ERA outcomes?

shauna43

Hello,
   I have had 5 ivf fails. I am doing a ERA test this cycle. I have seen a handful of posts about this but can you please tell me your story and outcome after the test! Thanks ladies 

shauna43

Really? No-one?

kristimh80

I wish I could help! Have you asked on the Infertility Veterans page as well? Best of luck to you!!

shauna43

Thank you I didn't know there was a veteran page. Yeah suppose I am a veteran. 

JamieH2000

@shauna43- There was a good thread on this a few months ago, and I think alot of the girls that had the ERA found success. You may want to try on the PAIF board in case they are around posting over there. I don't think I know of many ladies on here that have done the ERA recently...

BornReady

I agree with ^^^. Definitely post this on the PAIF board, there are at least a few women who had success after the ERA.

Hopeful_mom

@shauna43 i wasn't familiar with an ERA test and went to dr google, and found this article.  I think you should give it a read.  I'm wondering if I should inquire about the same test!

https://fcionline.com/our-center/patient-testimonials/how-the-era-test-helped-us-overcome-secondary-infertility/

shauna43

@Hopeful_mom I have read this one before. Sorry I didn't explain the ERA on the other thread.  My RE won't transfer me until I get this test. My biopsy is currently scheduled for June 12 and a 2nd biopsy June 14. I've had 5 ivf fails with 1 miscarriage and 1 chemical.  So I'm hoping I get a answer from this test. I currently have 13 embryos frozen. And I have ivf coverage so I'm really anxious to try again.  Hopingbthis gives me hope 

Hopeful_mom

shauna43 did your RE have u take anything for your MTHFR gene?  I'm all OOP for this and I'm quite nervous to have a transfer not knowing why i MC the first time!  You make normal embryos so theres no reason to lose hope!  How many frosties do u have left?

shauna43

@Hopeful_mom yes I take a special prenatal for my mthfr  genetic mutation. But they really don't seem too worried about the mutation. I'm sorry your oop. I used to be. I got unlimited coverage 2 years ago thank God. I have put in 7 pgs normal embryos and failed. As of now I have 13 frozen at my clinic.  How many do you have frozen? I'll let you know about the results of the ERA test. Fx I get a answers 

Hopeful_mom

shauna43 right now I have 2 pgs frosties waiting for me, i've been trying to bank more.  Hoping I will add to it this cycle, should hopefully know in about another week or two.  I'm just a bit down as 2 cycles ago I got back all abnormal so i'm just freaking out that the same is going to happen...eventhough I do feel that I'm going to get some normies back....praying that will be the case.  Really hoping I dont have to do another ivf cycle.  My REs eyes bugged out of her head when i mentioned we would probably have to do another round.  I'm 41 so its now or never to get as many healthy embabies as i can in hopes of having at least 2 healthy pregnancies.  Its hard when I was carrying twins and couldve been all set....ugh this process!!!  you have 13 thats amazing!!  i'm sorry you're having such a rough time.  Hopefully they will find an answer!  Have you ever thought about going through surrogacy?  I dont mean to offend, i'm just terrified of MC one of mine again especially if its my fault that i'm starting to think about it at times.

shauna43

I hope you don't have to do another ER. I understand about the now or never thing. I am 37 with no kids. Times ticking. I had 3 frozen before I did this last ER but I wanted to get as many frozen as possible. You never know what can happen in life. We are planning on moving to Orlando in a few months so I just wanted to get more frozen in case I quit my job. I will not do a surrogate or adopt because I want to be pregnant myself. I might consider it if I was older with no coverage but as of now I have unlimited coverage and I won't give up on myself yet. I hear you about the miscarriage tho. I had a still birth at 16 weeks, miscarriage at 6 weeks and then the chemical. It's really hard to go thru.  The stillbirth crushes my whole world.  It was the demise of my ex and me. But it worked out because now I have a amazing supportive husband that will go anything for me. 

shauna43

@Hopeful_mom what protocol do they have you do for WE? 

Hopeful_mom

shauna43 ugh i'm so sorry you've been through so much!  I"m glad you're with someone of quality now and maybe thats why you had to go through so much.  We just never know as usually kids will bond you with another human for life!!!  I'm still not healed from my MC and i doubt I ever will truly be just hoping to find some peace with it...still can't though.

