Era test protocol

Hi ladies,

Not been on here for a long time as needed some time out after our last unsuccessful cycle in April, I hope everyone is doing ok, congratulations to anyone that has had any successful cycles recently, wishing you all the best.

I need some advice from those of you that have had an era test however on a natural cycle not medicated apart from progesterone pessaries.

I was due to have the era test done last month however my clinic rang me 2 days before I was due to have it done saying they can’t do it as they have read the instructions for the test and spoken to the co that does the test and they have said I should have started taking my progesterone pessaries (I am having extra support this is only medication I am taking) 72hours after I ovulated. my clinic told me to start them the evening I ovulated which is what I did, so my clinic and the co doing the test are saying not to have the test as the results would not be accurate based on this.

I was very upset and angry as my clinic has messed me around about the whole test as they said I could have it thru them then said I couldn’t and then agreed I could as I had been messed around, it seems that it was a test they were going to offer but have never done before so I am the guinea pig.

My biggest worry is that I thought the era test protocol works exactly the same as an ivf cycle aside from you have the era biopsy done instead of an embryo transferred therefore all other steps should be the same so why when I had my natural ivf cycle in April did I start progesterone pessaries on the day I ovulated but for the era test I start taking it 72hrs after ovulation. This surely is not comparing my cycle protocol with the era protocal so already the results will surely be different.

Also my embryo transfer was done 6 days post ovulation in my natural cycle but when the clinic booked me in for my era test this was 5 days post ovulation does this matter as again this is different.

Waiting for my clinic to respond on these questions and also rang the company doing the test directly to ask but they said I had to speak to my clinic.

I literally could cry as I don’t know where to turn and who can help answer my questions I have lost faith in my clinic but as I only have 2 embryos left in the freezer the stress of moving them to another clinic as well as the cost means I will do my last cycle with my current clinic but just feel like I need a third party to help answer my questions.

I feel like my natural cycle in April could have been wrong as my transfer was done on a different day to when they want to do the era test and the timing of when I should take my progesterone is different 2 majors factors in whether you fall pregnant and now am convincing myself the cycle would never have worked as both of these things the clinic may have got wrong.

Sorry for my esssy but anyone that could help answer my questions on whether the info the company doing the test is saying about the 72hrs is what you were told if you had a natural era would be appreciated as this has really screwed up my head

Thanks all xx

[Millbanks]

Hi Coral, I’m sorry that sounds so stressful. I can’t really advise as my ERA was medicated but in terms of progesterone, for the test you start 5.5 days before the biopsy (which is what a normal transfer would be). I imagine that with a natural FET you’d do exactly what you say as your body starts producing progesterone after ovulation. But the clinic should be able to tell you this…

Xx

[IVFat40]

Hi Coral, I'm currently in almost exactly the same situation you describe, including being totally messed around by my clinic who don't seem to know what they're doing (the Nurse asked me when I would like to start my progesterone!). I'm due to have an ERA test on a natural cycle, with progesterone support. I just wondered if you ended up finding out any further information about what we should be doing at all? Thank you so much!