anyone over 35 going for fertility treatments this year? IUI, IVF etc

[JanetPlanet]

Hi Janetplanet! I am also on my first cycle with injectables, but 3rd IUI. I go for my CD8 ultrasound on Sunday so will be interesting to compare. What drugs have you been on? Im on Gonal F 75iu CD3-7 and will see what they say on Sunday. When do you have to go back in and did they adjust your medications at all?

its nice to have so many people on this thread doing treatments together

sarahincanada, it's awesome that we're so close in time with our treatments! I will be sending good thoughts up North to you!

I also go for my next u/s on Sunday! That will be CD11 for me. What cycle day are you on?

I'd love to know what your follicle sizes are on Sunday and how many there are, and I'll be hoping for the best for you!

I took Femara/Letrozole CDs 2-5 with a step-up protocol. Follistim 150iu CDs 5-7, and the doctor has me going down to 75iu follistim starting last night because of the good response. As I mentioned before, I have four follicles on the right side and two smaller on the left. The largest was 11mm yesterday. I have no clue if that's good or not, but the doctor seemed very pleased.

I'll have the trigger when the largest follicle reaches 16mm. I thought that was pretty small to trigger, but I've been reading that anything over 16mm is mature and is good for an injectable cycle. (But then again, every time I read something, it's a bit different from everything else I've read. Every doctor seems to have their own protocol.)

Sarah, do you have a diagnosis for your infertility? Mine is being ancient. lol at least baby-making-wise.

GOOD LUCK!!

 

[sarahincanada]

hockey, I see that you are doing IVF in October. How are you preparing for that? (meds)

Right now they have me on BCP's and I'm scheduled to go in for injection training on Sept 27th.

I believe the meds I will be taking are:

BCP's (supposed to synchronize the immature eggs so they respond in a similar fashion and therefore increase the number of mature eggs at retrieval)

Lupron (to prevent ovulation and increase the number of eggs)

Gonal F or Follistim (to stimulate growth and maturation of the eggs)

Ovidrel or Novarel (Trigger shot)

Vibramycin (antibiotics)

Progesterone (either through suppositories or capsules)

But I will know more when we go to the "training session". At that point, they will give me a calendar of what to take and when.

I feel sorry for my hubby! I'm going to be one hormonal crazy woman!

thats not too bad...apart from the antibiotics and lupron is the same as an iUI cycle..although obviously stronger doses for the stimulation.
I thought LL had a bunch more other things for her IVF or perhaps as I hadnt done my injectable IUI I just didnt know what everything was.

 

[JanetPlanet]

And this was geared towards us mature ladies over 35.

hockey24, that's funny. They make it sound like we're 100 years old!

 

[LLbean]

hockey, I see that you are doing IVF in October. How are you preparing for that? (meds)

Right now they have me on BCP's and I'm scheduled to go in for injection training on Sept 27th.

I believe the meds I will be taking are:

BCP's (supposed to synchronize the immature eggs so they respond in a similar fashion and therefore increase the number of mature eggs at retrieval)

Lupron (to prevent ovulation and increase the number of eggs)

Gonal F or Follistim (to stimulate growth and maturation of the eggs)

Ovidrel or Novarel (Trigger shot)

Vibramycin (antibiotics)

Progesterone (either through suppositories or capsules)

But I will know more when we go to the "training session". At that point, they will give me a calendar of what to take and when.

I feel sorry for my hubby! I'm going to be one hormonal crazy woman!

thats not too bad...apart from the antibiotics and lupron is the same as an iUI cycle..although obviously stronger doses for the stimulation.
I thought LL had a bunch more other things for her IVF or perhaps as I hadnt done my injectable IUI I just didnt know what everything was.

mine was Lupron and Gonal F...until trigger
Then HCG Trigger shot 36 hours prior to rertieval
Now Progesterone and starting today also Heparin

taking steroids, pre-natals and Folguard

That is it

 

[sarahincanada]

Hi Janetplanet! I am also on my first cycle with injectables, but 3rd IUI. I go for my CD8 ultrasound on Sunday so will be interesting to compare. What drugs have you been on? Im on Gonal F 75iu CD3-7 and will see what they say on Sunday. When do you have to go back in and did they adjust your medications at all?

its nice to have so many people on this thread doing treatments together

sarahincanada, it's awesome that we're so close in time with our treatments! I will be sending good thoughts up North to you!

