Have you done ERA, aka mock transfer?

[Anonymous]

Just a quick note from someone who's done the ERA and had success.

I have a son, conceived naturally, then a year later, ectopic, removed left tube. Found endometriosis.

Did 4 IUIs, which resulted all in BFN.

Then moved on to IVF.

1st retrieval led to 1st transfer (Fresh) of 2 embryos, BFN. Had 2 frozen.

1st FET of 1 embryo resulted in miscarriage. 1 still frozen.

Recommended to do another retrieval, then PGS. Resulted in 1/5 normal. Froze.

Did another retrieval to maximize our embryos before another transfer, resulting in 3/6 PGS normal.

So at this point we had 1 untested embryo, and 4 PGS normal embryos.

We went ahead with another FET (2nd) of 1 PGS embryo -- BFN.

3rd FET of 2 PGS normal embryos = BFN.

At this point, RE (at SGF) suggested this was odd, and recommended ERA. I was on the fence, but also sought 2nd opinion, which told me to look into thrombophilia test and anti-thyroid antibodies.

Did testing with SGF, and results were that I had MTHFR homo a1298c, and elevated anti-thyroid antibodies.

SGF recommended the following course of action:
Take natural B-vitamins and extra folate (not folic acid) and take levothyroxine (generic synthroid) every other day, 25mg.

We also decided to go ahead with ERA and do a hysteroscopy.

First ERA came back as pre-receptive. It was suggested to go ahead with transfer, but this was our last chance of 2 embryos left (1 untested, 1 PGS normal), so I wanted verification with a second ERA.

Did hysteroscopy in meantime, everything looked normal, but I needed this for peace of mind.

2nd ERA came back as RECEPTIVE. As least I did everything I could.

November 2016 - Did final FET of the last 2 embryos (because I couldn't extend it to 2 separate FETs emotionally or financially), and ended up with TWINS!

I am currently 27 weeks with twins. Hope to make it to at least 38 with no complications. It's been tough and hard, but I wouldn't change a thing! It was a long road, and I'm not 100% sure what made the difference, but I'm glad I tried it all. Good luck to you!

[Anonymous]

So how many days of progesterone Did you need??

[Anonymous]

I feel like with these ERA anecdotes it's hard to know if it was the ERA because sometimes if you throw enough spaghetti at the wall something sticks... if the number of progesterone days were wrong how did PP get pregnant twice before with FET?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just a quick note from someone who's done the ERA and had success.

I have a son, conceived naturally, then a year later, ectopic, removed left tube. Found endometriosis.

Did 4 IUIs, which resulted all in BFN.

Then moved on to IVF.

1st retrieval led to 1st transfer (Fresh) of 2 embryos, BFN. Had 2 frozen.

1st FET of 1 embryo resulted in miscarriage. 1 still frozen.

Recommended to do another retrieval, then PGS. Resulted in 1/5 normal. Froze.

Did another retrieval to maximize our embryos before another transfer, resulting in 3/6 PGS normal.

So at this point we had 1 untested embryo, and 4 PGS normal embryos.

We went ahead with another FET (2nd) of 1 PGS embryo -- BFN.

3rd FET of 2 PGS normal embryos = BFN.

At this point, RE (at SGF) suggested this was odd, and recommended ERA. I was on the fence, but also sought 2nd opinion, which told me to look into thrombophilia test and anti-thyroid antibodies.

Did testing with SGF, and results were that I had MTHFR homo a1298c, and elevated anti-thyroid antibodies.

SGF recommended the following course of action:
Take natural B-vitamins and extra folate (not folic acid) and take levothyroxine (generic synthroid) every other day, 25mg.

We also decided to go ahead with ERA and do a hysteroscopy.

First ERA came back as pre-receptive. It was suggested to go ahead with transfer, but this was our last chance of 2 embryos left (1 untested, 1 PGS normal), so I wanted verification with a second ERA.

Did hysteroscopy in meantime, everything looked normal, but I needed this for peace of mind.

2nd ERA came back as RECEPTIVE. As least I did everything I could.

November 2016 - Did final FET of the last 2 embryos (because I couldn't extend it to 2 separate FETs emotionally or financially), and ended up with TWINS!

I am currently 27 weeks with twins. Hope to make it to at least 38 with no complications. It's been tough and hard, but I wouldn't change a thing! It was a long road, and I'm not 100% sure what made the difference, but I'm glad I tried it all. Good luck to you!

Thanks for this info. I don't know what to do. SG doesn't think there are any other issues to fix. I've asked about immune testing and MTHR testing and they say these are for people experiencing different symptoms (not in those exact words, that's my summary of their response). It's so frustrating. I'm at a loss b/c with our final embryo I want to do everything feasible so I don't look back and wonder, what if.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:16:53 again. Immune testing looks at inflammation- like natural killer cells, TNF alpha cytokines, and auto immune things like anti thyroid antibodies, Lupus antibodies, anti phospholipid antibodies. There's a whole panel they do.

What is your concern re: lovenox and prednisone?

I also got pregnant without, but I am willing to try the immune meds this time because 3 PGS embryos failing isn't normal. Keep in mind that your body can change.

Please let me know how the ERA biopsy goes- I am curious. If you pursue that route.

OP here. I asked for SG to do immune testing and it came back normal. I will do the ERA but may not go the prednisone/lovenox route that CHR recommended. Thanks for the info.