Cycle cancelled

Was wondering if any of you had some advice for me. My cycle was just cancelled today. I had really low E2 levels (51 today seven days after starting FSH even after increasing the dosage to 375 for the last two days) and only two follicles.

Had a call from my FS now. She is happy to do a flare cycle with me but says I can't start straight away again as my levels are just too low.

She says I have two options:
Either go on the pill for three weeks and then start again with a cycle where I start both the Lucrein and the FSH at the same time or
to wait until I have my next period (she thinks that will take between 4 to 6 weeks and then start a flare cycle.

Without the pill she says there is a chance that I will have too high levels of progesterone (spelling?) and she won't be able to put the embryos but freeze them (she says if she freezes them there is a 85% chance for them to defrost fine).

The natural cycle seems to have the advantage that they can check my FSH level at the start of the period and if it's less than 10 it means it might be a good month with and okay number of follicles for me to start.

Any advice on this?

Sara

Hi Sara

I can't help with any of your questions, but just wanted to say i'm sorry that they had to cancel your cycle. Good luck next month.

Take care,

Kate

Hi Sara

I am sorry your cycle had to be cancelled. I know how dissapointing and upsetting that is. From what you have said it sounds like your body has down regulated with the Lucrin to the point where it hasn't been able to switch back on. THat has happened to me with every down reg cycle. I responded better to a flare so I am glad your FS is suggesting this. Have you been able to talk to your FS about doing an antagonist cycle where you wont need to use Lucrin. It is less controllable type of cycle with a bit more monitoring needed. BG has gone through these if she sees this thread.

The benefit with doing it as a natural cycle (ie wait for your period) is there isn't such a risk with having to do a freeze all no transfer. If you went the other way and had to do a freeze all you would still end up having to wait even longer to get to ET and this is the risk you need to weigh up depending on your own timeframes etc. Also at our age it is good to have an FSH reading at the start of the cycle to get an indication of how successful the cycle may be.

I know the feeling of wanting to get on with it and feeling like the clock is ticking. I have found that rushing my cycles didn't allow my body and mind to recover and I didn't have particularly good (in fact bad) results with egg collection. But at the time I was desparate to get on with it. In retrospect (with that benefit) I have had more success mentally and physically by easing off a bit and allowing my body and mind some space. It is completely a personal thing and I would have bitten the ear off anyone that suggested I ease off back then :rolleyes:. This is just my experience and I hope it helps.
xx

Hey Sara I am so sorry hun that cycle is cancelled. I know how much you wanted this to work and how much you tried. I am upset that I am losing a cycle buddy now... :comfort:

Sorry don't have much experience on this so can't help with your question but its good that FS talked to you straight away and made recommendations. Without having any experience on this, I do agree with Dusty that sometimes by waiting one month (which might seems a bit delay at times) it actually helps your body back into gear and achieve better result down the track.

Good luck hun on whatever you decide, I am here with you, every step.

Kate: thank you for your support, it really helps.

Dusty: thank you so much for your advice. That all makes a lot of sense. At the moment I am thinking that giving my body some space and waiting for the period might make the most sense. A bit earlier in the year I went off the pill for five weeks and then had a baseline ultrasound which showed a much better number of eggs (between five and 9), so I am very reluctant to go back on the pill. The antagonist cycle sounds interesting, I'll definitely raise it with my FS.

Cuddlepie: Thank you so much hun, you don't know how much your help has meant to me during this cycle. And you can be sure that I am still there with you, while I am no longer jabbing I am still your cycle buddy and I want to see that BFP for you for Christmas!

Sara

Glad it was helpful hun. Another thing I forgot to mention is the pill also works to flatten some of those hormones and I found combined with the lucrin, the pill effectively also shut my body down. IMO the pill is too often used to ensure it suits the clinic's timeframes not necessarily your own body.