WE??

got my update for my embabies 3 out of the 4 made it to blast thank goodness, the 4th was immature so I knew it was a long shot.  My concern is I had A's going into day 4 and now i have 5BA, 5BB and 5BC, praying O can still have some normies make it back to me!!!!  Still think I might need another cycle, is 4 IVF cycles back to back really good for u??  Will probably need to decide soon and go in for blood work to see if I need to start doing EPP.  Have you been doing acupuncture??

AND I still feel the same as you trying to not give up on my body just yet.  A dr at my clinic not my RE mentioned donor eggs to me after I responded poorly during my 2nd ivf cycle.  I was so angry and cried right away stating that I haven't given up on my eggs and until we get them out i'm not looking to donor eggs right now.  I did get pregnant with twins on the next cycle so i showed him right  now I need to hold on to them full term the next time.  Am I pleased I didn't make another normal embryo till my 5th cycle no...but I also MC a healthy embryo so its all still such an unknown.

bethann1022

Well, it looks like I am going to be having an ERA in June instead of my next FET as originally planned. I had a consult with a second RE today to discuss next steps if this coming FET is not successful and he highly recommended I do the ERA with my current RE before doing the FET as the embryo we have frozen is good quality and if it is a simple implantation problem that can be solved with a day or two less or more of progesterone, why not figure that out now?  

Interestingly, when my RE first introduced the idea of IVF to my husband and I back in October 2016, I discussed it with my parents openly.  The next day my dad called me and said "Hey are you going to have an ERA test before you do IVF?"  I had no idea what it was, but I guess he had seen it on the news that it was helping improve the success odds of IVF, was new technology and explained the process to me.  I immediately looked it up online and saw the previous discussion on here, which intrigued me, but I also saw that it is most useful for women with multiple failed transfers.  I prayed that would not be me, but here we are.  

My RE discussed the ERA after our first IVF round (with 2 failed single FETs), but she also felt we had not gotten good embryos yet and said it was 50/50 that we should do it or wait to see if we had better embryos to try after IVF 2, which we did.  After we transferred two good quality embryos and they both failed to implant, she highly recommended it, but as I'm sure you understand, I was really focused on getting pregnant asap and hated the idea of a 1-2 month delay.  But after the last week of thinking it over and speaking with the second RE today, it just makes more sense than moving forward with another FET without even trying to research if it is an implantation problem.  

I must say, for the first time today, I felt clarity with this decision.  There is so much patience during this process, which is something I am definitely not good at.  I am excited about having this test done hopefully in the next couple of weeks and at least knowing for sure whether this is contributing to the failed transfers or not

shauna43

@hopeful_mom I meant ER  not we lol I mean what stims do you do? I found better results with follistim, menopur and ganirelix. The antagonist protocol.  I also did do acupuncture for all my ER and transfers. I'm so happy 3 embies made it to blast. I know it sux about the grades but there is hope with those grades. I think your embryos are still good quality. I totally understand about being upset tho. My Dr also suggested a surrogate after my 1st miscarriage. And I flat out said no. And I cried too they said they won't bring it up again and won't give up on me. So I feel very lucky.  My RE is amazing and I think of her almost like a friend. I'm sorry for your loss of your twins. I'm so sad for you. (((Hugs))). 

shauna43

@bethann1022 welcome to the ERA club then lol mine is scheduled June 12 and 14. Like you I don't want to postpone a ivf but I'm tired of putting pgs normal embryos and failing. My RE won't transfer me until I get this test because of 5 fails. I've got 12 embryos frozen. 

I'm so glad you feel clarity and peace with your descision.i hope this test brings us success!!! Do you know when yours is scheduled?

bethann1022

@shauna43-  I don't know when mine will be yet, but probably sometime between June 10th-14th I am guessing based on the timing of my last few FET cycles.  How come you are doing 2 biopsies?  That is so interesting, will it be 5 days after progesterone and 7 days just so hopefully you won't have to repeat it again next month if it is pre or post receptive?  