I also go for my next u/s on Sunday! That will be CD11 for me. What cycle day are you on?

I'd love to know what your follicle sizes are on Sunday and how many there are, and I'll be hoping for the best for you!

I took Femara/Letrozole CDs 2-5 with a step-up protocol. Follistim 150iu CDs 5-7, and the doctor has me going down to 75iu follistim starting last night because of the good response. As I mentioned before, I have four follicles on the right side and two smaller on the left. The largest was 11mm yesterday. I have no clue if that's good or not, but the doctor seemed very pleased.

I'll have the trigger when the largest follicle reaches 16mm. I thought that was pretty small to trigger, but I've been reading that anything over 16mm is mature and is good for an injectable cycle. (But then again, every time I read something, it's a bit different from everything else I've read. Every doctor seems to have their own protocol.)

Sarah, do you have a diagnosis for your infertility? Mine is being ancient. lol at least baby-making-wise.

GOOD LUCK!!

lol!! how old are you? im 39 in 3 weeks and Im unexplained, all tests seem good! Ive never had a bfp in my life.

Im not sure what Femara/Letrozole are? Im only on 75 iu of Gonal F (like follitism) so not sure if I will respond as well as you. But the first 2 months of clomid I responded well so FXd. Im CD8 on Sunday so just behind you, assuming I will also be going in CD11 like you. Do you think they will be telling you to trigger the evening of CD11 or too early?

Ive also read for clomid they like follies larger than 20 but for injectables around 16, 17 is good. so I guess they must think they are better eggs even though smaller??

 

[sarahincanada]

hockey, I see that you are doing IVF in October. How are you preparing for that? (meds)

Right now they have me on BCP's and I'm scheduled to go in for injection training on Sept 27th.

I believe the meds I will be taking are:

BCP's (supposed to synchronize the immature eggs so they respond in a similar fashion and therefore increase the number of mature eggs at retrieval)

Lupron (to prevent ovulation and increase the number of eggs)

Gonal F or Follistim (to stimulate growth and maturation of the eggs)

Ovidrel or Novarel (Trigger shot)

Vibramycin (antibiotics)

Progesterone (either through suppositories or capsules)

But I will know more when we go to the "training session". At that point, they will give me a calendar of what to take and when.

I feel sorry for my hubby! I'm going to be one hormonal crazy woman!

thats not too bad...apart from the antibiotics and lupron is the same as an iUI cycle..although obviously stronger doses for the stimulation.
I thought LL had a bunch more other things for her IVF or perhaps as I hadnt done my injectable IUI I just didnt know what everything was.

mine was Lupron and Gonal F...until trigger
Then HCG Trigger shot 36 hours prior to rertieval
Now Progesterone and starting today also Heparin

taking steroids, pre-natals and Folguard

That is it

what is the heparin for then?
and the steriods?
I remember the list seeming so large but now I know a little more it doesnt seem so bad

 

[JanetPlanet]

Sarah, 39 in 3 weeks!? First happy birthday early! And second, you spring chicken lol!

I’m 43. I never felt old until I started TTC. I totally blame myself. I waited too long. I didn’t start trying until about 2.5 years ago, and pretty half-heartedly. BUT, the doctor I have now is great. He says that since all my levels are excellent; AMH, FSH, etc., AND because I got pregnant on my first round of Clomid (miscarried), he says there’s really no reason I can’t get pregnant and carry to term now. I think a positive doctor makes a big difference.

I have a 22 year old and didn’t really want to do it all again. But even though my husband has raised our son for over ten years, he really wants a baby. I can’t blame him. And now I would do ANYTHING for a baby too! TTCing has really made me baby crazy.

How many days is your normal cycle? I usually Ov on day 15 or 16, but I guess that doesn’t matter with injectables. I didn’t really think about it until you mentioned it, but I guess there is a slight chance that I’ll be ready to trigger by Sunday.

