First IVF Cycle Questions

[muppetshow]

I've just been through 3 IUI cycles in a row with no luck. I'm now about to start my first IVF cycle. My hubby and I have had two lots of tests previous to IUI and all seems okay. I also had a lap but there wasn't any endo. My doctor has told me to start taking the pill for 4 weeks before the IVF injections. Is it normal to take the pill at the beginning of IVF treatment? Is anyone else in the same boat as I am?

muppetshow
35 yrs

[briggsy's girl]

muppetshow - it's not unusual to go on the pill prior to IVF - it's part of a long down-regulated cycle - enables the clinic to have full control of your hormone production. makes things much easier for them if there is no interference from your "own" hormones - they have complete control. most likely, when you get to the end of the 4 weeks, they'll get you to start on either synarel nasal spray or lucrin injections - these will shut down your body's natural hormone production completely, and the only hormones produced will be those introduce when you start injecting follicle stimulating hormone (puregon or gonal-f)

i went through five attempts at IUI before moving to IVF - the first two were cancelled for no response, the next three went beautifully, and we ended up pg but lost our angel in a chemical pg. we then went through IVF, and two FETs, resulting in one more chemical pg. and then, due to not being able to access IVF for several months (we live regionally, and can only access every few months) we decided to go through IUI again - another chemical pg in July, and then in September, we got our much longed for BFP - and we're now almost 7 weeks! woo hoo! just thought i'd share a bit of my journey to help you out

hope the info makes it seem a little clearer - good luck

BG

[muppetshow]

Congratulations BG - that is awesome news! Everything was fine with my iuis, everything worked and went to plan - just didn't fall preg. Since it's all a bit unexplained and no signs of problems, the doctor said it is best we move straight to IVF. Must be very hard to manage it all living out of the city. It's hard enough just trying to manage all of the appointments and things working full time and living in the city!

[briggsy's girl]

we had a fair trip every time we cycled (even for IUI) but it was worth it!

we did 3 iui's, then as your FS has done, it was suggested we move to IVF - we would have been doing IVF again now if not for the logistics of it all - not that i'm complaining at getting pg from an IUI!

never give up hope hunny! it happens!

[mummy2chloe]

hey muppetshow

we are doing our first round of ivf aswell, just like you we done 3 iui's and never fell pregnant, and now we are doing ivf

i just started the pill 4 days ago and i am on that for 21days, at the moment the pill is making me a little bit sick but i am getting on top of that.
i start syneral the nasal spray next wk and with any luck injections start on the 1st november and egg pick up should be around 13/14th

its pretty scary and exciting at the sametime isn't it?

i wish you all the luck for your up and coming cycle, i look forward to hearing all about it

[curlygirl]

This is my first IVF too but I didn't get any pills and just started synarel on day 2. Now I wonder if that's normal??

Will have my BT and scan next Monday, hope to see some follies there!

Good luck to all !!

[briggsy's girl]

curly - i never used the pill for IVF (or IUI) as i didn't have a "cycle" they needed to control. they essentially just checked that my hormones were "flat lined" and jumped stim drugs (didn't use synarel as i didn't respond after it!).

there are several different "types" of cycles - long/down reg (full month pill, synarel/lucrin, stim drugs), short (few days of pill, synarel, stim drugs), flare (no pill, straight to synarel, stim drugs) - it really depends on what your FS thinks is most suitable for your body - and sometimes what is most common at their clinic. for me, i had an antagonist protocol, so straight into stim drugs (puregon) for a week, then added antagonist drug daily for a few days before triggering for EPU. essentially synarel or lucrin stop your body releasing it's own hormones, but because i couldn't use that, i had the antagonist for only a few days, and it did much the same thing - basically stopped me ovulating before they were ready for it!

hope that helps - it's "normal" to have a cycle that is tailored just to you!

[muppetshow]

Well mummy2chloe and curly girl, it looks like we are on the same timing with our first IVF so let's keep in touch! mummy2chloe - almost exactly the same for us. I just started the pill a few days ago (bizarre, haven't taken the bill for nearly 10 years ) ) and have my counsellor/nurse/accounts appt on Tuesday next week. Hopefully I'll get the go ahead to start the nasal spray next week too. I already have the prescription but can't do anything until my appt. Briggsy's Girl - you know so much about all of this - pls keep the info coming, it's much appreciated.