It is nice to share this part of the journey with someone else who is also going through the test.  It is awesome you have so many frozen embryos waiting, hopefully this test will reveal the problem for both of us!

shauna43

@bethann1022 they are doing two biopses in case the first one is abnormal or they have to retest based on the result. That war I don't have to wait another month to redo the test.  And postpone transfer. Yes it looks like my first biopsy is the next day after my 5th pio shot. Then another biopsy 2 days later.  I think they aren't going to make me pay for that one unless I need it. I'm really excited for this test. I hope this gives us answers:)

Hopeful_mom

@bethann1022 shauna43 hoping the tests can shed answers for the both of you - it doesn't sound fun.  I didnt bring it up to my RE yet, I wonder if she will think its necessary.
I've done the same protocol as you.  When I tried the lupron microflaredose in cycle 2 it was so bad that it was converted to an iui boooo.  So back to the antagonist i went adding estrogen priming on the 4th cycle were all my embabies were abnormal booo.  But luckily cycle 5 I did the same but not as much estrogen priming and got a normie...now cycle 6 i didn't have any time for EP so really hoping that i can still make a normie in this group.  I went in for bw today so we shall see what they want me to do.  I dont know i'm feeling all this weird cramping and wondering if AF will be coming sooner then later.  
Personal question for you and you can totally not answer or PM me.  Has the gender mattered to you at all.  What you transfer now, especially after the first loss you experienced...do you find yourself effected one way or another...or do you just always put the strongest in first??

shauna43

@Hopeful_mom I sent you a pm

Hopeful_mom

shauna43 I didn't see one so i sent you one

shauna43

@Hopeful_mom probably messaged wrong person lol  I responded to you tho 

bettiecola

I just went through the ERA test in April and got my BFP on Friday! Since October I have had 4 transfers and one egg retrieval. This was the 4th transfer and it was a PGS tested normal embryo. My test result stated that I needed one more day of progesterone, so I was "pre-receptive". Rather than doing another mock cycle, my RE suggested that we just proceed with the FET due to a high success rate they have had with the test in the past. It's so worth the extra time and money!! I really hope the test works for you as well. No matter what, at least you feel like you've given it all you've got! Oh, and the other great thing is that it acts as a scratch too. Double bonus! Fingers crossed for you!!

shauna43

@bettiecola omg thank you so very much for sharing! Brings me hope. So your RE let you go thru a fet the same cycle? Mine will not allow me too. I have done a scratch before on my 4th transfer and got a chemical. Congrats that's amazing news. I have put all pgs norm AA and still failed....hoping this test does the same for me as it did for you.

bettiecola

I did the test, then they had me stop my progesterone and had me start birth control until we got the results back, which took 2 weeks. Then I stopped the pill and then they gave me a date for my baseline ultrasound and I officially started there. I did a "natural" FET using femara to help me ovulate because I have PCOS, but I believe the same timing would work for a medicated cycle. I hope this information helps! It seems like they don't do the ERA very often so you feel like you're going into it blind. I wish you the best!!

shauna43

@bettiecola oh so you had to wait til the next cycle. See I have to wait til the next cycle too but at my clinic it takes 50 days to prepare for a fet ...so I can't transfer til august....and I'm probably moving before august so I'm going go have to wait awhile. 

Thank you for your story....its amazing and I feel so much hope. Congrats again! 

bethann1022

@bettiecola Thank you for sharing your story, definitely gives me hope that this test may actually help reveal the problem and lead to a BFP next cycle!  

@shauna43 your clinic has a 50 day FET prep?  Wow....mine is only about 2 weeks.  

My ERA has officially been scheduled for Monday June 12th.  Each of my three FETs they have me go in for baseline on CD2 and then 8 days of estradiol patch, repeat BW and US and then start Crinone gel (which I prefer to PIO for various reasons), which I remain on for 4 days then transfer, which is technically around CD14.  This cycle, my RE wants to change a few variables, so I am going to be on estrogen patches for 12 days (next US on Wed 6/7) and then if lining and estrogen levels are good, I will start Crinone BID and my ERA is scheduled for 6/12.  She had initially told me we would mock my three previous cycle, so I was surprised with the additional 4 days of estradiol patch and 1 day of crinone, but per the nurse, she is hoping we may be able to actually get a Receptive result with these changes, or at least if it's pre-receptive we can know I need at least 6 days of Crinone.  I am just keeping fingers crossed that we won't have to repeat the test again next month and we can move forward.  I did ask her about doing two biopsies two days apart but she said their office won't do this, and most of the time one ERA test is sufficient.  

