End of February 2021: I had a ton of cramping after my HSG. For probably about a week and a half or so, maybe two weeks. We ended taking a much needed trip to Colorado in February, which was a BLAST, but I was having some pain while we were there, so I finally called my clinic to see if I should still be having that much pain. I was told the lingering pain was normal, and since everything else was back to normal (bowel movements, appetite, etc.), that there was nothing to worry about. Eventually the cramping subsided, but it was no joke for a few days.
Fun in Colorado!
March 2021: We are back on track (as of now) for my ERA and Receptiva. I will briefly explain both things, but you can click those links for more information. I just pulled a few paragraphs from each website.
ERA Information: The endometrium is the inner layer of the uterus that allows an embryo to implant. Genes are responsible for preparing the endometrium to become receptive. An inquisitive group of researchers developed a test, the ERA, that evaluates over 200 genes that play a role in the endometrium becoming receptive (8). The ERA examines these genes, deduces whether the endometrium is receptive, and predicts a woman’s personal window of implantation. The goal with the ERA is to determine the ideal day for embryo transfer thereby decreasing the likelihood of implantation failure.
The ERA is performed using a biopsy of the uterine lining and is done in the office without anesthesia. Progesterone is a hormone that helps the endometrium become receptive and during an IVF cycle an embryo transfer is normally performed after progesterone has been administered for five days. The ERA is done during a “mock cycle” on the same day that an embryo transfer would normally occur. Once the biopsy has been obtained, the genes involved in receptivity are analyzed and the ERA predicts the endometrium to be “receptive” or “non-receptive” on the day the transfer would have occurred.
ReceptivaDx Information: ReceptivaDx is a first of its kind test for the detection of inflammation of the uterine lining most commonly associated with endometriosis, a leading cause of infertility and implantation failure.
Women testing positive for ReceptivaDx are 5 times less likely to succeed in IVF than women testing negative.
Essentially, these tests look for the right day for transfer, and are super important since I have endometriosis. So, we will be do a mock transfer in March (I’ll take all the transfer meds, but we won’t transfer a baby yet), and then my ERA/Receptiva procedures should take place April 2nd. Things can (and do) change in a day, but that’s the plan for now. I am dreading this (hopefully) last procedure because I have heard it’s worse than the HSG, but we will gain important information from it, so it is completely worth it. That’s our plan for now! I’m not sure when our actual transfer will occur, but hopefully sometime in the next 3-4 months. I’m not sure what all I will share as we get to that point, but I will post updates here if/when I do share something. I will definitely share my ERA/Receptiva results. Things are starting to get a little more real! I think about our two babies on ice ALL the time. <3