Have you done ERA, aka mock transfer?

[Anonymous]

I posted this in TTC but realize this probably applies more in this forum. Has anyone after unsuccessful transfers, been advised to do an ERA (mock transfer)? We've had three unsuccessful transfer and my doc recommended we do this. What was your experience like? Was it helpful? Do you think it helped you get pregnant (or just feel like dumping money down the drain)? Since nothing else has worked, I figure it can't hurt besides my bank acct but would love to hear from others who have gone through this. Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Hi, I have been posting about this recently and did a lot of research.

I just had 2 chemicals and 1 BFN with PGS tested embryos on FET. I was curious about ERA as well.

Is it for your first pregnancy?

I had 2 kids before, both from FET, and both from the standard FET protocol, so my RE is skeptical I need this, even though I was nagging him about it.

I've definitely heard anecdotally that some people have had success with it, but Dr. Sher of the SIRM blog doesn't believe in it, and my RE basically implied to me he thought there is no established evidence of the efficacy and it was a new bio technology that these guys spun off in an IPO to form a company that has the rights to this and it's making tons of $$, sort of implying it was somewhat gimmicky.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hi, I have been posting about this recently and did a lot of research.

I just had 2 chemicals and 1 BFN with PGS tested embryos on FET. I was curious about ERA as well.

Is it for your first pregnancy?

I had 2 kids before, both from FET, and both from the standard FET protocol, so my RE is skeptical I need this, even though I was nagging him about it.

I've definitely heard anecdotally that some people have had success with it, but Dr. Sher of the SIRM blog doesn't believe in it, and my RE basically implied to me he thought there is no established evidence of the efficacy and it was a new bio technology that these guys spun off in an IPO to form a company that has the rights to this and it's making tons of $$, sort of implying it was somewhat gimmicky.

No, this is for my second. My first I was able to get pregnant using clomid. We thought IVF would work so my dr wants to do this to see if adjusting the days makes a difference b/c we've used PGS tested normal embryos as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hi, I have been posting about this recently and did a lot of research.

I just had 2 chemicals and 1 BFN with PGS tested embryos on FET. I was curious about ERA as well.

Is it for your first pregnancy?

I had 2 kids before, both from FET, and both from the standard FET protocol, so my RE is skeptical I need this, even though I was nagging him about it.

I've definitely heard anecdotally that some people have had success with it, but Dr. Sher of the SIRM blog doesn't believe in it, and my RE basically implied to me he thought there is no established evidence of the efficacy and it was a new bio technology that these guys spun off in an IPO to form a company that has the rights to this and it's making tons of $$, sort of implying it was somewhat gimmicky.

No, this is for my second. My first I was able to get pregnant using clomid. We thought IVF would work so my dr wants to do this to see if adjusting the days makes a difference b/c we've used PGS tested normal embryos as well.

How many PGS tested embryos have failed? Did you do a saline sonogram yet to make sure uterine cavity has no scar tissue, etc.?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hi, I have been posting about this recently and did a lot of research.

I just had 2 chemicals and 1 BFN with PGS tested embryos on FET. I was curious about ERA as well.

Is it for your first pregnancy?

I had 2 kids before, both from FET, and both from the standard FET protocol, so my RE is skeptical I need this, even though I was nagging him about it.

I've definitely heard anecdotally that some people have had success with it, but Dr. Sher of the SIRM blog doesn't believe in it, and my RE basically implied to me he thought there is no established evidence of the efficacy and it was a new bio technology that these guys spun off in an IPO to form a company that has the rights to this and it's making tons of $$, sort of implying it was somewhat gimmicky.

No, this is for my second. My first I was able to get pregnant using clomid. We thought IVF would work so my dr wants to do this to see if adjusting the days makes a difference b/c we've used PGS tested normal embryos as well.

How many PGS tested embryos have failed? Did you do a saline sonogram yet to make sure uterine cavity has no scar tissue, etc.?

