Follicle numbers...please help

Hi everyone

Hope you are all well, I was wondering if you could help with a few questions..this is my first IVF cycle so im not fully up to speed with everything yet!

Im currently taking 150 of Puregon and have just taken my 9th injection. I had a scan on Tuesday (after taking 5 injections) and was informed by my FS that I had 20 follicles and the largest being 11mm. I went back in again this morning for a further scan and he counted 18 follicles with the largest being 16-17mm. I then went to see the nurses for my OPU dates and she mentioned there were 14 follicles. I was really confused and when I questioned it she said that the 14 were 'dominant' follicles and all similar in size which was a good thing. She said the others might not grow further and end up viable. Does this mean that I do have 18-20 but he just didnt count the smaller ones? Are they meant to count every single one? My FS just looks at the biggest and measures its size.

So im wondering if 14 is a good number? I was really happy with 20, but now I feel a bit worried about having 14...even though the nurse said this was a good number im unsure...also is it possible that the others could catch up and be a decent size for OPU?

Also with the size of them being 16-17mm after 8 injections, is this ok? Would you expect them to be the 'right' size on Wednesday or Thursday next week when my OPU is scheduled?

Do you know 'typically' how many follicles contain an egg? should I be prepared that only a small number will?

There are so many hurdles in this process its really stressful!

I really appreciate anyones help who is kind enough to take time out to reply, like I said, im new to this and its very worrying when you dont know whats good or bad!

Thankyou and have a good day

Lindsay XXX

Hi Lindsay :D

Your follie count & scans to this point sounds perfectly on track & normal ;)

You poor thing - it just sounds like nobody has explained things to you :doh:

To start - your follie count of about 20 is a lot!
They would have been smaller at the first scan - and as they grow you find there will be less...not that they have gone away as such, but you will get the ones that grow & therefore become the dominant ones... these ones are more likely to contain the eggs.

Not all follies will contain eggs - so the smaller ones are likey to not have an egg or to have an immature egg, which won't fertilise if that makes sense?

The fact that you have 14 dominant follies is GREAT - a good number is about 7-9 on each side... their sizes are fantastic for where you're up to in your cycle.
(Especially on the dosage of puregon you're on, so your body is responding really well :D)

Your follies will continue to grow until EPU & also once you have the trigger shot 36hrs before EPU its like surge for them - and tells them to release the eggs so they will get a bit bigger.... 16-17 mm is great for where you're at - they will be approx 19-21mm by the time you're ready for EPU.

If you're sceduled for EPU approx next Wednesday, you sound perfectly on track to me ;)

Keep in mind that you don't really want too many more follies - a few more is good, but the more you have & the bigger they are gets uncomfortable & runs the risk of OHSS (ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome) - this is yucky & uncomfortable & best avoided which is why they monitor so closely.

Everything seems to be perfect for where you're at, so hoping this post will ease your mind a little!

Very best of luck with everything - anything from 5 eggs up at EPU is a good number - remember quality is better than quantity ;)

Best of luck - & if I can help with anything else, let me know!