Next steps... please help! - Fertility Network UK

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Next steps... please help!

Patches86 profile image
25 Replies

I would love to get your opinion/experiences to decide what to do next. After 3 failed transfers I have 2 frosties left, although these are day 6 C grades.

We have decided that an ERA test and PG-A testing are worthwhile doing but are not sure what timing/sequence might be best:

1. Do a double FET with our last 2 C grade frosties, if that doesn’t work, do an ERA test before another fresh round with PG test: OR

2. Do an ERA test first, then a double FET with our last 2 C grade frosties, if that doesn’t work do another fresh round with PG test; OR

3. Keep our last 2 C grade frosties in storage and do an ERA test now before another fresh round with PG test

I would really value your opinion, it can be so difficult to see clearly and make the right choice when you’re the one “in it”! Thanks in advance everyone! Sending love and baby dust always x

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Patches86 profile image
Patches86
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25 Replies
Kellylouisela1 profile image
Kellylouisela1

Hello- I am very keen to know what is advised here. So I have had 2 failed transfer the past ended up in 5 week MC. We have decided not to test as yet as we have 5 embryos left however I do feel nervous not testing and I am feeling very confused as the issue was meant to be with OH and now I feel like two down it’s me. Found this on ERA:fertilityiq.com/topics/embr...

Let me know what you decide, after two fails we have decided to have our first medicated FET (only one embryo they will allow me) in the hope the progesterone used will support a pregnancy. It’s all such a risk and so confusing! Xx

Patches86 profile image
Patches86 in reply to Kellylouisela1

That’s an interesting article, thanks for sharing. The more I hear about ladies on this forum talk about ERA and read more about it, it seems like a sensible test to do for recurrent implantation failures

Kellylouisela1 profile image
Kellylouisela1 in reply to Patches86

Perhaps do the ERA and then the double transfer. I’d never go for the fresh round and all the drugs if you could potentially not need to! X

Millbanks profile image
Millbanks

Hi Patches! Personally I’d do option 2/3. After 3 failed transfers we did ERA/fresh cycle & transfer. I wish I’d not bothered with the fresh transfer as our ERA showed us we need 24 extra hours progesterone. We had a chemical with the fresh though which did give me a bit of hope - I had never done one so wanted to try. Now we’re prepping for FET with our new timing and if that doesn’t work we’ll do a fresh cycle and PGT-A test all the embryos xx

Patches86 profile image
Patches86 in reply to Millbanks

That’s really helpful, thank you so much. With the ERA is my understanding correct that the receptivity results would apply to all medicated frozen cycles going forward (not just the one immediately after the test month)? And that for a fresh round you could also apply the ERA timing if you had done the ERA before your fresh round? Ps. All the best with your prep for this cycle - I’ve got my fingers crossed for you and hopefully the ERA is what makes all the difference this time around x

Millbanks profile image
Millbanks in reply to Patches86

So the ERA results can be used for all FETs but they can’t apply it to a fresh cycle which is why I wish we’d not bothered with a fresh transfer after having the ERA...

thank you! I’m cautiously optimistic but you never know. Feels good to have a plan for it this FET doesn’t work... xxx

AndreiaTrigoRN profile image
AndreiaTrigoRN

Options 2/3 seem a good way forward! The ERA test and PG test can give you useful insights that can change the way FET is carried out! I have some useful info on repeated implantation failure here efp.clinic/course/module-1/...

Patches86 profile image
Patches86 in reply to AndreiaTrigoRN

Thanks for sharing - interesting read! It makes me think that having the combo of ERA and PG testing is the best option!

AndreiaTrigoRN profile image
AndreiaTrigoRN in reply to Patches86

Yes! Xx

Catlady12345 profile image
Catlady12345

I’d also recommend the ERA, I’ve just had the biopsy and it showed I needed an extra 12 hours of progesterone. I had a fresh transfer last time (before era) and now feel like I wasted a really good embryo. Xx

Patches86 profile image
Patches86 in reply to Catlady12345

Thank you! Im sorry that happened to you but thank you for sharing your experience. I’m happy you have some answers now so hopefully the next transfer is your time x

Millbanks profile image
Millbanks in reply to Catlady12345

Same 🤦🏼‍♀️

hifer profile image
hifer

Hi there, depends on your budget! If you can afford to chuck everything at it then I would go for 3! I think I might have misunderstood your options though as you can’t do a fresh round with PGS tested embryos. You have eggs collected, fertilised etc and then they get sent away for testing so it would need to be a FET transfer. I would imagine your clinic might recommend a FET transfer anyway for a transfer following an ERA but that will really depend on your results. I had to have an endometrial scratch the month before my FET transfer as a result of my ERA. An ERA might not just show up a progesterone timing issue. There may be other issues as well that will need to be factored in for your next transfer. I’m not sure if that helps and sorry if I misunderstood you! X

hifer profile image
hifer in reply to hifer

Also my clinic said that ERA results are not results that you can use on *any* FET’s going forwards as things in your womb etc can change over time. They were keen tor me to do a transfer reasonably soon after the ERA to make sure the results were still valid/ relevant x

Ell493 profile image
Ell493

I think option 1 sounds the best. Good luck!