8 of our 13 failed and yes we had a saline sono and everything was clear.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hi, I have been posting about this recently and did a lot of research.

I just had 2 chemicals and 1 BFN with PGS tested embryos on FET. I was curious about ERA as well.

Is it for your first pregnancy?

I had 2 kids before, both from FET, and both from the standard FET protocol, so my RE is skeptical I need this, even though I was nagging him about it.

I've definitely heard anecdotally that some people have had success with it, but Dr. Sher of the SIRM blog doesn't believe in it, and my RE basically implied to me he thought there is no established evidence of the efficacy and it was a new bio technology that these guys spun off in an IPO to form a company that has the rights to this and it's making tons of $$, sort of implying it was somewhat gimmicky.

No, this is for my second. My first I was able to get pregnant using clomid. We thought IVF would work so my dr wants to do this to see if adjusting the days makes a difference b/c we've used PGS tested normal embryos as well.

How many PGS tested embryos have failed? Did you do a saline sonogram yet to make sure uterine cavity has no scar tissue, etc.?

8 of our 13 failed and yes we had a saline sono and everything was clear.

You've done 8 PGS transfers? all BFN? did you consider an immune or blood clotting workup?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hi, I have been posting about this recently and did a lot of research.

I just had 2 chemicals and 1 BFN with PGS tested embryos on FET. I was curious about ERA as well.

Is it for your first pregnancy?

I had 2 kids before, both from FET, and both from the standard FET protocol, so my RE is skeptical I need this, even though I was nagging him about it.

I've definitely heard anecdotally that some people have had success with it, but Dr. Sher of the SIRM blog doesn't believe in it, and my RE basically implied to me he thought there is no established evidence of the efficacy and it was a new bio technology that these guys spun off in an IPO to form a company that has the rights to this and it's making tons of $$, sort of implying it was somewhat gimmicky.

No, this is for my second. My first I was able to get pregnant using clomid. We thought IVF would work so my dr wants to do this to see if adjusting the days makes a difference b/c we've used PGS tested normal embryos as well.

How many PGS tested embryos have failed? Did you do a saline sonogram yet to make sure uterine cavity has no scar tissue, etc.?

8 of our 13 failed and yes we had a saline sono and everything was clear.

You've done 8 PGS transfers? all BFN? did you consider an immune or blood clotting workup?

Sorry, I misread the question. 8 of our 13 tested abnormal. We did three transfers and three failed. One embryo didn't survive the thaw so we have one embryo left from the first cycle.

[Anonymous]

16:53 again. Turns out we are pretty similar. I also had 3 BFN with PGS tested blasts recently. Although I have two kids, both from prior FET, so I am less certain ERA is the issue for me (I got pregnant with that # days of progesterone before, so unless receptivity changes???).

Were your embryos tested using NGS, or anything that picks up mosaic?

How old are you now?

I think it's worth getting immune testing/clotting done. I am proceeding with that course of treatment on my next transfer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:16:53 again. Turns out we are pretty similar. I also had 3 BFN with PGS tested blasts recently. Although I have two kids, both from prior FET, so I am less certain ERA is the issue for me (I got pregnant with that # days of progesterone before, so unless receptivity changes???).

Were your embryos tested using NGS, or anything that picks up mosaic?

How old are you now?

I think it's worth getting immune testing/clotting done. I am proceeding with that course of treatment on my next transfer.

I'm 39. What's involved in immune testing/clotting? I did testing through CHR, which covered immune issues, and while the numbers are in the normal range (i.e., testosterone, DEHA, sex hormone binding globulin), they are on the lower end of the scale. CHR suggests taking prednisone, lovenox and baby aspirin to get them up and think that will help. I've heard the risks that are associated with taking prednisone and lovenox and am not sure it's worth it. Since I was able to get pregnant using clomid, we aren't sure why the FETs aren't taking.

[Anonymous]

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.

[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.

Does SG do immune testing or would I need to go to another company?

