Birth control and fertility treatments

[MrsPete]

It's so counter-intuitive. I want to get pregnant and you tell me step #1 is we will put you on birth control? Well that's just silly! I have asked the doctor his reasons and also searched the internet and the best I can find is that it is purely for the convenience of doctors and patients alike. If you're on birth control, they can do the workup procedures at any time in your cycle which gives us the reward of instant gratification. The doctor can tweak your cycle to coincide with his other patients and perform all his work on several patients on the same schedule.
My decision was to refuse birth control; I'm just not comfortable it at this time but I know it is a very common part of IF treatments. Why did your doctor tell you birth control was a necessary step in this process? Why did you agree or refuse to take birth control as part of your fertility treatments?

 

[hopingforit]

My Dr didn't suggest it but honestly I don't think it's as common as you think it is. I actually go to an RE who works with infertility patients everyday and he never mentioned it. Is your Dr an RE or a regular Gyn? How long have you been trying to get pregnant? Did they do any bloodwork to justify using birth control as a treatment? I mean, I've heard of it being used if you don't get AF. They will put you on it for a while then take you off in hopes of regulating your cycle but that's the only time I've heard of it being used (aside from IVF). Hopefully someone who has actually been asked to take it can help you but I'll just give my opinion that it is unnecessary unless your Dr has an actual reason to put you on it.

Good luck!

 

[MrsPete]

I am going to an RE and the treatment will be IVF. I have very regular cycles so I know they weren't trying to get AF to start; she's always there just like clockwork. They actually suggested BC before my hysteroscopy saying that way that I wouldn't have to wait until my next cycle to have the procedure done. Instead of taking the BC I just waited for my cycle and now will have hysteroscopy this week.
I guess I should rephrase my question: Why is BC prescribed before IVF?

 

[MrsPete]

I went in this morning for labs and US and was surprised that they were pushing the BC again. The nurse wanted me to start BC immediately. She said the reason for birth control is that then I can go from hysteroscopy straight to treatment just by stopping the BC. I replied, what if I have blocked tubes? The hysteroscopy will include tubal cannulization and then my tubes would be open and I could get pregnant naturally. She looked at me oddly and then shrugged and said okay.
Another weird thing is that for some reason the nurse said that my chart says they are planning an IUI with Clomid! The doctor never discussed this with me and in fact I have already tried and failed with clomid paired with OPKs.
I am starting to wonder how much this doctor wants to help me and how much he just wants my money. I just don't want to change doctors again and have to start all over; due to an unexpected cross-country move this is my second RE and I am still in the diagnostic stages of treatment.

 

[hopingforit]

I went in this morning for labs and US and was surprised that they were pushing the BC again. The nurse wanted me to start BC immediately. She said the reason for birth control is that then I can go from hysteroscopy straight to treatment just by stopping the BC. I replied, what if I have blocked tubes? The hysteroscopy will include tubal cannulization and then my tubes would be open and I could get pregnant naturally. She looked at me oddly and then shrugged and said okay.
Another weird thing is that for some reason the nurse said that my chart says they are planning an IUI with Clomid! The doctor never discussed this with me and in fact I have already tried and failed with clomid paired with OPKs.
I am starting to wonder how much this doctor wants to help me and how much he just wants my money. I just don't want to change doctors again and have to start all over; due to an unexpected cross-country move this is my second RE and I am still in the diagnostic stages of treatment.

I think the birth control before IVF is to regulate your cycle and so that they can do all of the procedures for IVF on a schedule that works for them and their patients. Don't take my word on that though because I've never gone through IVF.

I was wondering the same thing about my Dr when he didn't prescribe me any Clomid even though I had low progesterone. After I didn't ovulate (I guess this proved to him that some months I ovulate and some months I don't ovulate well) he prescribed me Clomid this month.

How many times did you try Clomid? Do you have any male factor issues like low sperm count or motility? How many mgs of Clomid were you on? Have you had any IUIs before? Sorry for asking so many questions but there could be many reasons for doing what your Dr is doing. It could be that you didn't try the Clomid long enough, you didn't try a high enough dose, your Dr hasn't seen you use Clomid before and wants to see how you respond, he wants to do IUI because there is a male factor issue that could help get the sperm closer, or just because he thinks that the IUI will be effective paired with the Clomid if you've never had it before. There are so many reasons.

Also, this may be a personal question but how much does your insurance cover? Clomid + IUI is the cheaper option of IUI + injectables or IVF so maybe if your insurance is paying for it, they require a certain number of medicated cycles/IUI before moving onto the more expensive options. I know a lot of insurance companies want to do the most cost effective option so they will try the cheapest thing first unless there is a reason that you need IVF because there is no chance anything else will work.

 

[MrsPete]

No male factor IF problems, normal SA so there doesn't seem to be a medical reason for IUI. My insurance will not cover anything so it's all out of pocket. I tried Clomid for 2 cycles at 50 mg; I know that's the lowest dose but my BBT chart did show a more marked temp rise than usual after O. We have been TTC for five years and I am now 35 and DH is 37 so I'm ready to pull out the Big Guns if you know what I mean!
I am just going to see what the hysteroscopy shows and then see what the doctor recommends after that. I consider myself to be a patient who makes a decision with the doctor not one who just does whatever the doctor says. I think I was just upset that he had made this "decision" about my treatment without offering me options and discussing pros and cons. I'll talk to him about it at the follow-up after the hysteroscopy when we have more information. Thanks for listening, Hoping, it helps to talk this stuff through!

 

[FutureMommie]

MrsPete, I've often wondered about the BC thing myself. One RE perscribed bc before I had a hysteroscopy saying that it made sure the lining was dry and thin. It was also suggested that I take bc before an IVF cycle which we ended up not doing because in the ultrasound they found scar tissue. I think its strange that your RE would change your plan without discussing that with you, you really might want to consider getting a copy of your chats/test results and start looking for another RE especially if you suspect he might be more interested in the money. I hope that you get some good news.

 

[Amber3]

Dear Mrs Pete

Honestly, have you looked into NaProTechnology? That is a treatment which has a better succes rate than IVF plus in stead of just manipulating with your body NaPro doctors will actually make the effort to try and diagnose the underlying infertility problem BEFORE they start treating you.
I wish you all the best
Amber

 

[SKP]

When I first went to the doctor after one year. They wanted me on BC to regulate myself. I refused. So they gave me progesterone instead.

I was like why take birth control, and hypothetically dont have kids for a year, then off bc i may go back to old irregularities or have to wait until the birth control is out of the system. It didnt make sense.

So I am doing progesterone and clomid.