I have been recommended to do the ERA/EMMA/ALICE. Thing is, after watching one of the youtube videos produced by one of the Canadian Doctors, I am leaning against being tested. My primary reason is the cost as I have now done 6 rounds of icsi. From the video, they say it is still not something that is 100% and from what I gathered, the tests are not conclusive. So I wanted to know, is it possible to do 1 out of the 3? I welcome your insights and if anyone has another angle about this, please please share. I am all ears.
Hi lovely, I think most "add-ons" in IVF are not completely 100% - in fact it's not a perfect science - everything has to align - the right lining, the right embryo, the right timing and if one of these is out then it doesn't matter if the other 2 are correct!! Having said that, I had the ERA test done because I suspected something wasn't right for me. The biopsy showed that my window of implantation was out by 24 hours. We adjusted it and had a chemical pregnancy which means it was likely the embryo that wasn't right.
I had the ALICE and EMMA tests done because it was the same cost (as they use the same biopsy sample) but both came back negative.
I think you'd probably get a 50/50 response on here, for and against - if you've had previous implantation then it's probably not needed. But if like me you've had 4 transfers and not a sniff of a positive, then it might be the right time to investigate. xx
During our first round I had to freeze the two embryos, as I had a polyp. The first one they put back was a BFP which ended in MC before the 7 week scan, the second failed to implant.
So after that attempt we stayed at the same clinic but went with a different consultant, she was very matter of fact and certainly wasn’t in it for any hard sell!!
She mentioned to my about the ERA test and explained what it was and how it worked, but she said at £2000 it’s a lot of money to spend.
She said if you try Canesflor pessaries first their £15 and you can buy them from high street chemists.
Well our second round I used them the first embryo was put back and failed, the other two were PGTA tested and chromosomally abnormal, so I suspect the one that was put back also was.
Our third and final round was a donor round, using my sisters eggs. I again used Canesflor before the transfer, this was also a medicated transfer, where as all the others were natural cycle transfers.
The embryo implanted and we are 13 weeks tomorrow
So who knows if they worked or not?! I will never know
The embryos we are producing are the most precious gift we have so we must give them the best shot. After a failed transfer with a PGS tested embryo and still had 2 more normal in the freezer I decided to do all the tests under the sun to make sure the next transfer is a success. I have an endless list of tests including ones you mentioned. My clinic adjusted to protocol accordingly and we are now pregnant with twins. We spent £4000 for all the tests including genetic ones for me and my husband- still cheap comparing with a full cycle with PGS tested embryos. Is a lot to think but always calculate if next time will fail, will you do the tests then? My motto is test not guess. Good luck whatever your decide 🥰🤗
Hi Danascha, I only have 1 embryo from 4 icsi rounds (pgs tested) and so our doctor recommended that since we only have one we should do everything to make sure we have the best chance. I am still working out whether I will definitely do all 3 but in my clinic there is certainly the option of just doing the one (Era) at slightly less cost.My experience so far is that nothing in this process is guaranteed but I don’t want to kick myself thinking I should have had the tests if I don’t do them.
Thanks for sharing the video, it has certainly made me think again and I will need to do more research. Again I only have the 1 embryo though so very conscious of that x
I did the ERA and the ALICE tests since we only had one frozen embryo left. I only did Alice because was doing the other, as I think it shows the same thing as a hysteroscopy, which I already had done, and as expected, showed negative for any endometriosis or troubling scar tissue. My ERA test showed I was pre-receptive so we started my progesterone 14 hours earlier and the next transfer worked and I’m currently 6 weeks pregnant.
I did all 3 tests. I really only wanted the ERA test but the same biopsy is used and to do the ERA wasnt much cheaper without the other two so went for all 3 just incase they showed anything. My ERA showed I was pre-receprive by 24hrs and adjusted our protocol for this. I now have twins and think this test made all the difference for us.xxx
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