[mummy2chloe]

hey muppetshow & curlygirl we should be ttc buddies seen as though we are around the sametime as each other

we can help each other through the pill popping, nasal sniffing and belly jabbing that is in front of us

muppetshow = i totally get what you mean about being on the pill lol i feel like a teenager again, its funny we are on the pill so we can have a baby, thats not the sentence you would normally here a women say best of luck with your appointment on tuesday, let us know how you go. i didnt have to worry about getting a script for the spray they gave me a bottle while i was there, so i have it sitting there waiting for me to use. how have you been handleing the pill? i have been getting sick from it but bg helped me yesterday with that situation thanks bg the sea bands are now my new best friend.

curlygirl = What is the nasal spray like?? are you suffering any of the side effects? does it really taste that bad? best of luck for bloods and scan next monday you will have to let us know how things are going? when did you start your injections? are you giving them to yourself or is your dh giving them to you? dp will be giving me mine, i am a cry baby and cant handle the thought of injecting myself lol

[curlygirl]

briggsy's girl: i think you're right, it's different for everybody. what a relief after to read your post and realizing IVF is not a mass production!

mummy2chloe & muppetshow: hey it's good to have ttc buddies!! i will definitely let you know how it goes next monday. i started injection last tuesday (day 3). dh does it for me all the time though he was very nervous at first and kept asking whether it's painful he's been wonderful and helping me a lot around the house. he's afraid i'll be too tired and mess up everything beacuse i'm still working full time.

the nasal isn't too bad, i don't feel anything but a light headache and tiredness the first couple days. it does taste bad though when it gets to your throat after you inhale it.

muppetshow: good luck for tuesday, hope you can start sniffing too!!

[on tra_k]

Can I join the crowd ... I'm also on my first IVF cycle ... nearly at egg collection but thinking we might have to cancel (more in separate thread).

What is the nasal spray like?? are you suffering any of the side effects? does it really taste that bad?

I get a gross taste in the back of my throat about 10-15 minutes after taking the spray but it's better than another jab!

Good luck to everyone else in the same boat ...

[mummy2chloe]

on tra_k you are more then welcome to join in, the more support we have for each other the better

best of luck with your decision about egg pick up, its a tricky one to answer you never know that one good sized follie might be the one that gives you your baby, but then if you went iui it will still give you a chance at falling with the good sized follie and also its a little cheaper then a full blown cycle of ivf. i wish you all the best for whatever you decide and we will be here cheering you on

with the spray, am i allowed to have a drink straight after spraying so i can get rid of the taste?

curlygirl your dh sounds very sweet and he obviously cares and loves you very much, maybe i should get my dp to read this so he can see it doesnt kill a man to help out around the house lol. dp is starting to get a little nervous about giving me my shots, he said last night that he is worried that he is going to hurt me or push it in to hard, its funny how ivf can bring even the toughest men into a caring and thoughtful person. i really didnt think the injections would worry him, i thought it would be a chance for him to get his own back on me for being a b*tch

muppetshow how is everything going with the pill popping?? not long to go now till tuesday

[curlygirl]

hello everyone and welcome on tra_k. haven't read the other thread but whatever your decision is, i wish you all the best!

just got back from the clinic, scan only shows 3 big follies. this might be because we're doing low stim this cycle. not too worried as i read low stim will normally bring better eggs even though the number is less - fingers crossed on that - but not sure if this is good enough for EPU. still waiting for FS to call on BT result and whether we need to increase the dose.

have to go back to work, but keep the news flowing girls! will try to pop in later.

have a good one!

[mummy2chloe]

Hey curlygirl

3 good sized one's is great darl, its how good they are not how many you get.

just think that could be your 3 future children how cool is that

What dosage are you currently on?? the reason why i ask is that my fs has me on 100 of puregon and i was worried that might be a little too low, but then again i ended up getting OHSS on only 50mg of clomid (typical of my body)

and also how many scans have you had since starting your injections?? i am only getting 1 scan done and that will be done 10 days into the injections which works out only a couple of days before egg pickup, for some reason i thought there might of been more scans then that, just so they can see how many eggs i am making so they know weather in increase or decrease the dosage,

let us know what your fs says ok and best of luck hun your doing a great job

[curlygirl]

hi mummy2chloe, apparently 3 is not good enough, got a call from the clinic and i should increase puregon to 75 (currently 50). will have another scan and test on wednesday.

i think the dosage depends on how your body reacts. perhaps i get a very low one because i have been ovulating well on my own. and also because we opted for low stim. don't worry, as long as you get enough eggs for EPU you should be fine.

today is my 1st scan after injection, and will get another one next wed (day 11). personally i think it is quite logical to have more than 1 scan if the fs needs to adjust your dosage. but your fs might have different approach? check with fs but try not to worry too much, hun.

all the best!