I think it would be really frustrating to have unexplained infertility. Is this the first time you’ve TTC?

Have you had an HSG (that test where they shoot dye in your tubes to see if they’re clear)?

Femara (generic is Letrozole) is actually a breast cancer drug from what I understand. It does basically the same thing as Clomid, but in a different way. I’ve read it has fewer side effects, especially for cysts.

I see on your 3rd cycle, you had a natural surge. So that means no trigger? How do they decide that? I’m new to this. And isn’t it weird how the sperm counts vary so much? I wonder why that is.

Who is that on your Avatar? Adorable!!

 

[sarahincanada]

Sarah, 39 in 3 weeks!? First happy birthday early! And second, you spring chicken lol!

I’m 43. I never felt old until I started TTC. I totally blame myself. I waited too long. I didn’t start trying until about 2.5 years ago, and pretty half-heartedly. BUT, the doctor I have now is great. He says that since all my levels are excellent; AMH, FSH, etc., AND because I got pregnant on my first round of Clomid (miscarried), he says there’s really no reason I can’t get pregnant and carry to term now. I think a positive doctor makes a big difference.

I have a 22 year old and didn’t really want to do it all again. But even though my husband has raised our son for over ten years, he really wants a baby. I can’t blame him. And now I would do ANYTHING for a baby too! TTCing has really made me baby crazy.

How many days is your normal cycle? I usually Ov on day 15 or 16, but I guess that doesn’t matter with injectables. I didn’t really think about it until you mentioned it, but I guess there is a slight chance that I’ll be ready to trigger by Sunday.

I think it would be really frustrating to have unexplained infertility. Is this the first time you’ve TTC?

Have you had an HSG (that test where they shoot dye in your tubes to see if they’re clear)?

Femara (generic is Letrozole) is actually a breast cancer drug from what I understand. It does basically the same thing as Clomid, but in a different way. I’ve read it has fewer side effects, especially for cysts.

I see on your 3rd cycle, you had a natural surge. So that means no trigger? How do they decide that? I’m new to this. And isn’t it weird how the sperm counts vary so much? I wonder why that is.

Who is that on your Avatar? Adorable!!

haha thanks, I havent been called a 'spring chicken' for ages!! although the nurse at the clinic last month looked and my chart and said 'wow I just saw your birth year, you are young looking!' so I was all happy

thats great all your tests are clear...how long have you been seriously trying now? and yes I do believe if you got pregnant before you should be able to now, but it might just take some time as eggs are a little older. I have never been pregnant, never tried until last year. My hubby is 9 years younger than me so I wanted to make sure he was ready (finally he is 30 this year ) and also we were big career people. I do kinda regret waiting this long but at the same time I worried Id be one of those people who fell pregnant easily and I just wasnt ready. Cant say Im exactly ready now but we know we want a family and now its taking so long I feel I want it more.

to answer some of your questions: I had a sono which is like a hsg and my tubes were clear. I had a polyp removed back in march which could have been preventing things but still not pregnant so not sure if it was doing anything afterall. I usually ovulate around CD14-16, and my LP is 14 days so my cycles vary depending on when I ov.

yes last month I had a natural surge, what happened was the 2 previous months when I went in CD13 I had nice mature follicles ready and so triggered that night. but last month when I went in CD13 I only had 1 measely mature follicle so they wanted to wait a few days and see if the 2nd smaller one caught up. But when I went back 2 days later my bloods showed a LH surge, so if theres a surge they dont bother with the trigger. But honestly I much prefer having the trigger as the timing is much better, last cycles timing was a bust. The reason the 2nd sperm sample was so low was because we BD'd the day before the IUI....I was expecting IUI a bit later as I wasnt thinking that I might get my LH surge.

bet you wished youd never asked

I hope your 6 follicles have beautiful juicy eggs in them ready for the sperm!!!!

ps thats me in my profile pic!! 1973 I think

 

[LLbean]

heparin is an anticoagulant..make the lining nice and gushy

the steroids were to lower my immune system so as not to fight the embryo off

 

[sadie]

Sarah, i am officially joining your thread as I will do clomid 100mg on cd4, along with a trigger shot and then IUI! Day 4 is monday, so let the journey begin!