Pu217 profile image
Pu217

Hi there, we decided to do the ERA before our very first FET. Turns out I needed 12+/-3 hours of progesterone. Followed protocol, did a double transfer and now 18+2 with a little girl. I would recommend option 2. All the very best !

anz07 profile image
anz07

I am in the exact same position! Had 3 transfers and down to my last 2 Frosties (both C grade, one day 5 and one day 6). Going to do a double transfer.

I was told that an ERA isn’t necessary for me because my 3 transfers have all been chemical pregnancies. Instead I am doing the sticky blood test to see if I have any clotting issues.

Wishing you all the very best, whatever decision you make. 3 failed transfers is exhausting and I am with you in the struggle xxx

Maryc32 profile image
Maryc32 in reply to anz07

Hi Anz and patches. I’m in the same boat too. Had 4 transfers (two chemicals and two BFN) have two low quality embryos left. they’ve not mentioned ERA to be but I’ve been doing natural transfers do not sure if it’s applicable also chemicals shows receptive. I’m doing another fresh round. Going to transfer one fresh embryo and PGS anything frozen. Keep my last two for a rainy day xxx

anz07 profile image
anz07 in reply to Maryc32

That sounds like a good plan going forward and will hopefully leave you with plenty of options! I can't bear the thought of another collection (I've already done two) but it's so hard to walk away when you've given so much to the journey. So we shall see...if either or both of my last two frozen take, it will be a miracle! Wishing you lots of luck going forward xxx

leo1980 profile image
leo1980

How old are you patches86? My doctor -George always says Mother Nature is very strict. And a chromosomally normal embryos will stick if it’s normal regardless of grade/day. Ofcourse age plays an important role and immunity. So maybe do the PGS - takes about 10-12 days to get the results back and the immune stuff (also about 14 days to get the results) and somethings like the clotting you can do at your local GP to rule out the cause and then do the add ons like ERA? If you are under 35, the likelihood of abnormal embryos are low. It all adds up doesn’t it? Financially, emotionally and physically. This vs a fresh cycle which you may still have to do all the tests above if the fresh cycle yields the same results. Just an idea...

Ranchu90 profile image
Ranchu90

I will definitely go for number 2 option. Give your last embryos the best chance, do an ERA test. With grade C embryos chanches are slightly lower, I also have a 5BC PGS tested embryo that my clinic advised me to not transfer it alone, so I will transfer it along with my other pgs normal 5BB. I did both and ERA test and PGS and I don't regret doing them at all. Good luck with weather you decide.

Cinderella5 profile image
Cinderella5

Id be tempted to go with option 2. After our many failures we got offered the ERA and/or PGS testing. I wasn't a fan of the PGS testing as we were using donor eggs (a proven donor with success for another couple) and she was still in her late 20's. The ERA was really the last test I was willing to consider after having many others that hadn't really helped. When I got my results back it showed that I needed an extra 24hrs of progesterone (6full days instead of 5 days). We did another cycle after this but my hubbys sperm quality was appalling unfortunately (a decline which we weren't aware of at the time). Unsurprisingly it was a BFN. However we had some sperm from 2017 on ice and did a cycle with this and got good embryos. We got a BFP following the ERA and being on high doses of progesterone and are now 29wks pregnant with twins. I obviously cant say for sure that the ERA for sure is everything but it seemed to work for us and know a few others that its worked for.xxx

Lilly12255 profile image
Lilly12255

How much does an ERA test cost? looking into this too

Flora14 profile image
Flora14

Hi - is anyone able to help with my question below - - I have just posted it separately before finding this thread.

I am having an era soon but can anyone explain to me what happens with the results of this if I need extra progesterone if I want a fresh day 3 or fresh day 5 transfer? or are the results only valid for a frozen transfer?

For example if you do have a day 3 or 5 fresh transfer does that mean you just have to start the progesterone potentially early (if that's what I need) , as in before egg collection???

Also because I wouldn't have ovulated that month because I've been on the drugs for the era, in terms of starting IVF afterwards , do I have to wait to have a full cycle with normal ovulation and then call on day 1 or would I be able to use my withdrawal bleed from coming off the medication for the era if that makes sense? Thanks

Millbanks profile image
Millbanks in reply to Flora14

Hi Flora, the ERA mimics a frozen embryo transfer, having the uterine biopsy on the day you would normally transfer (day 5 of progesterone). You can only use the results of this for a frozen transfer (not a fresh) and it's my understanding that the protocol must be the same as the ERA one. Hope this helps x

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