Sounds like we will be on the same schedule for our ERA and getting results back, excited to see what they reveal for us by the end of the month!

shauna43

@bethann1022 yes 50 days to prepare for fet...its crazy. My ERA biopsy is June 12 as well so we are on the same schedule. I also am repeating what my normal protocol is. I take pio instead of crionone. I'm very excited. Keep us updated on your progress and outcome! 

bettiecola

@bethann1022 Goodluck to you!! That's is funny that your RE office said the same thing about one ERA test being sufficient. Way better for our bodies and our wallets too! Let us know how it goes!

shauna43

@bethann1022 yeah I'm sure my clinic just wants to be safe than sorry with me. I'd probably lose my sh$# if I had to wait another month to repeat it lol they said they won't run the second biopsy unless I need it. And it's 250 instead of 600 for the second biopsy. I'm super excited!

bethann1022

@shauna43. how is your cycle for the ERA going?  I am assuming you have now added progesterone?  Interestingly, my last two FET cycles my RE had me on 3 estradiol patches (change every 48 hours), and I was monitored after 8 days and my lining was 10.2 and 10.8.  This cycle, she had me stay on patches for 12 days, well today I went in for BW and US and my lining was only 7.8, my progesterone was 1.3.  I am not sure why they check progesterone and not estrogen at this point, but last cycle it was 1.4 so not much different.  However, she is having me go back in tomorrow for BW and I am thinking the plan will be to start the Crinone tomorrow night.  I am not sure if this pushes us back a day so the ERA would be on Tuesday the 13th, or still on Monday the 12th.  I guess we will find out tomorrow.  Hope everything is going well for you, it's hard being patient this cycle that's for sure!

shauna43

@bethann1022 hey there! I'm always on patches for like ever with my fets. I start taking once I start AF and continue with them every other day. It goes from 1 patch to 4 patches.  

I am actually just starting pio tonight...in exactly 7 min. My RE said I have to take the pio at exactly 6 pm every night. My biopsy is Monday at 2 pm. Im ready to get this over with and results and then transfer in August.  

I don't do bw until the day of the biopsy. So I'm not sure why they had you do the be. My lining yesterday was 11 triple line.

Let me know when yours is for sure

bethann1022

@shauna43 For some reason my clinic checks progesterone around CD 13 after being on estrogen for about 12 days, before starting progesterone.  My lining was 7.8 yesterday, triple band, and my progesterone was 1.3, which supposedly is right where they want it to be, yet for some reason they had me go back in for bloodworm today.  I personally think it's because the RE who originally reviewed my results back on 5/26 did not realize that my specific RE only has me take the crinone gel for 4 days and not 5 before the transfer.  I called their office yesterday after I received the orders to stay on estrogen and come back for bloodworm today.  I asked if my transfer was being pushed to Tuesday as the other RE had suggested I be on the Crinone for 5 days this time to change a variable for the ERA and see if we could get a receptive result.  However, my RE wants to keep it the same as my last 3 FETs, so I should be starting the progesterone tonight, for 4 days and the plan is for my ERA on Monday morning.  I can't wait to get this test over with also, but I am also trying to stay realistic as I am hoping for a pre or post-receptive result so as to have some sort of explanation for the previously failed FETs, however that may require an additional ERA next month with a different transfer window.  

Hopefully the new technology can pinpoint a more specific window of recommendation so my RE and I can be comfortable moving onto FET, because this whole process seems to take a long time and I'm ready to move forward.  Excited that the test is getting so close though and keeping my fingers crossed that the results will reveal something at least to make it all worth it!

Are they giving you anything for pain/discomfort related to the biopsy?  I had an endometrial biopsy done 2 years ago by my RE and she suggested I take 800mg ibuoprofen 30-45min prior to the procedure, which let me tell you did nothing.  She had a really hard time, since because of my PCOS my lining does not get very thick without estrogen or other hormone support.  It was awful, my uterus kept contracting and although she said I did great, the pain was unbearable for those 10-15 minutes during the procedure.  This time, she actually offered to use a sedative/pain med like they do for egg retrievals, which I accepted.  Only negative, is it will make the entire procedure take longer and my husband has to go with me as I can't drive after. 

