywords=VagiBiom&qid=1748958233&s=drugstore&search-type=ss&sr=1-1

Hi @NiftyAmberLion , yes I bought the first one. Also found IntraFresh, which is cheaper though has 2 strains of lactobacilis instead of 4 for ViagiBiom.
https://www.biocare.co.uk/intrafreshr-7-pessaries?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=18444789966&gbraid=0AAAAADg9q5DHvi6nyj_jNhoMTRTh_brf_&gclid=Cj0KCQjwxo_CBhDbARIsADWpDH5Uyr6FBCdv17w4zb1_Es9OCKAgTa7RV0mo676Uic5XbU8_QWwtQF8aAsQpEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

@Prayformiracles How are you getting on? How are things going @Gardenlady543?

@2021ivfagainall good with me thanks, baby girl was born via surrogacy almost 6 weeks ago and is doing well. How about you?

@Gardenlady543 I had a planned caesarean on 28th May. He is putting on weight now and getting back to his birth weight. It was a long journey to get here.

Hi all, I’m a bit stressed because struggling to find probiotics. However not sure how urgently I need them. Can anybody understand these results?

Hi all, how soon did you take vaginal probiotics before FET? Do you think just taking them from the period finishing to transfer will be ok? Having such a worrying day as worried my FET will be cancelled

Hi all I have resolved my issues now! I am going to be taking vagibiom when I start my FET hopefully in a few days. In the lead up I have just been taking biocare intrafresh.

Do you just start them from end of your period for 10 days leading up to the transfer? My Emma / Alice is taking over 3 weeks to come back so want to get some probiotics ready in case I need them. Thanks

Hi @NiftyAmberLion I have been told to take them from when my period ends, stopping by day of transfer, and then taking them afterwards up until the pregnancy test.

however not sure what others have been told on here

Mines back now - have to do 2 weeks of daily probiotics after antibiotics! Better stock up on more probiotics I guess

@NiftyAmberLionwhich ones are you planning to take?

I think I’ll take a mix of the intrafresh and the vagibiom - all very expensive!

@NiftyAmberLioni know it’s all so expensive. A lady on the other thread said to be mindful with the intrafresh ones as they have garlic powder and rose oil in them, which I think you need to be careful with in pregnancy. The intrafresh ‘plus’ didn’t have these but they’ve discontinued them now. I think I am going to just take vagibiom

Yeh my clinic recommended canesflor but obviously that’s unavailable so they then said the intrafresh or biofemme v but that’s tablets - apparently can be used vaginally? Not sure how that would work! Intrafresh is a bit cheaper so than the vagibiom but has less strains?

Hi. Has anybody on here noticed the vagibiom cause itchiness?

Yes vagibiom always gave me thrush, they were potentially too strong for me

Has anybody had light bleeding from vaginal probiotics? I’m worried I’m potentially taking too many?