 

[JanetPlanet]

Welcome and Good Luck Sadie!

p.s. cute dog!

 

[readyformore]

What's the latest after trigger that you can Ov?
Anyone know?

I had trigger wednesday morning, IUI thursday morning, severe ov pain friday.
This am, my new thermometer must be messed up. I got a pre o temp at 5am, then a great post o temp at 6. I'm so confused as to when I actually ovulated.

Could I have triggered wednesday morning and not ov until saturday morning? That sounds a little bit long doesn't it?

 

[sarahincanada]

What's the latest after trigger that you can Ov?
Anyone know?

I had trigger wednesday morning, IUI thursday morning, severe ov pain friday.
This am, my new thermometer must be messed up. I got a pre o temp at 5am, then a great post o temp at 6. I'm so confused as to when I actually ovulated.

Could I have triggered wednesday morning and not ov until saturday morning? That sounds a little bit long doesn't it?

hmmmm not sure...the cycle before last I triggered monday at 10pm, IUI wednesday at 11am, and I had Ov pains that afternoon (had 3 follicles)....so thats almost 2 days. they say the average is 36 hours after trigger but Im sure people are before and after. At least its after!

the temps I wouldnt trust, thats just my opinion. I can get a different temp if I take it one after the other.

 

[readyformore]

the temps I wouldnt trust, thats just my opinion. I can get a different temp if I take it one after the other.

Yeah, that's basically what happened. I did it like 4 times in a row b/c I couldn't believe it was a pre O temp. One was post O. Then an hour later, it was a fab post O temp. So.......

Whatever. I just didn't want to get in the mind set that I o'd on Saturday and then all the sperm from Thursday morning was dead (nurse said it would live 36 hours).
I didn't want to be hopeless before my 2ww even started, kwim?

I'll stop obsessing and just continue my relief that it's done for the month.

 

[sarahincanada]

the temps I wouldnt trust, thats just my opinion. I can get a different temp if I take it one after the other.

Yeah, that's basically what happened. I did it like 4 times in a row b/c I couldn't believe it was a pre O temp. One was post O. Then an hour later, it was a fab post O temp. So.......

Whatever. I just didn't want to get in the mind set that I o'd on Saturday and then all the sperm from Thursday morning was dead (nurse said it would live 36 hours).
I didn't want to be hopeless before my 2ww even started, kwim?

I'll stop obsessing and just continue my relief that it's done for the month.

I know, I obsessed about timing last month but wont again as theres nothing you can do about it anyway. Im off for my CD8 ultrasound at 8am tomorrow so movie, BD and early night for us!! I have some nice lingerie I purchased in vegas that Im debuting have a nice evening!!

 

[onmymind17]

Ladies fantastic news from all of you!!! I am so keeping my fingers crossed for all of you.

AFM it looks like we will be doing IVF with donor eggs, it took me the past couple days to wrap my mind around the idea, i had a total melt down on friday. I talked to the new doctor and loved her, and she is all for us using my own eggs, but at only a 2% chance, where if we used donor eggs its would be more like a 65% chance. I really wanted to have a child that was dh and I, but i figure you know what my blood will be pumping through it so it will be my baby!! For now i have to do a ton of tests, i have to wait until af shows and then go in for cycle day 3 tests, then i have to have a mamogram done, and because i am type II diabetic they want me to see a MFM to make sure all is well and i am healthy enought to have a baby. I was a little irritated that i have to do all this stuff, but i guess i can see why, although it does irritate me that women who are doing drugs, can pop out kids, but i have to jump through hoops to try and get pg Anyway, hopefully this will all come together.

 

[Mon_n_john]

Ladies fantastic news from all of you!!! I am so keeping my fingers crossed for all of you.

