Injectible Experience: I have none!

[Shubaer]

Good afternoon ladies,

My husband and I have been TTC for 2 years now. I'm just now on cycle #4 of meds (Femara 2.5) with good progesterone indicating ovulation. My RE has recently prescribed me Pregnyl (HCG 10,000) after a follicular ultrasound on CD12. He's looking for follicles greater than 10mm...is that average?

So my question is, does anyone have experience with HCG injections? My RE didn't really explain it well, side effects or multiple rates (twins? triplets??), success rates, nada. Can anyone help shed some light for me?? I'm excited to move forward with this but I'd like to know a little more about it! If you've got personal experience with this medication, I'd love to hear it!

P.S. This is my first TTC forum to post in and haven't really discussed this struggle with anyone else. I'm looking forward to hearing from my fellow TTC ladies

 

[hopingdream15]

Hi Shubaer, on your other cycles did you take Femara as well? Are you being monitored this cycle (ultrasounds)?

 

[Shubaer]

I did,

I wasn't being monitored follicularly before but I had several ultrasounds secondary to the PCOS. I'm a little nervous about the next one because I generally have MANY large follicles. I'm now on cycle #4 of Femara (worst side effect being breast tenderness) with this being my first encounter with Pregnyl.

 

[hopingdream15]

So on CD12 you will get a follicle check and depending on the results you will take the HCG trigger? Does your clinic have a policy regarding how many follicles is too many.

My clinic says that if I have 4 or more mature follicles 17mm+ that they will not allow me to do HCG trigger. If I was to trigger with loads of mature follicles you are increasing the risk of multiples.
Unfortunately I never get this far, my follicles don't grow wit Femara, so I have to move on to Gonal F injectables next cycle.

 

[Shubaer]

I'm also worried about that,

I swear this process is turning me into a pessimist. Do you feel that way?

I haven't heard of them having a policy on it, but they didn't really give me a whole lot information on our last visit. We were late (traffic) to my last appointment and they closed right after we left, so they weren't real chatty. I could have asked more questions but it's to focus in the moment, you know?

What is the Gonal F?

 

[hopingdream15]

I'm also worried about that,

I swear this process is turning me into a pessimist. Do you feel that way?

I haven't heard of them having a policy on it, but they didn't really give me a whole lot information on our last visit. We were late (traffic) to my last appointment and they closed right after we left, so they weren't real chatty. I could have asked more questions but it's to focus in the moment, you know?

What is the Gonal F?

Yes this journey definetly turns you to a pessimist.

What I find frustrating is they expect you to understand treatments without totally telling you about it.

Gonal F is an injectable medication. I have copied in info about it below. I have to use because my ovaries did not respond to Femara.If I respond to the Gonal F I will also be using a HCG trigger and doing and IUI.


Gonal-F injection contains the active ingredient follitropin alfa, which is synthetic version of a natural sex hormone called follicle stimulating hormone (FSH). It is used in the treatment of infertility.
FSH directly affects the ovaries in women and the testicles in men.
In the ovaries in women, FSH increases the number of growing follicles and stimulates their development. Within the follicles are the developing eggs. FSH also increases the production of oestrogen, and under the influence of this hormone, the largest follicle continues to develop. Follitropin alfa has the same effects as the natural hormone.
This medicine is used to stimulate the development of follicles and eggs in women who are having difficulties getting pregnant due to problems with ovulation. It is used for women who have tried treatment with clomifene, eg Clomid, when this has been unsuccessful. It may also be used in women who are infertile due to a severe deficiency of the hormones FSH and LH, in which case it is used in combination with a synthetic LH medicine, eg Luveris.


Read more: https://www.netdoctor.co.uk/pregnancy/medicines/gonal-f.html#ixzz3bkRP6wuz
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[KatO79]

Sorry if I'm butting in here but figured I could also offer some help as I've recently had my 5th IUI on injectables (I'm on Puregon, similar to Gonal-F) and triggering ovulation (O) with the HCG trigger Ovitrelle.

I don't know about Pregnyl but do know the HCG shot (AKA the trigger shot) finishes the maturation of the larger follicles and then results in O. All mature follies will be released and you increase your chance of pregnancy a tiny bit if you have more than one follicle. But anything below 16-15 mm or thereabouts will not be released. E.g. I had 5-6 follies total this time but only 2, possibly 3, reached maturity and were released during O after the trigger (O occurs about 38-42 hours after you take the HCG/trigger shot). As to side effects, I've found the following on Pregnyl:

•collection of fluid around the lungs
•fever
•headaches
•injection site problems such as bruising, pain, redness, swelling, itching, rashes or allergic reactions
•liver problems
•may affect pregnancy test results
•mood changes
•multiple pregnancy
•oedema
•ovarian problems such as enlargement of the ovaries, ovarian cysts which may be prone to rupture or ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome - seek immediate medical advice if you get any of the following symptoms: breast pain, nausea, diarrhoea, pain, discomfort or a feeling of fullness in the stomach, ascites or weight gain
•reproductive-system tumours
•skin rash or rashes
•thromboembolism
•tiredness

Most clinics have a policy on how many mature follies you are allowed to have before they go through with the IUI. My clinic's limit is 3 but I think many have a limit of 4-5 follies. It varies a bit I guess. But I have seen people that had IUI with 7-10 follies and not get a BFP so more follies doesn't always give a BFP.

As to success rates, are you asking about chances of a BFP with Femara and BDng naturally or are you having a IUI done? I know the chances of a BFP with an IUI is about 15-20%.

 

[Shubaer]

Thank you ladies!

My husband and I will not be doing IUI just yet. Being that this is only our first round with the trigger shot, we're going to do the BD naturally to start with. I'm getting good results on ovulation with just the Femara, but we're still not getting pregnant for whatever reason :-/. I'm just a little nervous this medication is going to make me crazy...have you had experience with that?

 

[hopingdream15]

Thank you ladies!

My husband and I will not be doing IUI just yet. Being that this is only our first round with the trigger shot, we're going to do the BD naturally to start with. I'm getting good results on ovulation with just the Femara, but we're still not getting pregnant for whatever reason :-/. I'm just a little nervous this medication is going to make me crazy...have you had experience with that?

This round of Femara 5mg I was a lot more moody than normal, my poor DH had to put up with a lot. Other than that I had headaches, hot flashes, body aches especially in right arm and thighs. I wish you luck and

 

[Shubaer]

Thank you!

I'm currently on CD 32 and waiting for this dagum AF to start. I know she's right around the corner and I'd hate to force her to start, but I'm so tired of waiting! I want to get on with this next cycle so we can do this trigger and see how I'm going to respond to everything.