“After a few years of marriage, we decided we would try to start our family. After a year into trying to conceive without success we turned to a prestigious fertility clinic for assistance. After initial workup we were diagnosed with ovulation dysfunction. All other tests came back normal. We first started with clomid and injectable medication, many rounds without success. However, it was learned that I produced numerous eggs each cycle so attempting IUI would be too dangerous with the chance of multiples and we moved on to IVF. Our first egg retrieval resulted in twenty (20) high quality embryos. We used these PGS tested embryos over the course of eight (8) consecutive frozen embryos transfers (FETs) to me. Five (5) times we were pregnant only to lose the pregnancy within the fifth (5th) week of pregnancy. We even tried the Endometrial Receptive Assay (ERA) after having 2 losses and the test said we needed to transfer one day later. After using this new transfer window, we still continued to have losses in the 5th week of pregnancy
After eight (8) PGS transfers, sometimes with two (2) embryos per transfer we were out of embryos and starting to realize we needed a new direction. Gestational carrier was mentioned to us and after doing our research, selecting an agency and being matched with a Gestational Carrier we were ready to move forward. Since we were now out of embryos it was time for another egg retrieval. This time around we got one (1) high quality embryo. This was a drastic change from our first egg retrieval in which we had twenty (20) embryos. We did not PGS test this one (1) embryo but took our chances and did a frozen embryo transfer (FET) to our gestational carrier and she became pregnant (our beautiful son was born full term)! We knew we would love to have another child so we did another egg retrieval while she was pregnant and this time got 3 PGS embryos and froze them. However, we still had no answers as to why I would lose the pregnancy within the 5th week despite all normal lab tests, normal BMI, healthy lifestyle and numerous second opinions. We now had confirmation that our embryo could develop into a healthy baby.
While our gestational carrier was pregnant, we continued to pursue second opinions. We did our research and learned about the Receptivadx test. We asked our fertility clinic to please run this test for us, however, we had numerous hysteroscopy’s to rule out any issues (none were ever found) and we were told that I did not have endometriosis and at that time our fertility clinic was not using the Receptivadx test. As you can tell, I am persistent and determined. I traveled out of state to meet with a new clinic and doctor to get another opinion. This doctor believed my issue was a uterine receptive issue and urged me to have the Receptivadx test done. Back in my home state, I met with another clinic and another new doctor. This new doctor thought that my issue could be that I needed to use femera and repeat the ERA test and that femera can help to produce the Beta Integrin 3 required for implantation. He also agreed to run the Receptivadx test so we used femera and repeated the ERA and then also did the Receptivadx test. The results were now that my ERA was completely normal (transfer 5th day- where before it said to transfer 6th day (extra day needed)) and the Receptivadx showed I had the beta integrin 3 but my BCL6 was 3.8. I had another consult (on the phone) with a prestigious doctor in California. She too believed in the Receptivadx and thought that I needed to use depot Lupron. All of this investigation and the Receptivadx test occurred while our gestational carrier was pregnant.
Once our beautiful son was born and we were overjoyed but also longed for a sibling for him. When he was three (3) months old I went back to my original fertility clinic, showed them the results from the Receptivadx and said that I would like to use one (1) of our three (3) PGS embryos on myself but that I wanted to use the Receptivadx protocol – depot Lupron and femera. The new doctor at my original clinic was very open to this and we started immediately by having me take the first depot Lupron shot, 30 days later I took a second and then 30 days after that I prepped for a FET. We used stimulation medications in combination with femera, an HCG trigger shot, and then minimal progesterone supplementation, transferred on the 5th day, one (1) PGS embryo and I become pregnant. After the 5th week of pregnancy I couldn’t believe it, it was the first time I had made it this far. Our daughter was born at 38 weeks 3 days perfectly healthy and wonderful! The first cycle using the recommended course of medications following a high BCL6 and it worked. If it weren’t for this test, we would not have our daughter. During my pregnancy I informed my original nurse at our fertility clinic of my pregnancy and protocol. My original doctor from this clinic called me and told me that because of me the clinic was now going to utilize the Receptivadx test for future patients!”
-Emily