I spoke to a fertility doctor who advised against it. That the risks associated with these are pretty serious. I know my mom was on prednisone and remember her talking about side effects.

[Anonymous]

more food for thought as you figure out options for next transfer.

do a blood test for MTHFR. found out i was complex hetero and switched to a folate based prenatal and believe it was one of the things that helped my body prepare for a pregnancy.

post IVF we wound up on the donor egg route and my first DE transfer failed - this got the docs focusing on what other tools they should be throwing at me in a hail mary as we only had one embryo left to transfer. a cycle before the second DE transfer I did an endometrial scratch. and then leading up to/post transfer was put on prednisone and heparin. i wound up having a successful transfer with a live birth, and in my gut I feel like the endo scratch was the winning tool that transfer cycle. have you considered / talked with your doc about an endo scratch?

good luck!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:more food for thought as you figure out options for next transfer.

do a blood test for MTHFR. found out i was complex hetero and switched to a folate based prenatal and believe it was one of the things that helped my body prepare for a pregnancy.

post IVF we wound up on the donor egg route and my first DE transfer failed - this got the docs focusing on what other tools they should be throwing at me in a hail mary as we only had one embryo left to transfer. a cycle before the second DE transfer I did an endometrial scratch. and then leading up to/post transfer was put on prednisone and heparin. i wound up having a successful transfer with a live birth, and in my gut I feel like the endo scratch was the winning tool that transfer cycle. have you considered / talked with your doc about an endo scratch?

good luck!

16:53 here. I did an endo scratch before my last PGS BFN transfer. I think the research is dubious on the scratch. But it can't hurt. I am also a fan of the kitchen sink approach. PP, how long before the transfer did you start prednisone?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:more food for thought as you figure out options for next transfer.

do a blood test for MTHFR. found out i was complex hetero and switched to a folate based prenatal and believe it was one of the things that helped my body prepare for a pregnancy.

post IVF we wound up on the donor egg route and my first DE transfer failed - this got the docs focusing on what other tools they should be throwing at me in a hail mary as we only had one embryo left to transfer. a cycle before the second DE transfer I did an endometrial scratch. and then leading up to/post transfer was put on prednisone and heparin. i wound up having a successful transfer with a live birth, and in my gut I feel like the endo scratch was the winning tool that transfer cycle. have you considered / talked with your doc about an endo scratch?

good luck!

Thanks PP. An endo scratch and ERA are similar, if not the same thing. I think ERA is the new term or the term used by the company who does the test. Why were you put on prednisone and heparin?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:more food for thought as you figure out options for next transfer.

do a blood test for MTHFR. found out i was complex hetero and switched to a folate based prenatal and believe it was one of the things that helped my body prepare for a pregnancy.

post IVF we wound up on the donor egg route and my first DE transfer failed - this got the docs focusing on what other tools they should be throwing at me in a hail mary as we only had one embryo left to transfer. a cycle before the second DE transfer I did an endometrial scratch. and then leading up to/post transfer was put on prednisone and heparin. i wound up having a successful transfer with a live birth, and in my gut I feel like the endo scratch was the winning tool that transfer cycle. have you considered / talked with your doc about an endo scratch?

good luck!

Thanks PP. An endo scratch and ERA are similar, if not the same thing. I think ERA is the new term or the term used by the company who does the test. Why were you put on prednisone and heparin?

The endo scratch and ERA are NOT the same thing. They are done by the same procedure- scratching the womb, but entirely different purpose and follow through. The endo scratch is merely a scratch that's supposed to help plump up and repair the lining before the next IVF cycle. The act of scratching alone is the purpose.

the ERA is when they go in and do a scratch, but they send off the cells they remove and they do a special genetic biopsy to see if your uterus is "receptive" to implantation. You get a benefit of the scratch, but the results could change how many days of progesterone you do for your next FET. the ERA biopsy has to be done on a mock cycle with actual FET meds (progesterone shots etc.) an endo scratch is just done in the regular luteal phase of the cycle preceding your transfer.