IVF & Down reg

[smurfy]

Hi All

After 3 long year of trying we now have our follow on appointment for IVF on Wednesday, we have had all tests and will be given our plan/schedule – what normally happens, I am trying to understand when this will all kick in, I have heard they will start down regulation from day 21 of your cycle? Is that right and how long are you on these drugs for?

Thanks

 

[smarties75]

Im on the same boat. We have been trying for 3 years. This will be our first IVF with ICSI. My cycle ranges from 26-30 days. I start down regging on the 17th (Day 23 of my cycle). I was told I will be on Buserelin injection for about two weeks. Sorry Im not much of help. But I will be very interested to hear from other members who had IVF.

Good luck!! xx

 

[smurfy]

Im on the same boat. We have been trying for 3 years. This will be our first IVF with ICSI. My cycle ranges from 26-30 days. I start down regging on the 17th (Day 23 of my cycle). I was told I will be on Buserelin injection for about two weeks. Sorry Im not much of help. But I will be very interested to hear from other members who had IVF.

Good luck!! xx

Wow, it is very very likely we will be having ICSI too as my husband sperm volume is low but the motilatity and stuff are very good. What is the reason they have recommend ICSI for you guys? Not long for you now xxx

 

[x lala x]

Hi ladies,
Im on my first cycle of icsi too, sadly got cancelled though after egg collection as my ovaries were over stimulated,they got 26 eggs,20 were mature enough to inject and 12 fertilised so they have been frozen. I started my down regulation today for FET so hopefully get the transfer start of may.

I got a prostap injection to down regulate on cd21 but it can be between cd18-cd23), then i had another appointment booked for 3 weeks later for a scan.Basically in that 3 weeks youll bleed and everything will shut down and the lining of your womb should be thin. Then i was given daily gonal f injections(do these at home) for around 10-15 days to stimulate my ovaries. Youll get regular scans to make sure everythings going well then 36hrs before egg collection i was given a booster injection to mature the eggs,whole process takes about 5/6 weeks. All cycles are different though at different hospitals, im in scotland and getting my treatment at glasgow royal.

Best of luck to you both!!

xx

 

[messica]

From what I've read Lupron is comparable to your Buserelin.

I did 10 days of Lupron, had baseline ultrasound yesterday, and started stims on day 11 (today). I am still on the Lupron but they dropped the dose from 20 units to 5. Depending on what estrodial looks like Wednesday I am estimated to be done with it then.

It largely depends on what protocol you're given and how well you respond, although I think that's pretty typical time frame wise.

Best of luck to you ladies

 

[smarties75]

Thanks for the info messica and lala . It's driving me crazy as I'm not in control of things and not familiar with the process of IVF lol. How can you tell if which protocol you are? Good luck to you both xx

Smurfy - My hubby has low sperm count so we were told that IVF with ICSI is the only way. Good luck on your appointment on Wednesday. Keep us posted. xx

 

[messica]

smarties - we got our protocol laid out at our RN consult (appointment where they also did saline sonogram, trial transfer and gave me all my prescriptions).

When we were given ours they also gave us a book to fill in with our personal dates, amounts of meds and future appointments. It was nice to see it all laid out. I put it in the other March/April IVF thread in this forum but here is a picture of what I'm talking about:

https://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa162/chevyjewel/Mobile%20Uploads/IMAG2936-1_zps6d86b435.jpg

Different protocols obviously have different time lines and meds to track. I do think the one your doc is talking about with the three weeks of bcp's to "down reg" sounds like the Lupron protocol to me though. It was meant to keep my ovaries quiet before gearing up for stims before retrieval.


(I completely understand how it's driving you crazy....I *hate* not feeling in control of any of this either. This is my first and only round of IVF and it's been beyond overwhelming)

 

[Morana]

Wow, the protocols sure are different. My protocol is also 'luteal' but I had 10 units of lupron for a week before stopping bcp and for four more days after that. It dropped to 5 units after I started the stims. And I do both Menopur and Gonal F (both at 150) injections in the pm.
Messica, funny how they gave you 'last intercourse day' date Mine said, 'just don't save it up for the next 15 days, we'll tell you when to stop"

 

[smurfy]

Hi ladies,
Im on my first cycle of icsi too, sadly got cancelled though after egg collection as my ovaries were over stimulated,they got 26 eggs,20 were mature enough to inject and 12 fertilised so they have been frozen. I started my down regulation today for FET so hopefully get the transfer start of may.

I got a prostap injection to down regulate on cd21 but it can be between cd18-cd23), then i had another appointment booked for 3 weeks later for a scan.Basically in that 3 weeks youll bleed and everything will shut down and the lining of your womb should be thin. Then i was given daily gonal f injections(do these at home) for around 10-15 days to stimulate my ovaries. Youll get regular scans to make sure everythings going well then 36hrs before egg collection i was given a booster injection to mature the eggs,whole process takes about 5/6 weeks. All cycles are different though at different hospitals, im in scotland and getting my treatment at glasgow royal.

Best of luck to you both!!

xx

Thanks so before you started the down reg on day 21 did you need any scans or anything? basically i will be coming back from my holiday around day 21 and want to know if i can start it whilst coming back, I don't want to wait another month as it then get into my very stressful time at work thanks

 

[smarties75]

You had to take bcp before starting your injections? I just got my invoice today and waiting for me to pay them before they can send my prescription. So I have know idea what dose and what to take yet.

 

[messica]

smarties - I was on bcp's before the Lupron.

