ERA test, does it really work ? - Fertility Network UK

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ERA test, does it really work ?

Vipperson profile image
27 Replies

Hi all,

I have one failed FET, I’m planing to have another transfer, but my dr suggested me to do ERA test before next transfer, it’s a bit expensive, I have researched about it, usually drs recommend this after 3-4 failures,

Has anyone out there tried it? Does it really work ? Please give me suggestions should i go for it or not ?

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Vipperson profile image
Vipperson
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27 Replies
Mellia profile image
Mellia

I don't know if I would recommend the ERA. I did an ERA after 3 failed transfers and the result was that I needed an additional 24 hours of progesterone. I questioned if this was accurate as my first FET which was a chemical pregnancy had the standard hours so the doctor decided to add 12 hours to my next FET and that was negative. I think that applying the results of the ERA made me miss my window of implantation. It's my understanding that the ERA is only useful if you are doing a hormonal replacement cycle - NOT in a natural FET. Also I have had two other doctors say they don't use the ERA in their practice as it simply hasn't been shown to work. If you are able to - I would suggest discussing with your doctor the possibility of a modified natural FET.

Vipperson profile image
Vipperson in reply toMellia

Thank you so much for your detailed reply, may i ask you about natural FET ? Because i have never heard this term in my clinic, they use hormonal replacement cycle. As far as I understand, In natural FET we don’t have to use any medication, am i right ?

Belldandy profile image
Belldandy

At my clinic they don’t recommend it as they argue that the results are irrelevant to the success of the treatment considering that the implantation window is not as narrow as it was thought when these tests first came out.

Vipperson profile image
Vipperson in reply toBelldandy

Thank you :)

Vix12345 profile image
Vix12345

I am doing an era cycle this time round along with PGTA testing. We have had 5 transfers, 2 negatives, 2 chemical and a 9 week miscarriage. My view is that it's something else that we can check off to give ourselves the best possible change of success.

Vipperson profile image
Vipperson in reply toVix12345

Good luck for your this cycle

LadyM2019 profile image
LadyM2019

My clinic, the L””ter in London have some evidence from research in their clinic that it does help. The offer the Endiome Trio. But a number of patients there are going pgta, so naturally this will influence results x

Vipperson profile image
Vipperson in reply toLadyM2019

I’ll also discuss about endome trio and pgta. Thank you for your help

Tinkertinkerbell profile image
Tinkertinkerbell

Hi, I swear the ERA is what worked for me. I had 4 failed transfers. Then I did the ERA which said I needed a whole 30 hours extra progesterone before transfer. This adjustment was made for my 5th transfer and it worked! I’m currently 26 weeks pregnant. I wish I did it sooner x

Vipperson profile image
Vipperson in reply toTinkertinkerbell

Ohh that’s great. Wishing you a healthy and smooth pregnancy 🫶🏻

Tinkertinkerbell profile image
Tinkertinkerbell in reply toVipperson

Thank you x

Doodlebug23 profile image
Doodlebug23

My clinic don’t advocate it and said your body changes cycle to cycle anyways. I’ve also read on here of people changing timings due to the results and still BFN, then going back to standard protocol and having success.

Vipperson profile image
Vipperson in reply toDoodlebug23

Yess I believe that it’s all about luck,

PinkPanther1234 profile image
PinkPanther1234

Hi, I did the ERA on a modified natural FET protocol. By that point I had 4 failed transfers. It was found that my timings needed to be adjusted, and using the results my next transfer was successful. I personally feel that ERA made a difference in my case.However, I'm not sure that I would do it after only one transfer. It could have just been bad luck and it's rare for it to work first time (though I know it does for some!). Might be worth asking the clinic if there is any other, less invasive and less expensive tweak they could try first. Good luck and hope your next transfer is successful x

Vipperson profile image
Vipperson in reply toPinkPanther1234

Thank you, I’ll surely discuss other options in sha Allah

Thierry101 profile image
Thierry101

I am doing the ERA, EMMA and ALICE tests done in the next week or so, currently doing the meds for it.

I have had 3 failed cycles (5embryos), PGTA tested new embryos from another round + done all immune testing which everything has come back normal. This is our only other choice other than just doing another transfer.

X

Vipperson profile image
Vipperson in reply toThierry101

Good luck for your this cycle. Keep me updated if possible

Boo718 profile image
Boo718

honestly for us… I firmly believe it is the reason we have our daughter. I had 2 negatives then 2 chemicals. The doctor was like something is stopping this. I did the era Alice and Emma tests. The Alice and Emma came back fine. The era said I needed and extra 24 hours progesterone. We did that for our next fet, transferred on day 6 instead of 5 and she is now 1 year old and asleep upstairs. Personally I would recommend it and the Alice Emma tests xxx

Boo718 profile image
Boo718 in reply toBoo718

I also did the pgta tests for every round xxx

Vipperson profile image
Vipperson in reply toBoo718

thank you so much, it will help me to decide, i’ll talk to my dr about Alice and Emma tests as well.

Thierry101 profile image
Thierry101 in reply toBoo718

Exactly what I needed to hear right now ❤️

Mellia profile image
Mellia

So a natural FET means they are doing the transfer depending on when you would naturally ovulate. This means more scans to check follicle size and to make sure they don't miss when you ovulate or the cycle would need to be cancelled. Research has shown that both the natural and hormonal replacement FETS are equally successful with the advantage of lower risk of complications to you due to high hormone levels being given. However there is a slightly higher risk of cancellation of the transfer because as my doctor explained sometimes you could ovulate before they catch it or for whatever reason not ovulate at all. Also many doctors prefer the hormonal replacement cycles because they can time exactly when to do the transfer and avoid having to schedule you on the weekends because your body does not follow their preferred schedule. I did modified natural FETS which means when I was close to ovulation, I was asked to "trigger ovulation " by giving myself an injection of HCG at a specific time so the doctor can determine more precisely when I ovulated and when to schedule the transfer. I will say that I felt better when I did the natural FET. I took no meds until I had to trigger ovulation with the HCG injection and then I had the option to continue without meds but my doctor believed it would be helpful to provide support during luteal phase and added 2 mg estrogen tablet daily and a 200 mg suppository of progesterone in the evening l. Sorry if my answer is too long! Hopefully it was helpful

Vipperson profile image
Vipperson in reply toMellia

Hey thank you so much for letting me know about this, I really appreciate your help.i’ll surely discuss all this with my dr, as I’m celiac patient and have pcos, medicines really upset my whole body.

Just wanted to know if your ivf was successful with this modified natural FET ?

Mellia profile image
Mellia

So per statistics about 95% will have success after three transfers (assuming they are chromosomally normal. ) unfortunately I have not yet had success after five transfers. In my case though I think it's because I have immune issues that cause my body to reject the embryos from donor eggs so I'm seeing a specialist in immune issues right now. I'm being advised to add intralipids or IVIG to help address the immune issues

Vipperson profile image
Vipperson in reply toMellia

Good luck for your future transfer

GranolaHippo profile image
GranolaHippo

Might be worth checking out the HFEA guidance on add-ons. You can find it here:

hfea.gov.uk/treatments/trea...

That is for the UK. You can also find ESHRE guidance on recurrent implantation failure here:

eshre.eu/Guidelines-and-Leg...

ESHRE is for the whole of Europe.

Both sets of guidance are based on a groups of fertility experts discussing and weighing up the available evidence. Of course, things work anecdotally and for some people probably target things that aren't fully understood yet. But these might give some suggestions of things your clinic should look at first.

Vipperson profile image
Vipperson in reply toGranolaHippo

Thank you, i’ll check them out

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