[Yvette1278]

Hi Every-one, Don't mind if I butt in too. lol

My first IVF experinence.
Started pill on day 5, Started Syneral Nasal Spray on day 22 - First few days there was a horrible taste but I never tasted it again, assuming my taste buds become a custom to it, It left me with very occasional headaches and a sore nose at the tip of my nose but thats ablout it, I stopped taking the pill on day 28 whilst continuing the nasal spray, I went for my 1st Down Reg Scan on day 38 which revealed that my uterus lining was very thin (Good thing) on day 38 and I was able to start my FSH Gonal F injections the following day #39, After 6 days on FSH jabs (Which don't hurt one lttle bit) Day #44 I then went for my 2nd scan - the Scan revealed 18 eggs that he could see, so my dose was reduced from 225mg to 75mg, I was instructed to take my Trigger Injection at presicly 7:30pm on Day 46 (Exactly 36 hours prior to Pick Up), Ovum pick was scheduled on Day 48 - Results Collected 20 eggs (19 mature / 1 immature), On day of Embyro Transfer (day 50) - I was told that out of 19 eggs only 4 got to a level for transfer, Transferred 2 embies and froze 2, Pregnancy Test on Day 64 (BFN)

2nd Cycle cancelled as my last two frozen embies died during the thawing process.

Back to the drawing board.

Now I am as you can see, I'm going in for my second ovum pick up tomorrow morning.
My last scan revealed at least 16 eggs but that was last thursday. I am expecting another big number again.

Briggsy's Girl, Just wanted to congratulate you on the . That's excellent news and very encouraging.

Muppet, Mum2Chloe & Curlygirl - Don't be too scared about the whole process, it is seriously pretty easy and the injections don't hurt a bit. Hope all goes well with it and we get some great news like Briggsy.

Mum2Chloe - Yes you can drink straight after spray to wash away the horrible taste but don't worry you get used to it within less than a week and you won't taste a thing. Tips for nasal spray, try not to sneeze for first 5 mins after spray, if you do you may reapply, do not brush your teeth for half an hour prior either. Because when you discard your toothpaste after rinsing you could be discarding the nasal spray which lies at the back of your throat until absorbed into your glands.

Curlygirl, On the day of my egg pick up, there was a lady opposite me in recovery.
She asked me how many eggs I got and I told her, I asked back and she said four.

On the day of our embryo transfer, I happened to be scheduled straight after her transfer. When she walked out after transfer she said good luck etc and she told me that all 4 of her embryo's got a good grading for transfer and she put two back.

I have since seen her at my local IVF clinic and her transfer was successful and is now expecting her first child in February, 2008.

So it doesn't matter how many eggs are collected, every egg has a good chance.

I got 20 eggs and a and she was luccky enough to get 4 eggs and a

Don't be too disheartened about the process. It's not a question of if, it's just a matter of when.

Good luck and may the be with you all.

Sorry about writing a book!!!

[curlygirl]

hi Yvette, welcome!

thanks for sharing and encouraging. you're right, it's not about the number, every egg has a chance. i'm up for another scan tomorrow morning, hopefuly i'm good for EPU this week.

good luck for your pick up tomorrow. let us know how it goes, ok?

[muppetshow]

Hi Everyone and welcome on_trak and Yvette,

I've haven't been in touch for a while - busy! Well I went for my appt with the nurse today. I don't start the nasal spray for a few weeks (8 Nov) and am then due to have my first scan on Nov.18th. It seems a long way off but I suppose it will fly - hubby off overseas for 2 weeks and then holiday in WA for both of us a week after that - delays things but that's okay. Injections should start 19 Nov and then egg pick up around 25 Nov if all goes to plan.

I'm going to be on 200 og puregon! Seems like a lot - I'll leave it to the experts though. My body seems to respond quickly and easily to everything so I hope I don't get the Hyper Stimulation thing.

I'm feeling good about it all now....not so scared!