Era or other ideas?

[Georgina81]

Hi everyone, Ments... so here with another failed de/os transfer in the last year and a half. So far had three negatives, tried a double transfer and got positive but blighted ovum and d&c. Had a hysteroscopy, era, Emma/Alice. Only thing was the era came back as unreadable and they are telling me to do it again, im 43 this year and am so unsure of wasting another cycle to do this after reading mixed reviews. This cycle had thinners and Intralipids added, nothing showed on immune testing.

Any advise on whether to do the era again, or has anyone tried down regulation, although no signs of endo?

Starting to feel like giving up, including own cycle and donor now going on for four years trying.

Many thanks for any advice

[Hidden]

This must be a very difficult & stressful time for you Hope you have taken advantage of the counselling appointments you should be offered while on treatment For added support take a look at our website fertilitynetworkuk.org -Access to Support then select Fertility Groups - UK-Wide Groups and scroll to 40 and Over Fertility Group for closed Facebook group Or register for next Zoom meeting by email [next meeting 29th May 7pm ]

Look after yourself

Janet-Partner

[Georgina81 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you for your reply, I haven't actually done any counselling in this, I am using a clinic abroad as we moved to donor and not available where I am currently living. Think I might benefit from this, my husband is nearly 50 and he is now starting to wonder whether we should continue and this has given me doubts also. I would keep going if it were up to me though!! I will have a look at the website, thank you again!! X

[Millbanks]

Hello lovely,

So sorry to hear about your journey so far.

I had the ERA done and it showed that I needed and extra 24 hours of progesterone - which alone wasn't enough to have a successful outcome, but adding intralipids, steroids and PGT-A testing our embryos was.

So it's tricky to know whether the ERA made a difference - there is lots of conflicting advice. Do you know why it was unreadable? I would probably be tempted to try it again if that is the only thing you've not done. Sounds like you've ticked a lot of boxes.

Have you thought about PGT-A testing your embryos? I know it's not for everyone but for us it was worth it to make sure we weren't putting back embryos that would never had stood a chance. It took 6 FETs to get a BFP so a lot of trial and error...

xx

[Georgina81 in reply to Millbanks]

Thank you for your reply, the era basically said when compared to their control sample they could not read it properly, they have said maybe they would be able to if they did it again but still not a guarantee When moved to donor they said no need to test as they are young but I am regretting that now. Our first donor we got four and our second donor gave us 3 embryos so we have 2 left now.

On the positive transfer we added in the Intralipids and did double embryo so I'm leaning towards thinking to try the two again, I have read that pred can sometimes stop implantation but it might be worth trying next time

I think I'm going to have to just try the era again, as the clinic are quite adamant now about this as they say they have no other ideas.

I really appreciate your reply and support

Many thanks,

[Millbanks in reply to Georgina81]

It's very tricky with PGT-A testing - often the chances of getting normal embryos are higher with younger donors but it's not always the case I guess. That's great that you have 2 left.

I would definitely recommend adding in prednisolone - it's worked for me twice now and all the transfers before we used it were flat out negatives.

I would also recommend a course of vaginal probiotics in the week before your start progesterone just to help that bacteria - I feel like we take so many meds that everything gets a bit out of balance.

xx

[Georgina81 in reply to Millbanks]

Thank you, considering to do the era just so I know either way. I have a pack of the vaginal probiotics so will give them a go also!! I do have a prescription for pred, so will prob try that also!!!Thanks again for the information, I'm feeling a lot calmer after all the support here!! X

[Millbanks in reply to Georgina81]

You're very welcome my lovely, this forum is such an amazing wealth of knowledge and support, I'd have been lost without it!

I think it's a good idea to get the ERA done - it's good to be armed with as much information as possible. I would definitely take the pred too - sometimes our bodies just need a little bit of extra support...

xx

[leo1980]

hi Georgina81,

I am 43 too and 15 weeks pregnant with my 8/9th transfer! (OE and sperm) Been on this rollercoaster for nearly 8 years I can’t remember.

We did do the ERA and all the other tests you mentioned plus PGT -A. I had BFP’s and epic fails with PGT-A embryos so wasn’t convinced by it, however, I am glad we did as when we did our 12 week scan we opted to do the combined screening for downs etc. our tests came back with high probability. I went back to the embryologist and she shared our report which shows each embryo tested and what they were tested for and what abnormalities they contained. Of my 6 eggs collected in that cycle only 2 were genetically normally. One is the one I have now. We opted for the second round of testing and it was absolutely fine! The results took about a week to come in but having that buffer of knowing it was tested made it a bit easier to sleep at night! Just a small ray of hope.

We used steroids, aspirin, clexane, oestrogen, progesterone in oil plus pessaries twice a day. I needed 136 hours of progesterone as per my era and we did intralipids on day of transfer and two times after that! I also did Canesflor monthly up to treatment month and took monthly vitamin D and B12 injections. Also had my thyroid checked! It seems like a lot but it was staggered over a few months. Don’t give up just yet, you have two more left just throw the kitchen sink at it!

Best of luck!

[Georgina81 in reply to leo1980]

Ahhhh thank you so so much for your message, I'm so pleased for you congrats!!! With oe also that's amazing!!! I will definitely consider the era again, I suppose maybe it could make a difference ill never know until I do it and would be wondering

Thank you again for your message, I really appreciate it!

[leo1980 in reply to Georgina81]

Did they say why is was inconclusive? Surely, it should be redone at no cost to you if the sample taken wasn’t good enough on their part? You got this lovely. It will just take time but you will get there.

I can’t say there is excitement here with reaching 15 weeks… it’s just more huddles.. actually it’s beginning to hurt my feelings that I am old because every single test I have done and every mid wife appointment they seem to drive home how ‘old’ I am to be having a baby!

[Georgina81 in reply to leo1980]

Ahhhhh I'm so sorry it sometimes makes you feel that, I can totally understand it though, but you should feel so proud and hold your head high, people don't realise the struggles that goes with it. I don't think people realise how their words hurt. When my own cycles failed they were so quick to push donor as I'm older. My husband is nearly 50 now and he's getting concerned about trying for much longer.

The era basically said that when compared to the test sample it was an invalid result. They had no real reason and said that next time it 'should' work!!

Xx

[leo1980 in reply to Georgina81]

No they don’t. I wish they would realise I feel bad enough about myself as it is! I o don’t need them to tell me I am old…I see it in the mirror and quality of my bloody eggs made it crystal clear too!

Do a little more prep on you and then repeat the ERA. They all go to the same lab in the uk so it’s not like we can even compare prices to get a better deal plus the meds!! Another expense!

Your hubby isn’t old at 50! That rocker from the stones had a kid at 70! Again the difference between men and women. My husband doesn’t get the older dad vibe as we are been pushed around the system to get midwife and OBGYN appointments…me on the other hand.. I get the nod and the look… as if it was by choice I waited this long to have a baby,

You have 2 shots left - throw the sink at it… in the meantime I will go google where that expression came from!

Best of luck and shout if you need anything x

[Georgina81 in reply to leo1980]

Ahhh thanks so much, I'm keeping everything crossed for you for a relaxing next few months!! I'm so grateful for your replies and feel a lot calmer, I felt I was in a bit of a mess as no one seems to understand if you haven't been in that position.

If you need anything also please ask, and thanks again!! Xx