Here was how my protocol has shaped up with what I've done so far if it helps:

*Got period
*On cd3 I started bcp's and continued for 21 days (regular dose)
*On cd11 I had saline sonogram/trial transfer/required STD testing/injection training appointment.....we also signed all consents, paid for services and picked up and filled the rest of my prescriptions
*On cd19 started Lupron (20 units for 10 days)
(started a lesser period cd26)
*On cd28 (10th day of Lupron) I had baseline ultrasound appointment to check for cysts, antral follicles and measure lining - bloodwork (estrodial)

Once I got the all clear at the baseline ultrasound appointment I got the go ahead to start stims (for me that means continuing 5 units of Lupron and 1 vial of Menopur in the morning, 150 of Follistim at night 12 hours apart)


smurfy - do they plan on doing a trial transfer and saline sonogram for you? They gave me my prescriptions and timeline at that visit. Would be a good time for you to nail down if you can work a cycle around your vacation. I can completely understand not wanting to wait another month!

 

[smurfy]

smarties - I was on bcp's before the Lupron.

Here was how my protocol has shaped up with what I've done so far if it helps:

*Got period
*On cd3 I started bcp's and continued for 21 days (regular dose)
*On cd11 I had saline sonogram/trial transfer/required STD testing/injection training appointment.....we also signed all consents, paid for services and picked up and filled the rest of my prescriptions
*On cd19 started Lupron (20 units for 10 days)
(started a lesser period cd26)
*On cd28 (10th day of Lupron) I had baseline ultrasound appointment to check for cysts, antral follicles and measure lining - bloodwork (estrodial)

Once I got the all clear at the baseline ultrasound appointment I got the go ahead to start stims (for me that means continuing 5 units of Lupron and 1 vial of Menopur in the morning, 150 of Follistim at night 12 hours apart)


smurfy - do they plan on doing a trial transfer and saline sonogram for you? They gave me my prescriptions and timeline at that visit. Would be a good time for you to nail down if you can work a cycle around your vacation. I can completely understand not wanting to wait another month!

Thanks for your response. I was given a lot on information today and they have agreed ICSI is the right way forward. We go back in 2 woks to go through the timeline etc and they have agreed I will start the down reg on approx day 21 which I can take with me on holiday. They mentioned a scan as they start the stim drugs. They will not put me on the pill first Thanks for your insights good luck keep us posted how you progress.
I was very happy with the appointment but a lot of information given they basically said from day 1 of your cycle which you start it will be approx 7 wks to go through full cycle

 

[smurfy]

smarties - I was on bcp's before the Lupron.

Here was how my protocol has shaped up with what I've done so far if it helps:

*Got period
*On cd3 I started bcp's and continued for 21 days (regular dose)
*On cd11 I had saline sonogram/trial transfer/required STD testing/injection training appointment.....we also signed all consents, paid for services and picked up and filled the rest of my prescriptions
*On cd19 started Lupron (20 units for 10 days)
(started a lesser period cd26)
*On cd28 (10th day of Lupron) I had baseline ultrasound appointment to check for cysts, antral follicles and measure lining - bloodwork (estrodial)

Once I got the all clear at the baseline ultrasound appointment I got the go ahead to start stims (for me that means continuing 5 units of Lupron and 1 vial of Menopur in the morning, 150 of Follistim at night 12 hours apart)


smurfy - do they plan on doing a trial transfer and saline sonogram for you? They gave me my prescriptions and timeline at that visit. Would be a good time for you to nail down if you can work a cycle around your vacation. I can completely understand not wanting to wait another month!

Btw yes I have had scan already by them to check ovaries, cysts etc plus all STI, hep b, HIV testing

 

[x lala x]

Sorry ive not been on,i got a scan at my first appointment and bloods for hiv and hep,then got told to phone them on cd1 and they gave me 2 appointments,one for prostap injection and one for 3 weeks later for another scan,hows things going for you? x x

 

[smurfy]

Hi All

It has been a couple of weeks we went back on Thursday to go through the timetable, we start in mid may which will be approx day 23 of my cycle, they have agreed I can start the down reg whilst on the last few days of my holiday. I go to pick up the meds next week. We were there for over 2 hours signing all the consent forms etc, there is alot to take in.

Can't wait to my holiday to get some proper rest and recovery before this all begins, did you guys take or those who are in the process plan to take any time off of work? I was thinking around the egg collection I might take a day off and work from home.

Any other advise people have would be great.

thanks

 

[smarties75]

All exciting . I started my down reg too cd 23. Day 6 of down regging and so far I don't feel any side effects, thank goodness! I have a scan booked on the 7th to check if I'm ready for stimming. Ahhh I can't wait lol.

Enjoy your holiday smurfy. A lot to look forward too . I have planned of taking a two weeks off work around the egg collection time.

Lala - you have different protocol from us. Good luck.

 

[xMissxZoiex]

My Last IVF cycle was in October (successful) i was on long protocol and I down regged from CD21. I down regged with Buserelin and was on it until the day before egg collection.

 

[smurfy]

My Last IVF cycle was in October (successful) i was on long protocol and I down regged from CD21. I down regged with Buserelin and was on it until the day before egg collection.

Thank you for responding. Just read your bottom note my heart goes out to you and your partner, bless you.

 

[smurfy]

Hi All

How are we doing? time is flying by nearly been on down reg for 2 weeks, off for baseline scan on Monday and should start the stims too. So far no real issues and getting use to the needles, i find them easier in my stomach but have to be careful where. I am bracing myself for the stims phase as i understand this can have more symptoms but hopefully not. going off for a spa tonight as once i start the stims i dont think i will be allowed to go, hope your all well take care x