So today I heard back (at last 🎉🎉 😂) about the results of the 'one-stop-shop' tests which I wanted to do before we transfer our last frozen embryos. I THINK it's probably good news overall..?
My microbiome tests were fine so no recommendations for antibiotics or special supplements for the vaginal microbiome (though I guess I'll continue the ones I've been taking since Christmas as they seem to be doing a good job 😂). The uterine nk levels were also normal, so the doctor didn't recommend taking steroids (apparently taking them when you don't need them can impact other things... so happy to omit them for the next try).
The ERA test however showed I was pre-receptive by 24 hours, and therefore need to do a full 6 days of progesterone prior to transfer rather than 5. So although I'm glad there weren't loads of issues (as I'm still secretly hoping that if IVF fails us we might have success naturally one day 😪) I'm also kind of glad there is something we CAN change, if that makes sense. I know from spending probably waaay too long here 🤣 that some ladies feel extra/reduced hours of progesterone really helped them, so fingers crossed it does something for us. xx
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Oh this is great to find out! Totally get what you mean by being able to change something! And this is a very positive thing to diagnose because it's such a simple change!
Great news! So good to know there’s something that you can adjust for your next transfer. Really hoping this is the final piece of the puzzle for you lovely and that you have success with your next transfer 🤞🤞xxx
We are doing ok thanks lovely. Currently 28 weeks. Had a follow up with the cardiologist on Tues. Obviously no miracle change in that the defect is still there, but no further issues were identified & the rest of the heart is looking good. So that was a relief and the best we could have hoped for. Having my placenta re-scanned tomorrow so hoping it may have moved away from the cervix (as apparently it frequently does). It would be nice to be able to tick one think off our complications/list 🤞 but we’ll have to wait and see. Still just trying to take it one day at a time and not think too far ahead, to try and keep the fears & anxieties at bay xxx
Aww good! Well, good given the situation I mean. I'm glad they're keeping you under close observation but most importantly that there don't seem to be any further complications 😘 I know it must be very scary but the doctors are well prepared for this and you're taking a very sensible approach by just dealing with each day and staying calm and composed. Wishing you luck for tomorrow!! 🤞🤞xx
Thanks lovely. Husband bloody tested positive last night so that’s not ideal! Thankfully I’m still testing negative and have no symptoms so will still go to the appointment. But pretty terrified of going alone. After all the bad news scans we’ve had I find them pretty distressing! xxx
Thank you! Feeling fortunate that a) we didn't have to repeat the test due to insufficient sample etc (was dreading that!) but also b) that it showed SOMETHING we can change 💪 xz
That is really positive and gives something new to try for your next transfer, hopefully it is the missing piece! I am waiting to have an ERA and am hoping it gives us something to work with too. When will you go for your next transfer? Good thing is the biopsy will be like a scratch too, which some clinics/posts on here have said is beneficial x
Good luck with your ERA! I'm really glad I had it done, it all just helps to give some small feeling of control back to this awful process 🙏 😪 Speaking to my own consultant next week but in the past I've always been able to get booked in pretty fast so hoping to transfer when my next period starts (so transfer mid April) xx
Thank you! Can I ask, did you have to start meds on the first day of your period for the ERA test please? I'm not sure what the prep for it is. I have never had a medicated FET, just one natural FET before. I have had a withdrawal bleed following my last bfn. I was hoping to do the ERA on my next period if possible, but our follow up is booked for 28th March and I am wondering if I will miss the boat if I start my next period before then! Sorry for the questions, the waiting drives me mad 🤪
Good luck for your next transfer, fingers crossed it will be the one! 🤞🍀 x
So I'm going to be doing the exact same protocol for my next FET as I did for my trio of tests which included the ERA. Scan on CD2, started estrogen (progynova) on day 3 I think. Took for about 2 weeks, adding in cyclogest pessaries at the end for 5 days xx
This is great news!!I had the same result from my ERA. My consultant said that they had a lot of success after changing the timing with their clients which is why they always recommend after 2 failed FETs.
Oh really? Ah that's good to hear! I don't think my consultant would have suggested it if I hadn't pushed but I'm excited to see if it makes a difference. Part of me thinks ooh, maybe I'd have liked to try steroids too 😂 but I guess if u don't need them, I don't need them 🤷♀️😂 xx
Also Millbanks - do you know if this result makes it harder to conceive naturally?? Guess there's no way to really know if my body is producing enough progesterone and for long enough 🤔🤷♀️ xx
So it's only relevant to frozen transfers, as they need to know exactly when your uterus is receptive to the embryo (having had enough progesterone) - but when you are TTC naturally your body is producing progesterone anyway, so it's more a matter of timing sex to be around the right time - than controlling when it implants..... if that makes sense?
Having had success with steroids I would always recommend them to anyone - even just to give them a go.
I feel like many of us IVF ladies' issues could well be that our immune systems don't naturally lower enough (as they do in normal TTC) in order to accept the embryos - so even if we don't have high NK cells, we still could have over active immunity to the 50% foreign DNA that we're trying to accept.
If that makes sense.... I mean this is just my opinion and probably bullcrap but I feel like there must be something in it!!
I think it's great that you've discovered this! I'm sure this is why we managed to get our successful babies! I was also 24hours pre receptive so need an extra day of progesterone (144hrs), 6 days instead of the normal (120), 5 days. Best of luck going forward!!🙌🏻🤞🏻🤗xxx
That's so good to hear Cinderella! Exactly what I needed to hear 😍 At first I was a bit like, will this REALLY matter that much? But reading about it last night the 'wow" moment for me was realising my womb is basically NOT classed as receptive at the point we've been putting embryos back! That's pretty major. Do you know if this means TTC naturally is even tougher Cinders? Xx
I've never managed a natural pregnancy and in all honesty I dont know the answer however it does definitley offer hope. I know more and more people that this had helped get success!! Onwards and upwards lovely!xxx
Oh and when I spoke yo the consultant that did my ERA, she said she had seen lots of ladies go on to have success especially with such a shift on implantation window!xx
Thank you so much for sharing these positive stories 💜 And you're right, it's actually a pretty significant amount of extra progesterone time, when I think about it! Xx
In a way it sounds so simple that part of me thinks 'will it really make a difference'. But it sounds pretty positive, reading other people's stories. Not a magic bullet I know but still exciting to have something different to try xx
This is great news to have some new information to work with. I imagine waiting for the results was quite tough (so much waiting with IVF) but now you have these results it gives you a path forward and I wish you so much luck with it xx
I honestly don't know where the time goes! Started my last fresh cycle in late Sept, and have only had 1 transfer so far 😣🤷♀️ Between breast cysts and extra tests, so much time has passed. But I'd said to my husband that if transfer no. 3 (our Dec FET) failed, I wanted to do that trio of implantation tests. And I AM glad we did them so hey ho xx
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