ARGH!!!! no response to clomid so moving onto FSH injections (gonal-f)

[norahbattie]

Calling all ladies who have been in similar situations to me and I don't which thread to put this in, am I in the LTTC or am I in assisted conception?

Well after 3 rounds of clomid, I have had no real response to the drug apart from a few minor side effects. Second cycle had a 15mm follicle but 1st and 3rd, absolutely nothing!

So my obgyn has decided to put me on gonal f (fsh injections) alone rather than initial thoughts of giving it with clomid. I was wondering if anyone else has had FSH injections, what are they like? What doses have you had? Side effects? How many follicles have you had from the injections?

I am petrified about the next step in the fertility process but a little bit excited, I am now literally just waiting for my AF to come.

Thank you ladies (and gentlemen) in advance for your information

 

[phoenixrose]

I'm similar but not the same. I was on clomid for 3 months also. It did work for me but I never got a BFP. Now I'm on my first round of fsh injections, but I'm taking Follistim, they're basically the same. My doses are on the low side, I guess I a little more sensitive. I took 75mg cd3&4, then 50mg day 5&6, and 75mg from day 7-9. Now I'm on day 10 and my scan showed that I will have 2-3 follicles by the time I trigger. They actually measured more then 3 but they won't have time enough to mature. Now I'm waiting for my bloods to come back to know what amount if any I have to take tonight (I have a scan and bloods done about every other day then they tell me what to do from there). Doc said he may give me the ok to trigger on Wednesday night and then I would have a 36 hour IUI on Friday morning.

As far as side effects, I'm not sure I've had any. I've been a little emotional but that could just be the whole LTTTC thing. Besides the fact that I feel like a pin cushion from having to stick myself with a needle every night for over a week and get blood drawn every 2-3 days, it's way better then clomid. On clomid I got hot flashes, headaches, and was either depressed or angry for 5 days while taking it. But I'm getting more used to the injections. It looks like a pen, and the drug goes where the ink would go. Then you just screw a new needle on each time, dial the correct dose and that's about it.

 

[imogenwanted]

hope all goes well with you both fingers crossed

 

[norahbattie]

Good luck Phoenixrose, I hope it goes well for you, I am petrified about starting the injections. I just want 1 or 2 good follicles and not 27 that I have just been reading about!! I start with 150iu for 3 days and then 75iu for a week but with a scan on day 6.

 

[phoenixrose]

Good luck Phoenixrose, I hope it goes well for you, I am petrified about starting the injections. I just want 1 or 2 good follicles and not 27 that I have just been reading about!! I start with 150iu for 3 days and then 75iu for a week but with a scan on day 6.

My FS doesn't like that many follicles that's why he monitors so closely. I had a pre-scan on cd3 and then scans on cd 5, 7, 10, and I have to go for more bloods tomorrow on cd 11 and drop my dose to 50 tonight. Honestly, I wanted 3 or 4 follicles, because in my head it means increased chances, but it looks like I'm getting 2, max 3 if I'm lucky.

I am the biggest needle phobic person and I'm able to do it. What really helped is that they made me to it to myself in front of them. If it wasn't for that I would never have done it and made my DH do it.

 

[pavementfan]

hi there i am sorry to hear that the clomid didn't work and wishing you the best with gonal-f. i just did one cycle of clomid on 50mg and got one mature follicle but my doc decided to put me onto gonal-f for my last cycle to produce multiple follicles and increase my chances, which i did. I had 3 mature follicles (24, 18, 17) off 4 injections (2 x 75, 2 x 150) but another BFN. I think hyperstimulation is relatively rare so i wouldn't worry too much about getting too many and drs usually start you off on quite a low dose to see how you respond. I am now waiting to have an AMH test as I don't want to waste $$ on more injections if I have diminished ovarian reserve and it's unlikely to work. (I am beginning to suspect that something must be wrong hormone-wise after 19 months as everything else - cycles, SA is fine)
I found the injections fine - really easy to administer and not painful at all. I watched an instructional video off youtube and followed that (my instructions were printed in tiny writing!). i felt quite bloated but there were no other side effects really apart from a slight cramping after the injection went in but only for 5-10mins. my doc advised me to do one on the right side then another on the left and so on (to hit both ovaries i presume). fingers xd for you! let us know how you get on or if you have any other questions.

 

[no_regrets_91]

Calling all ladies who have been in similar situations to me and I don't which thread to put this in, am I in the LTTC or am I in assisted conception?

Well after 3 rounds of clomid, I have had no real response to the drug apart from a few minor side effects. Second cycle had a 15mm follicle but 1st and 3rd, absolutely nothing!

So my obgyn has decided to put me on gonal f (fsh injections) alone rather than initial thoughts of giving it with clomid. I was wondering if anyone else has had FSH injections, what are they like? What doses have you had? Side effects? How many follicles have you had from the injections?

I am petrified about the next step in the fertility process but a little bit excited, I am now literally just waiting for my AF to come.

Thank you ladies (and gentlemen) in advance for your information

Hi I didn't respond at all to clomid, I was on 100mg and my re did the clomid challenge test and said I wouldn't respond to even a higher dose. I was also on femera and tomoxifen and neither of them did anything. I did one cycle of menopur on 150iu for i think 13 days and I was just starting to respond I had an 8mm follicle on each side so they were still really small. We had to stop because we ran out of money. We will try again at the end of this year, we want to save at least $5000 first so that we don't have to stop the next cycle.

Injections are not really a big deal, i was really scared at first as it is a big step. The shot stings a little so go slow. I had alot more side effects on clomid then I did injections, mostly my breasts were tender but I cant really think of anything else. My hot flashes were not as memorable as the ones with clomid. Good luck. I hope you respond well!

 

[norahbattie]

Thank you for the advice pavementfan and no_regrets_91, I am still very petrified that it won't work or that i will have too many follicles so it will mean we have to abandon the cycle, oh there are so many worries and concerns

 

[Cridge]

Hi girls! There are a few of us from the Femara Friends thread that are moving on to gonal-f... so we're starting a new Gonal Girls thread. Come join us and we can all be gonal-f buddies together!