Another one who's been there, done that with the first cycle cancelled. Mine was due to a complete lack of response to synarel. In the end, we started again, but used lucrin instead and things went ok from there.
The problem with IVF, as the others have said, is that it's all an experiment to try to figure out how your body works, but there's always something else they can try. I know it's upsetting, but try to think of it as a learning experience (for the doctors at least!). It is quite likely that things will go much more smoothly next time.
Kate - i think with anything, it should be explained that the cycle is experimental and may or may not progress. we were told "we will try this, if it doesn't work, we'll rethink our approach" - it sure as hell didn't take the sting out of it when the cycle was cancelled, but i also had a LOT of other stuff going on at the time (my nan passed away the day cycle was cancelled, and i found out the day before i needed major surgery) so i think i may have been more sensitive and was thinking less about what had been said in the past and more just about how it was impacting me right then...
Last edited by briggsy's girl; May 16th, 2009 at 08:41 PM.
: forgot my sig!
Wishes, our first cycle was a bust. We got to egg pickup but... NO EGGS! It was pretty devastating. They guess I ovulated early or something, were never really clear about it.
Our second cycle was a complete success, however.
Like the other girls said, it's all a bit trial and error. I know it probably doesn't seem like it, but you are getting somewhere cause they've just learned something very important about how your respond to the drugs.
Good luck in future
Hi girls, thanks for the responses. I got a call from my nurse at the clinic this morning and she had spoken to one of the senior scientists about me yesterday (as my fertility specialist is away). The scientist's response was that it's just one of those things that happens (ie. synarel not working, and ovulating prior to EPU), but his opinion is that it would most likely be a one-off (not sure if I'm particularly thrilled with that "non-medical" explanation). Therefore, his suggestion is that I go back on another down reg cycle still using the same medications (synarel, gonal-f etc), but second time around, they will monitor me much more closely with blood tests (the nurse had said they'd start blood test monitoring from day 6 of FSH injections and every second day after that). If they see any rise in progesterone, they will give me another drug to inject to stop ovulation (maybe it's the same one Briggsy's Girl mentioned - the nurse told me the name but I can't remember). So I don't know if what I've just described is an antagonist cycle, or if it's just another down reg cycle. I don't really know what the difference is (still very new to this). However, if they monitor me and don't see any rise in progesterone, then apparently I'll just go along as normal like I did the first time. I"m just very worried that the same thing will happen again though. I am a complete control freak, and I hate not being able to control any of this.
The nurse also told me about Lucrin as an alternative to Synarel, but that it's very expensive ($700-$800). Is that about the same everywhere? I guess they're trying to do the right thing for me by not putting me onto Lucrin because of the cost, but I can't help but wonder if I'm going to have the same response to Synarel again, and ovulate before EPU.
The nurse had also mentioned the possibility of a Flare cycle, but said she would have to speak to my FS about that, who may or may not go for it. I will hopefully find that out on Monday when my FS is back at work. My FS is going on holidays for a couple of weeks at the start of July, so last EPU before she goes will be 26 June, and unless I can get in before then, the first one they'll do after she gets back won't be until 24th July. So if my FS doesn't let me do a Flare cycle, then I'll have to do the down reg cycle, and will have to wait til 24th July for EPU, which is another 10 weeks away.....which seems like forever. Otherwise, if I can do the Flare cycle, I should be able to start injections in a couple of weeks for EPU mid June.
The nurse had mentioned though, that they target certain types of patients for the Flare cycles, being women who are of older maternal age, and/or women who do not respond well to medications in a down reg cycle. I don't fit into either criteria though, as I am 30yo and I responded well to the meds in the down reg cycle. So I'm not going to hold my breath that my FS will let me do a flare cycle, but you never know I guess.
Anyone else got any advice on down reg cycles compared to other cycles - eg. flare, antagonist etc? Has anyone heard if the results of a flare cycle are significantly worse than a down reg cycle? And what is the difference between them?
Hi wishes,
Welcome to BellyBelly.
I am very sorry your cycle was cancelled, I am currently in 2ww of my first cycle so ca'nt speak from experience of having a cycle cancelled but just wanted to say I can imagine how awful it would be to go through everything only to get almost to the end and have it cancelled
I hope that all goes well on your next cycle, take care
wishes - the antagonist drugs are either Orgalutron or Cetrotide - they basically stop any type of surge of luteinising hormone. they are taken every 24 hours until they're ready to trigger your ovulation, and cost around $100 a day (ball park) so it's an extra expense for you and one the doctor will probably try to avoid if possible
as to flare cycle - it's similar to a down reg cycle but they go off your natural AF - sometimes they can't get as much control over your hormones as they can't guarantee that your hormones are essentially "flat lined" before they start you on synarel...
antagonist cycle usually goes off your natural AF (well, for me that's what i was told) - they don't do any down reg at all (so no synarel, no pill) - for me, what they did was to try to force a bleed (i have no natural cycle) and when that didn't work (stubborn body!) the then did a blood test to make sure my hormones were essentially flat (similar to day one or two of AF), then started me injecting puregon (similar to gonal f). after 7 days, i was scanned for follicular growth, and either put on the antagonist meds for a few days to allow more growth (to get to optimal size) or, as it has been for a couple of my IUI cycles, we simply did two more days of jabs and then triggered ovulation. for IVF, i started cetrotide or orgalutron (can't remember which) on day 7 automatically, had scan on day 9 and BT on day 9, triggered ovulation day 11 for EPU day 13...
hope that helps - it can be very confusing when so many terms are being thrown at you from everyone and you're still in the dark - and given you were talking to the nurse on the phone, it's hard to say "hang on, give me more detail"!
Thanks BG.....Confusing is an understatement. Now that you mentioned the antagonist meds, I'm pretty sure my nurse said it would be cetrotide that they would give me to stop ovulation, if it looks like I could ovulate early. I'm wondering whether or not a flare cycle is the best way to go, if they have less control over hormones etc. like you said. But I guess that if my FS doesn't think it's a good idea, then she won't agree to it anyway, and I won't have to make the decision.
I really just want to get started on my first "proper" cycle (which results in an EPU and ET). I know everyone says that the first cycle is considered a trial run, but does that mean my cancelled cycle would be considered my first cycle, or will it be the next one, assuming I get all the way to end next time? It seems like this process takes forever, and I would love a crystal ball to see into the future to tell me when it will be my turn.
Cadence - thanks for your support. Good luck with your 2WW and I hope that you get a BFP at the end of it.
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