ERA test

[Orla9298]

Just wondering if anyone knows enough about this test to say whether it would be worth me doing it? I’ve had 4 pregnancies lost early (2 lost at 5.5w, 1 at 6w and 1 at 6.5w) and countless chemicals with just a couple of days of positive FRER. I’ve had the level 1 miscarriage tests and all was ok, and had private tests such as Chicago immunes and nk cells and all ok, hidden C etc. Just hubby has E. coli in his most recent sample so has antibiotics and has some oxidative damage which we need to address.

So can we maybe put down the fails to poor embryo quality or might I benefit from ERA? I figured because I’ve had pregnancies stick for a couple of weeks then it’s not an implantation window thing, but the number of chemicals is getting me down.

We have 2 embryos left (one very poor OE and one 4CB DE).

Thanks for reading xx

[HopeAt43]

The ERA is for frozen transfers and medicated cycles to test when your uterus is receptive for the transfer of the embryo. I had it and they were transferring it on the wrong day. If you aren’t doing IVF, then it shouldn’t be needed. It’s more for transfer failures/medicated assisted cycles as on a frozen transfer you have to take progesterone and if you don’t take enough, the embryo won’t stick. I don’t think it will help with anything else. You may be progesterone deficient, which is causing your losses but that is a bit different.

[Orla9298 in reply to HopeAt43]

I’ve done 5 rounds of ivf, only one transfer of 3 OE resulted in pregnancy and failed, and my DE transfer of a 5BB also failed. 3 out of 4 of my pregnancies are natural conceptions. I’m sticking to natural transfer next transfer though, so perhaps that means I don’t need it?

[HopeAt43 in reply to Orla9298]

Not sure. I wouldn’t think so though. Have you been tested for mthfr? What about blood clotting? High NK cells? Those also can cause early losses.

[Orla9298 in reply to HopeAt43]

Yes I’ve been tested for everything. Lupus, mthfr, clotting issues, nk cells, cytokines.

[Fingerscrossed38 in reply to Orla9298]

It's so frustrating when you keep losing pregnancies and can't find a reason why.

I tested for the usual blood clotting issues and they all came back normal but then Dr sent me to st Mary's hospital and treated me for blood clotting TEG and pai-1 mutation and they both came back positive. So needed cleavage in pregnancy, before surgery or any future long haul flights. So many go and have further rarer blood clotting issues tested?

I had a chemical with my first FET in August and was devastated. The Dr still wanted me to do an ERA because he likened it to a train station platform. The train comes along and the little embryo jumps aboard but because there wasn't enough platform (progesterone) it couldn't quite hold on and results in a chemical...

I did ERA and it showed I did need 12 hours extra progesterone.

I've just fine 2nd FET of a PGS normal blastocyst positive again. Have my 7 week scan on Monday but not holding my breath. Never seen a heartbeat and don't feel a but pregnant, zero symptoms so it may doesn't seem real.

Anyways get the blood clotting test and the era.

I did a semi medicated era so used dual hormone ovulation sticks which were amazing and allowed me to test multiple times a day so as not to miss my lh surge. Then triggered then progesterone in oil and lots of progesterone bloods to check levels were ok before and after transfer.

Also put on metformin, Progynova (after transfer), clexane and cyclogest so not so natural in the end.

Good luck 🍀

[Orla9298 in reply to Fingerscrossed38]

So did you do nothing before ovulation, then triggered when you got the surge? And progynova after? I always worry that my estrogen is typically low due to low amh and studies seem to say that you need it to maintain pregnancy

[Fingerscrossed38 in reply to Orla9298]

Just looked back on notes.

Had scans the days leading up to ovulation but also used the DUAL HORMONE OVULATION sticks by clear blue. They picked up an lh surge at around midnight on 22nd Nov. Saw Dr early next morning of 23rd Nov. Dr scanned my follicle was only 15-16 and lining 9mm. Dr also tested LH Which came back at 20 (showed those sticks picked up early lh surge before the scan could!) But not ovulated yet as progesterone was only 0.3. So Dr triggered me at 9:30am that morning even though normally we'd have waited till follicle was 18mm. Thanks to the sticks we could tell I was beginning to surge and I move quickly before I just"pop"

Then on 25th Nov I did first clexane shot and Lubion and cyclogest. I also did intralipids. Then 2 x Lubion + 4 x cyclogest, clexane, the following day 26th. Then on 27th did the same as 26th plus Dr had me test progesterone and said it was still too low so to try a 3rd Lubion each day! 28th started Progynova 3 x daily (Dr says it's to balance all the progesterone). 30th transfer day. Tested progesterone levels again and still too low so Dr ordered prontogest to be started the next day and he said I'd need to stop Lubion and switch to prontogest progesterone in oil injection x1 daily which hurts. Carried on with 3 x cyclogest, 3 x Progynova, 1 x clexane per day.

Intralipids again when got my bfp at 5dp5dt. Meant to carry all the above on till 12 weeks. I'll continue the clexane right through to 6 weeks post birth and have intralipids fortnightly till 12 weeks then monthly there after. Also start baby aspirin at 8 weeks not before then.

No idea of this is a viable pregnancy though as of not had scan (it'll be Monday when I'll be 7 wks) yet and I've got zero symptoms

Hope this helps.

[Orla9298 in reply to Fingerscrossed38]

It’s really helpful but just makes me think my clinic don’t do any of that extra testing or follow up or don’t even think they have that knowledge! 😞 what clinic have you been at?