AFM it looks like we will be doing IVF with donor eggs, it took me the past couple days to wrap my mind around the idea, i had a total melt down on friday. I talked to the new doctor and loved her, and she is all for us using my own eggs, but at only a 2% chance, where if we used donor eggs its would be more like a 65% chance. I really wanted to have a child that was dh and I, but i figure you know what my blood will be pumping through it so it will be my baby!! For now i have to do a ton of tests, i have to wait until af shows and then go in for cycle day 3 tests, then i have to have a mamogram done, and because i am type II diabetic they want me to see a MFM to make sure all is well and i am healthy enought to have a baby. I was a little irritated that i have to do all this stuff, but i guess i can see why, although it does irritate me that women who are doing drugs, can pop out kids, but i have to jump through hoops to try and get pg Anyway, hopefully this will all come together.

Wow onmymind, that all sounds so exciting! You know, I had never thought of IVF with donor eggs before, but yes, your blood would be pumping through your baby so of course it is YOUR baby! That is amazing. Do you get any choice in whose eggs you get? I am really excited for you!

 

[readyformore]

Ladies fantastic news from all of you!!! I am so keeping my fingers crossed for all of you.

AFM it looks like we will be doing IVF with donor eggs, it took me the past couple days to wrap my mind around the idea, i had a total melt down on friday. I talked to the new doctor and loved her, and she is all for us using my own eggs, but at only a 2% chance, where if we used donor eggs its would be more like a 65% chance. I really wanted to have a child that was dh and I, but i figure you know what my blood will be pumping through it so it will be my baby!! For now i have to do a ton of tests, i have to wait until af shows and then go in for cycle day 3 tests, then i have to have a mamogram done, and because i am type II diabetic they want me to see a MFM to make sure all is well and i am healthy enought to have a baby. I was a little irritated that i have to do all this stuff, but i guess i can see why, although it does irritate me that women who are doing drugs, can pop out kids, but i have to jump through hoops to try and get pg Anyway, hopefully this will all come together.

Great news!!

One of my closest friends has a son from donor eggs.
She was pregnant with him, breastfed him, and she is raising him. She's his mom, and he's her son. Oddly enough, he looks just like her!
It's not awkward for her. She was a victim of circumstances and choose the route that would give her a pregnancy/baby. Just like you.

I think 65% success is the best route to go. I'd choose that hands down over 2%.

Good luck!

 

[sarahincanada]

so had CD8 ultrasound this morning: I have 1 follicle @ 1.5 and 1 @ 1.2....Im going back on Tuesday so Im hoping the 2nd one will have grown. Good news is Im to continue Gonal F @ 75iu so I wont have to purchase another pen So injectables cost me $668 (plus ovidrel $80 plus IUI $325) so not too bad. But next cycle Im sure they will increase the dose to get more follicles so I will pay nearer $1000 for the injectables.

Im hoping on tuesday I will have a 1.9 and a 1.6 and can trigger, then IUI could on thursday (CD12 so nice and early)

so my question is, do you think I should BD Monday night or Tuesday night....If we BD monday night thats 2 days from the last BDing, and if I have my IUI/ovulation on Thursdays thats 2 and a half days before. But if we BD tuesday night thats 3 days from the last BDing (so more sperm) but 1 and a half days from IUI/ovulation (so less count). Hubby had 5 million after 1 day abstaining and 29 million from 4 days. I think we will BD monday night so theres more sperm for the IUI, and 2 and a half days before means there will be some up there waiting hopefully in addition to the IUI.

onmymind I was thinking about the donor egg thing the other day after reading a depressing article about fertility over 40...I would definitely go for that ....yes its not your dna but you create the child and raise the child and he/she will have your OH's dna so I wouldnt feel much different about it. the stats are so much more promising, thats very exciting!!!!

 

[sarahincanada]

I had my CD8 u/s today. I have six follicles. Four on the right and two on the left. The largest being 11mm.

hi JP! did you go for another ultrasound today, I would be interested to hear how your follicles have grown.

I have 1@15 plus 1@12 .... and a bunch of smaller ones less than 10 they didnt count as they said they wouldnt catch up....so thats interesting you had 6 under 11mm that they counted. Perhaps because I have a lead follicle thats why they are saying my smaller wont catch up, meanwhile you have lots of smaller that might grow together.