ReceptivaDX test gave me my son after 14 losses

[liveon]

I want to tell as many women as possible about my story. After 4 years of IVF, 14 embryos lost through implantation failure or miscarriage and consulting with 5 IVF specialists in 4 European countries who could find nothing wrong with me, I decided to do my own research. I found out about a lab called Cicero Diagnostics based in the USA. They offer a test for implantation failure and miscarriage caused by SILENT endometriosis. It is called the ReceptivaDX test. It was sent out to me in Europe within 2 days. 7 days later the results came back. A positive test for silent endometriosis is 1 to 4. My score was 3.6! I was put on diphereline 0.1mg for 60 days via subcutaneous injection (a way out if side effects became life threatening compared to having depot lupron) and 2.5mg of letrozole for 60 days. Then straight onto a frozen 5 day embryo transfer. I am currently 30 weeks with my son and the amniocentesis test was clear! I had no symptoms at all of endometriosis. I did not want to undergo invasive, exploratory surgery as there are risks of uterine scarring that could affect a pregnancy. None of the 5 IVF specialists (based in Europe/UK) knew about this test. I hope this information helps some women.

Hi, great to read that you finally had your success. Sounds like you’ve really been through it. Was it your clinic that prescribed the Diphereline and Letrozole?
I am currently undergoing another round of IVF and during scans they’ve found a Hydrosalpinx and a trace amount of endometriosis. I’ve had 7 embryos transferred and zero implantation. I’ve to have the hydrosalpinx sorted before a transfer but the consultant said the endometriosis won’t impact implantation. I can’t help but think this is wrong.

Are you based in uk? How did you get tested?

In answer to the above questions: I spoke at length with my 5th IVF consultant. He had never heard about the ReceptivaDX test. Neither had the other 4 when I emailed each one about it. He was willing to do the uterine biopsy (40 euros) which was sent back with the test kit. Cicero Diagnostics (USA) sent out the test kit directly to my consultant (Europe) in just 2 days. The IVF lab of the clinic then sent the test kit directly back to Cicero Diagnostics with the uterine sample. I had the result in a week. My IVF doctor suggested to give me depot lupron and I refused. If you get the side effects, they are detrimental and can be permanent. So he then suggested a once a day subcutaneous injection of diphereline which would give me a way out if side effects become life threatening. diphereline lasts only 24 hours. I spoke at length with staff at Cicero Diagnostics and it was they who told me to also take letrozole and that lupron depot is like using a sledgehammer. The body needs to go into fake menopause to stop oestrogen feeding the endometriosis. There are studies to suggest that 2.5mg letrozole tablets are just as effective as 5mg. So my consultant decided on 2.5mg tablets. Endometriosis causes inflammation that can prevent implantation and it can also cut off progesterone to the developing embryo. So 60 days of treatment worked for me with silent endometriosis. I also switched my diet to nutrient dense, wholefood, plant based. Nuts, seeds, avocado and tofu for fats. Date syrup and xylitol instead of processed sugar. Supplements: Brand: Pro Fuel Vitamin D3 with K2 - half the tablet so you take 2.5000 IE a day. Brand: Pro Fuel Omega 3 -vegan for DHA and EPA with no toxins from fish oils. Brand: Veganicity pregnancy essentials for my prenatal - 2 tablets a day until 12 weeks and then one tablet at night. Brand: Myvegan vitamin B12 1,000mcg cyanocobalamin 1 tablet twice a week chewed when you wake up on an empty stomach - it absorbs sublingually when chewed and does not absorb when swallowed whole. Avoid vitamin C for 2 hours after taking
I live in Europe. My consultant is Dr Pavel Otevrel who can be contacted at the Brno clinic. I did not have any other invasive and painful tests done because I felt that there was not a concrete evidence base to support them in my case (all scans and bloods were normal) and they were far more expensive than 690 dollars for the ReceptivaDX. I honestly now believe that this test should be a part of the optional tests being offered right at the beginning of IVF to at least rule out endometriosis without the risks of surgery. I did use embryo glue as I have done with all other 14 losses. It can't harm and there is evidence it might help.

With hydrosalpinx, my understanding is that there are different treatments targeting the different causes. If it's an infection, then you need to get a sample to find out which antibiotics can treat this. My consultant did suggest exploratory surgery to rule out hydrosalpinx when he was updated with my high result of 3.6 from the test. But of course, with surgery there are risks to include scar tissue building up within the uterus. I also looked at the data from the lab Cicero Diagnostics and drug treatment for endometriosis has a higher success rate over surgical treatment. So I decided to go with the drug route and see if that worked. If that had not worked, I would have agreed to exploratory surgery as the next option as I am 46 years old and it is a bigger risk for me when I have not carried a baby to term and have no children.