HappyAuntie
LTTTC#1 after 5 mcs
- Joined
- Mar 12, 2010
- Messages
- 2,379
- Reaction score
- 0
I'm just starting my third (fresh) round of IVF/ICSI, and dr has changed my protocol.
My first two rounds I was on a short antagonist (ganirelix) protocol with a natural start (no lead in or down-regging). First cycle I had 6 eggs, 4 fertilized, 1 blast (a 4BB) and 1 morula. Second cycle I had 8 eggs, 6 fertilized and 3 blasts (a hatching 4BB and two 2BBs). So, not a stellar response but not a low responder, either... I'm 38 (for one more week, dammit!
) so I don't expect to see a ton of eggs.
This time he's put me on an estrogen priming protocol:
cd1 of the priming cycle (today) - DH and I both start 10 days of doxycycline
cd10 of priming cycle - start OPKs to watch for LH surge
10 days after surge - start oral estrace twice/day
11 days after surge - add ganirelix once/day
14 days after surge - stop ganirelix, continue estrace, wait for AF
cd1 of stimming cycle - continue estrace
cd 2 of stimming cycle - stop estrace, baseline u/s and bloodwork
cd 3 of stimming cycle - start stims - combo of menopur and gonal-f (same stims as in my previous cycles), add ganirelix when lead follies reach ~13mm.
I guess I'm just curious if any of you have experience with the EPP. Everything I've read about it says that it's an aggressive protocol used for low responders, but I'm not technically a low responder. I'm anxious about making the switch because we know we're getting good blasts with the short antagonist protocol... what if my ovaries respond worse to the new protocol instead of better?
On the other hand, yes I've responded well on the short antagonist protocol but I still don't have a baby, so maybe it's time for a change?
My first two rounds I was on a short antagonist (ganirelix) protocol with a natural start (no lead in or down-regging). First cycle I had 6 eggs, 4 fertilized, 1 blast (a 4BB) and 1 morula. Second cycle I had 8 eggs, 6 fertilized and 3 blasts (a hatching 4BB and two 2BBs). So, not a stellar response but not a low responder, either... I'm 38 (for one more week, dammit!
) so I don't expect to see a ton of eggs.This time he's put me on an estrogen priming protocol:
cd1 of the priming cycle (today) - DH and I both start 10 days of doxycycline
cd10 of priming cycle - start OPKs to watch for LH surge
10 days after surge - start oral estrace twice/day
11 days after surge - add ganirelix once/day
14 days after surge - stop ganirelix, continue estrace, wait for AF
cd1 of stimming cycle - continue estrace
cd 2 of stimming cycle - stop estrace, baseline u/s and bloodwork
cd 3 of stimming cycle - start stims - combo of menopur and gonal-f (same stims as in my previous cycles), add ganirelix when lead follies reach ~13mm.
I guess I'm just curious if any of you have experience with the EPP. Everything I've read about it says that it's an aggressive protocol used for low responders, but I'm not technically a low responder. I'm anxious about making the switch because we know we're getting good blasts with the short antagonist protocol... what if my ovaries respond worse to the new protocol instead of better?
On the other hand, yes I've responded well on the short antagonist protocol but I still don't have a baby, so maybe it's time for a change? 
