17 replies to this topic

[4 years and counting]

My RE is suggesting to do ERA Test and I wanted to hear some thoughts. Did it make a difference? Were you having trouble with implantation and/or recurrent miscarriages and after the results you got pregnant? I am concerned about the cost and the time I would not be not cycling/monitoring. I am going to be 44 next month and I calculate if I did the test, I wouldn't be doing another FET till July/August.

[NappyJ]

Hi 4 years,
YES YES YES! If the RE is recommending it, I say go for it! I have had multiple natural pregnancies end in early miscarriage around 6-7 weeks. RE suggested Natera genetic testing after the last miscarriage, and we learned that there was a chromosomal issue probably related to my age (37 at the time). RE recommended FET with PGS which was very helpful - 14 eggs retrieved, 8 fertilized, 3 had normal chromosomes. While we knew that we had good quality embryos, all of those transfers failed. Then RE mentioned ERA especially bc we knew that I could get pregnant naturally, however the transfers weren't working. I didn't really want to do it bc I couldn't fathom wasting another 2 months or more money, but DH said it's better to try and spend than to have another 3 transfers fail... plus we aren't getting younger so egg quality is declining. So we did it... and it showed that I needed 1 extra day of progesterone before transfer for better receptivity.

We only had 1 normal embryo in the next retrieval, so we were a little bummed. But the transfer was successful with the extra progesterone! We are almost 10 weeks pregnant. Given the ERA findings, my progesterone supplements after BFP have been increased as a precaution to maintain the pregnancy.

Long story to say YES... go for the ERA, especially if you've conceived naturally before. But also consider PGS which is probably MORE beneficial in reducing unsuccessful transfers... in my opinion.

Fingers crossed for you!

[4 years and counting]

I decided not to do it at this time; mostly due to delay in time to do another transfer...it would probably be a delay of 4-5 months.

Fingers crossed next cycle works but if it doesn't, might look into at that time

[Highest hopes]

Nappy, what kind of ERA test did you do exactly? i.e. a biopsy or imaging?

Thanks!  and congrats!!

[NappyJ]

Hopes - I did the biopsy. Basically going through the protocol for FET (estrogen, doxycycline, progesterone) then a biopsy is taken on transfer day instead of the transfer. It's done in the RE office and not really that painful. The worst part is the 5 days of PIO injections! Oh, and it sets your timing back. But hey, at least you have answers and don't have to spin your wheels!

I had it done last year and was only the 3rd one my RE had done. Of the 3, she had seen all 3 results : pre-receptive (me), receptive, post-receptive.

Are you planning to do it?

[Highest hopes]

Well, I did this one:

http://matrisart.com/

 

I did it during a mock cycle (which was not just for that purpose, it was just our first FET and to make sure everything went according to plan) and also did this test during our actual FET. Unfortunately we didn't have success but my results on this test were good. But we didn't really expect otherwise as I responded as expected to the estrogen and had triple lining on the expected day, etc. However I do wonder if perhaps we rushed things during the actual FET as the Matris results came back good and then we hurried to do everything else and maybe we should have waited an extra day. The test tells you that things are good but I never really know how long I was going to stay good or if there was an ideal day to transfer. 

 

Next time I'm not sure what to do, as I don't believe this is my issue.  Also the ultrasound tech told me that she could already tell by the image that everything looked ready and she didn't feel the test was necessary!

 

However to have done all this and then not do it next time, would also stress me out!  Because the more info the better

Also it's not very invasive, it's just an additional cost, which is a bit stressful also.... sigh!

 

I've also heard that each cycle can vary even in the same person with the same protocol.

[Melissa Celeste]

HI everyone!
i also had so many egg transfers that never worked with great eggs being transferred! I finally did the ERA test and it was found to be receptive way earlier in my cycle. They had been transferring my frozen eggs too far along in my cycle. I transferred 2 eggs based on the ERA test results along with fragmin blood thinners, and I finally got my BFP! I sadly miscarried at 8 weeks, but at least I finally got pregnant! So i really think the ERA test is worth it, especially if you've had multiple failed egg transfers!

 

[4 years and counting]

My problem is that I can get pregnant, it is just keeping it. I decided to wait this cycle and if no positive results occur, I will take the ERA test in the summer.

[NappyJ]

Hopes - ah, I actually had that also, but RE didn't really consider it an ERA. The biopsy actually tells you the amount of progesterone that actually reaches the lining placing you in an array/window of receptivity.

Melissa- we have similar stories! My RE added low dose aspirin to promote blood flow. Will you be doing another cycle?

[Hopefulrealist]

Hey ladies

Glad to see some promising results. I did the ERA after one failed transfer of a PGS tested embryo. I didn't think lining was the issue and also got an excellent score on the Matris prior to my transfer but my RE suggested it since we only have one normal embryo left from my last cycle. My results showed I am receptive on the transfer day. So, it won't change anything with my protocol but at least I can say we did everything we can. It cost us time and money though.

Hoping we get lucky next time!

[emaKG]

I did the ERA test after many pgs embryos didn't implant or miscarried and I needed one extra day of progesterone. When I added one extra day of progesterone and transfered two pgs embryos I got pregnant, had amazing betas and then miscarried.

[Sheather]

Hi, I know this is late, however i recently did my second ERA test as the first showed that I was pre receptive on day 6 of progesterone.  We then did transfers on days 8 and 7 and neither took.  we are now in the process of starting a new funded cycle and my doctor wants the best possible chance for success so she recommended another ERA test on day 8 of progesterone.  BINGO, it came back as post receptive, meaning day 7 is our magical implantation window.  Now we will be doing PGS on our embryos prior to transfer so we can get the best possible chance!!  fingers crossed this is our time!! funding is in July, i can't wait  

[HFLO]

Good luck Sheather!! I did ERA which showed I needed 7 days of progesterone as well. I transferred a PGS normal embryo in February and am now 14 weeks along with my first ever BFP!

[Sheather]

HFLO, you just made my night! So wonderful hearing success stories through this journey! I wish you all the best! Thanks for sharing!

[Hopefulrealist]

HFLO - thanks for the info! It is nice to see a positive result.

 

Sheather - good luck with your IVF! 

 

AFM - my ERA showed I was receptive so likely an issue with the embryo on our last failed FET. We have only one normal embryo left and so hoping we get lucky. Hoping to transfer in early July....FX!

[amazing grace]

The ERA test did not work for me. I don't even get why my RE would suggest it considering I always got pregnant on the regular progesterone protocol. My issue was holding not getting pregnant but I guess he was grasping at straws since I have had four failed fet's since my last miscarriage in 2016.

[Kayte]

I asked this question in another thread today but just found this topic in my searches as well. Do the results of this test only work for an FET cycle?

 

We transferred a PGS-tested donor blast and had a BFN. I have also done quite a few IVF cycles that were BFNs (although I personally have poor egg quality.) We are going to try another donor cycle but overseas in Czech Republic and those are fresh transfers. I feel like before making another big investment, maybe I should do this test, but if all patients doing donor cycles overseas have fresh transfers on the same day anyhow - is the ERA even an option or relevant to me?

[Hopefulrealist]

Hi Kayte, I think it depends on the type of endometrial preparation your clinic uses. It could be similar with a fresh donor embryo cycle and a FET. Maybe some other patients of your clinic or your clinic themselves will know what protocol they use to prepare recipients for the ET. The ERA involved doing a mock cycle medicated with estrace and endometrin. If they use the same protocol then it could be helpful but if not they I wouldn't bother.