ERA experience - is it worth it?

[darkbuthappyplace]

I have just had my WTF appointment after our 6th failed transfer. My Dr has recommended that we do ERA test before we transfer any more.

Can anyone say that it helped?

What's the difference between that and testing your progesterone levels on the transfer day and then upping if they need to?

He also said it would identify any infection that needs to be treated, has anyone experienced this?

TIA xxx

[Boo718]

Hello, I can tell if it has made a difference yet but after 2 bfn and 2 chemical I had the era alice and Emma tests in may this year. It came back saying no infection, bacteria was fine and that I needed an extra day of progesterone so transfer should be on day 6 instead of day 5. I am in the 2ww at the moment with the new transfer date so can tell next week if it’s made an ounce of difference xxx

[Cinderella5 in reply to Boo718]

Good luck Boo!!xx

[Purple276 in reply to Boo718]

Good luck Boo! I'm in the 2ww too after my ERA showed the opposite to you. Fingers crossed we both get our positive!

[Vipperson in reply to Boo718]

Hi, what were your results after ERA ? Was it helpful or not ?

[Boo718 in reply to Vipperson]

Hello I had a little girl. Absolutely made a difference for me xxx

[darkbuthappyplace in reply to Vipperson]

Hey, my results came back with nothing to change, basically all my levels were as they should be and no symptoms infection. I guess it gave me reassurance that the protocol was right. I have since had a little boy from the cycle after this. We did a fresh transfer on day 5. Xxx

[McQueeny]

heya. It’s different because rather than just checking progesterone levels it takes a biopsy if your womb lining and checks for receptivity.

I do think it’s worth it - in my case it identified that I was post-receptive, and recommended making the transfer earlier (I.e. 4.5 days of progesterone rather than 5).

I then did get a BFP, even though sadly ended in a chemical .

Very personal though, overall there is limited evidence for some of these tests….

[Hidden]

Are you on low dosage aspirin / heparin this is thought to increase blood flow to the womb? The ERA test is to help pinpoint best time for transfer to help implantation.

Hope all goes well at your appointment

Take care

Janet

[darkbuthappyplace in reply to Hidden]

Hi there, yes, i'm on low dose asprin then clexane injections. xx

[AuroraXen]

I did the combined ERA, uterine NK cell level, and microbiome tests at the start of this year. I just felt I wanted to check what was happening, as that was 3 embryos transfers and zero implantation. My ERA results said I needed an extra 24 hours of progesterone. I had one transfer after that, using this new 6 days instead of 5 days protocol. It didn't work sadly, but I'll push to do it again if I have any future transfers xx

[Boo718 in reply to AuroraXen]

did you get your embryos pgd checked? We had a number of really good top grade embryos and they were all abnormal. The one we had that was normal was really poor quality. Not sure if that would work for you xxx

[Habibi87]

My consultant once said that if you had a chemical pregnancy or an early miscarriage then ERA is not needed as it shows that the implantation window was right as implantation did start. We’re your embryos PGA tested? Sending you love xx

[Boo718 in reply to Habibi87]

I had 2 bfn then 2 chemicals my window then turned out to be a day out and I needed an extra day of progesterone xxx

[Cinderella5 in reply to Habibi87]

This wasnt the case for me either. I needed extra time on progesterone too.xx

[darkbuthappyplace in reply to Habibi87]

No, none were tested this round. We're talking about doing an egg collection and testing plus the ERA this time. I think this is as much as i can do in terms of testing already doing an immunology protocol after having elevated NK cells. xx

[Cinderella5]

For me, i genuinely believe that it helped. I had an honest chat with the consultant and she did say that if they found an implantation displacement that in her experience it made the difference. We had triedt own eggs, DE and moved my progesterone number of day with guess work, we got a bfp and it didnt stick...had another but same. I was almost giving up but had the ERA andnit found i needed extra time on progesterone which we thought but got the proper timings. Unfortunately we had a bad cycle after that with really bad sperm but the following one we got pur twins.....9th transfer. Maybe coincidence....who knows.xxx

[darkbuthappyplace in reply to Cinderella5]

That's thing you just don't know but at least you can say you tried everything and no regrets no throwing everything at it. I think PGS testing plus the ERA will tell us if we need to give up on OE and move to DE too. xx

[Cinderella5 in reply to darkbuthappyplace]

Oh i definitely agree that you should feel youve done your best with OE before moving to DE, its still hard but it was the best thing we did!xx

[Purple276]

Hi

Sorry you had to have a WTF meeting again - they are the worst.

I'm also a believer of the ERA but no proof yet! I had 5 transfers and none took, ERA said I needed fewer days of progesterone before transfer and currently in the 2ww hoping that worked. It could have been the egg quality so with all these things you just never know.

I was told if you had any implant then less likely that the timing was off but could be the EMMA or ALICE might be helpful. It's just trying to work out what's worth spending the money on. Such a mindfield but wish you the best of luck x

[JuicyLu]

Hello - mine came back as receptive on day 5 so in that sense wasn’t helpful (as transfers were at the right time) - however it was reassuring. Also - I would recommend considering the EMMA test. It turned out I had an infection which we were unaware of (no symptoms) which was then treated. Usually clinics offer ERA/EMMA/ALICE combined as one test so although it costs a bit extra it’s done at the same time. This text, combined with having PGS embryos was the thing we changed on our last round and I’m currently feeding the baby we had as a result ☺️ I had many tests during IVF but these ones I felt were worth it. Good luck x

[darkbuthappyplace in reply to JuicyLu]

That's great to hear! We are going down this route this time so hopefully gives us the answers we need. Our Dr said ERA, didn't mention EMMA/ALICE but did say that the test would look for any infection? So is that ALICE/EMMA test? xx

[JuicyLu in reply to darkbuthappyplace]

I suspect from that they are doing all 3 as this is often done - but I would check. ERA itself is only testing progesterone as far as I know x

[Cinna-mom]

I got it done after my first failed transfer and it revealed that I needed another day of progesterone before the transfer. I got pregnant on my 3rd cycle so it was very helpful.