[Fingerscrossed38 in reply to Orla9298]

I've got an amazing clinic on Harley street. Pm me for details xx

[Orla9298 in reply to Fingerscrossed38]

Have you been doing betas at all or nothing since OTD? Fingers definitely crossed for you!xx

[Fingerscrossed38 in reply to Orla9298]

I did lots of betas too.

5dp5dt = 14

7dp5dt=43.6

9dp5dt = 105

11dp5dt = 245

13dp5dt = 550

17dp5dt = 2057 (51 hours doubling)

19dp5dt = 3794 (54 hours doubling)

7week scan on Dec 30th to be confirmed if there is anything there as I still have absolutely zero symptoms!

[Orla9298 in reply to Fingerscrossed38]

Your betas look fantastic, I’m sure your scan will go great!xx

[baby2016]

Hi Orla, I was in exactly the same boat as you, and hidden c test showed ecoli, so we both had the antibiotics. I then flew to athens to have the hystocopy and deep implantation cuts. Video showed my womb covered in scar tissue and infection from all my losses. They were surpised I could get pregnant and said an embryo would not survive in that environment. I flew home and had my transfer of a 5BB DE embryo transferred the very next cycle as a naturally medicated cycle. OTD last xmas day but had to test xmas eve due to clinic being closed xmas day. My almost 5month old is now sleeping upstairs! My clinic worked alongside medication athens advised as they knew i'd tried all other options. I have had 7 losses, ranging from MMC, ectopics, MC to numerous chemicals. 1 of the MMC was DE of high quality. I truly beleive this time it worked due to the procedure and medication I had to take before and after xx

[Orla9298 in reply to baby2016]

What medication did they put you on? I tested negative for the E. coli even though my hubby has it. But I’ve taken the antibiotics anyway and finished today. I’ve had the hysteroscopy twice with 2 different miscarriage consultants and encouragingly they both said my lining looked perfect so at least I think I can trust that. But don’t know why they all fail to continue! I think I want to do a natural transfer as in nothing before ovulation, but then estrogen and progesterone after transfer, maybe with Hcg rescue shots

[baby2016 in reply to Orla9298]

From what I remember I started.oestrogen tablets.day 9, waited for ovulation then steroids, cleaxane and lubion. After transfer clexane moved upto 2.doses.a day as advised by athens. Continued with all till about 12-14wks, nhs would not give clexane and gave a substitute and only 1 a day which scared me at first.

Also had to take another cause of antibiotics on postive test as.advised by athens. Had to get a private script for this as my own doc would.not prescribe and I know they were strong.

Also took serapetese for 2wks after hystocopy as this is meant to help rid of any scar tissue. Ate.pineapple from transfer and ½ avocado a day from wk before transfer.as both meant to help implantation and walked loads to help blood.flow, the only.day i didn't was day of transfer x

[baby2016 in reply to Orla9298]

I also had a trigger shot as well as research shows this.helps.well even in a natural cycle x

[Cinderella5]

Hey Orla, I've literally just had this done. It was the only thing left that I had faith in. It has shown that I'm not receptive until 144hrs which is a full 6 days for transfer. This could explain all my 5 day transfer fails. Also my 1st bfp we transferred at 133 hrs and got a very late positive and second we transferred at 147.5hrs which was borderline post receptive and got a CP. Last time was 148hrs and got a BFN. Who knows!!🤷🏼‍♀️xx

[Orla9298 in reply to Cinderella5]

What exactly do they time the number of hours from? Is it for medicated only? As I’m hoping to do natural. So if you do natural transfer but with progesterone after is it timed from the moment you take the first progesterone? Xx

[Cinderella5 in reply to Orla9298]

The ERA test is to determine the uterine receptivity window with the effects of progesterone. In my case it was medicated so its taken exactly 5 days (to the hour) from when progestrone is started. Im not entirely sure if there can be the same accuracy in a natural cycle unless you use a trigger shot to ovulate which hence starts natural progesterone. As I said my window of implantation is displaced by a full 24 hours....they do say + or - 3hrs but my clinic like to be precise and will transfer at axactly 144 hrs of progesterone for our next transfer. Like I say no guarantees but looking at my previous transfer times I know I have either been transferred to early or too late for implantation. Hope that makes sense. I had my biopsy in London, I can PM you the details if you wanted to enquire if they can do it in a natural cycle.xx

[Cinderella5 in reply to Orla9298]

Also Im not sure if you have had your progesterone levels checked but these have a big impact on implantation too!xx

[Orla9298 in reply to Cinderella5]

They have been like 60 and 90 but I might ask for lubion next transfer

[Cinderella5 in reply to Orla9298]

They sound ok!xx

[Hidden in reply to Orla9298]

Orla,

I have been told by 2 private clinics ERA is only possible for medicated transfers. So if not doing medicated don’t waste your money as they can’t gauge the results with any certainty on a natural cycle. I guess because each month we will all be slightly different. Whereas medicated your body is not in control.

Good luck. X

[Orla9298 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you xxx

[GiantPanda]

Hi Orla, no advice - just wanted to send love. X

[Orla9298 in reply to GiantPanda]

Thank you, and love to you xx

[Lynnr54]

Have a read of this blog. It’s very long and you need to keep going to the end (you think it finishes part way through but it starts again). I found it really insightful and I think it does support ERA testing, even for chemicals which do implant. It also lists countless types of tests so you can see if there’s anything you haven’t thought of.

recurrentearlymiscarriage.w...

Also, have you had your progesterone levels tested? I’ve heard of a few people who hadn’t realised this was an issue and had successful pregnancies with extra progesterone support (even when they’ve thought they were having extra support it still wasn’t enough and they needed even more).

Good luck with it all x