Also, it's strange your RE is having you take the PIO at exactly 6pm every night, that seems a little constraining, especially if you'll have to do that same time every night when you do an FET and are in the TWW in the future too.  Mine usually just says do it within a one hour window and 12 hours apart (since the crinone is twice daily).

shauna43

@bethann1022 omg yes the biopsy is awful. Im usually pretty good with pain But this was the worst few min of my life. My biopsy was short but hurt very badly. I held it together tho I might take a valium if I can lol  but no I didn't take anything for the biopsy. Sorry you got pcos...thats the one thing I don't have. I didn't know it effects lining. Im glad your hubby is there for you.  Mine is as well
 That's why I'm doing a biopsy mon and wed. In case the first one is pre receptive.  Then the will run the second biopsy so I don't have to like 
waste another month. Can your clinic do that? I thought for the biopsy they want 5 dats of pio? I know u said they are doing it on 4 days for you because that's what you've transferred I'm the past.
Like you I just want to move forward....cant believe it's almost time! Excited!!

Hopeful_mom

@bethann1022 shauna43 hi ladies just checking in on ya - glad your almost there!  Certainly does not sound like fun so hope its the answer you need!  Girl power!  shauna u had or r having a great trip

bethann1022

@shauna43. I guess with Corinne, most people only need four days instead of five (I checked with another clinic and they confirmed this also).  Because of my PCOS, I am anovulatory and do not menstruate on my own, I have needed BCP since I was about fifteen.  Because of the hormone issues r/t my PCOS, according to my endocrinologist, my lining does not thicken each month as it does for women without PCOS.  I actually had an endocrinologist tell me a couple months ago that some women with PCOS do not build a lining whatsoever on their own.  While I do, it just does not become thick each month (i.e I did not get my period for over a year on my own and my lining was only a 5).  However, with estrogen supplementation, my lining responds beautifully (is always between an 8-11 after 8-10 days) so I am at least thankful for that.  

My RE won't consider doing a two biopsies this month, she told me that she advises against it because one biopsy may affect the lining and may make the one two days later not as accurate.  She did say that the technology is more advanced than several years ago and they give a recommended transfer timeframe, which is typically very accurate, so hopeful that this one test will be adequate as I really do not want to do this again next month.  Excited to get this over with in two days and hope we both get results back quickly!  Hope you're enjoying the weekend, I live in MA and we are finally getting some beautiful June-like weather!  

shauna43

Hey ladies...biopsy #1 Is done!!!!!! Now the 2ww lol for the test results that Is! How was your @bethann1022 ....mine was painful but bearable....i took a Vicodin before the procedure lol

Hopeful_mom

shauna43 yay glad its over!  What happens in two days, were they looking to do another one i thought?

shauna43

@Hopeful_mom yes another biopsy wed  and have to wait 2 weeks for my result 

bethann1022

Mine was done yesterday at 10am, I actually requested they use a mild anesthetic this time and oh was it so much better!.  They gave me just a small dose of propofol to put me to sleep, but I woke up immediately when it was over and was able to go home in a half hour and go about my day.  It is nice that there is very little pain after the actual procedure, mild cramping for around an hour and that is it.  The worst part as you said, is the now two week wait for the results.  Isn't it ironic how everything is a two week wait?  I asked yesterday if I could start prepping for my FET as soon as AF arrives, as they reassured me that I would not have to do another ERA test next month.  I guess there is a very high accuracy, almost 90% according to my RE, of the 12 hour window recommended by the results.  She did say there are some women who do request a repeat the following month to confirm, but she said she has seen no cases in their office where the repeat showed different results so they don't recommend doing it again.  I was told that if AF arrives quickly I should start on BCP on  CD1 to await results, I am keeping my fingers crossed that we get results before CD1 so we can move forward as my insurance has already approved my next FET.  I just hope the results indicate one way or another.  Good luck with your second one tomorrow!