I need some information regarding the antagonist cyle as i have only done 4 Long stimm cycles and my Doctor recently mentioned that perhaps I try the anatgonist cyle, has anyone doen this cycle or both and what results did you get ? I also wanted to know if you can produce more than 1 egg on the antagonist cycle and how much does it cost ?
I would really appreciate any information as I think my doctor may be suggesting this option to me again at my next visit, thanks !
i wasn't able to do a long down reg cycle due to my body refusing to wake up from the synarel - so i had to do antagonist cycles each time. i found it much easier to manage from an emotional perspective - it was no where near as drawn out, and hormonal impact was easier to cope with.
essentially, AF arrives (or for me, i got a BT to confirm flat lined hormones) - depending on your doc, you may still go on the pill. you have stim drugs for a week or so (depends on clinic) - and then, you have both stim drugs and another injection to stop you ovulating up until trigger day.
cost wise it's much the same - the antagonist injections are more exxy than synarel (or lucrin) but you're only on them for a few days. apart from that, the rest of the cycle is the same cost
as i mentioned, i got no response at all on a long cycle - on an antagonist cycle, depending on the drug dosage (i did both full IVF and insemination where we only wanted limited egg numbers) i got from 1 to 22 eggs. so a huge variation!!! i think the main thing is that, once you start on a dosage of meds, unlike a long cycle where they can change the dose up or down to look at your response, they tend to have to leave you on the same level of meds the whole way through
it did take a while, i'll not lie - but we got our BFP from an antagonist/insemination cycle - so it can work!
good luck - and above all, don't walk out of the FS office until you understand what is going to be happening for you! no point submitting to treatment you don't understand!
My first cycle last year was a down reg cycle. We got 13 eggs, 8 fertilised, 2 went to blast and were transferred, but no pregnancy occured. All of the other embryos didn't make it.
I'm in the middle of an atagonist cycle. I had egg pick up yesterday with 12 eggs, collected, 10 of which were usable. This morning our IVF nurse informed us that 8 eggs have fertilised.
I agree with Briggsy'sgirl, the difference in cost is negligible and I certainly found it a lot easier than the down reg. Less time and less impact physically and emotionally. The only negative in comparison was the increased injections, but that wasn't too bad.
I did 3 stim cycles and just about to start the antagonist cycle...so I am still getting my head around the details as well...
From what I understand, its a shorter cycle and less injections. Cost is very much the same but the drug to stop ovlulation called Oragultran is quite expensive. Like $90 each injection and if you are not covered by private h/i, medicare doesn't rebate that. But this could range from 2-5 injections depends on each person.
BG, at what point of the cycle you start to have Oragultran do you still remember? The last two FET cycles, I have Oed when follicles just 10mm, do they do anything to pre-empt that?
Sorry to hijike the thread, but hope to keep each other updated on this front....
alipetrina, good luck with this cycle, looking forward to hearing some good result! Let us know!
If it helps: After 5 days of Puregon I started Orgalutran (whilst still injecting Puregon) for 3 days. The ultrasound then showed 19 follicles, 9 over 1cm. My FS decided to keep my on Puregon and Orgalutran for another 3 days to increase follicle size. As I mentioned in the last post we ended up with 10 viable eggs, 8 of which have fertilised. So, fingers crossed.
Ali, does that mean you had your EPU on Day 11? I guess without lucrin or similar repressing drugs in a down-reg cycle, follicles are mature quicker than normal?
CP - i've had IUI as early as day 8, EPU on day 12 (from memory) - it really just depends on the cycle - sometimes you react quickly and your follies grow 2mm a day, sometimes slowly (1mm a day) and it makes a huge difference as to when EPU/IUI happens.
my successful IUI was the longest i've been stimmed for an IUI (9 days in total i think)
Cuddlepie, I too had EPU on day 12. I've found the antagonist cycle a lot better with the same results (so far). My FS changed me to this protocol in the hope of having some embryos to freeze, as it is supposed to improve egg quality.
We had one good blastie put back in yesterday, but unfortunately none to freeze. Now just trying to keep occupied and not over-analyse every pelvic twinge until BT on the
19th!
Oh well done, for one blastie on board! Don't forget it only takes one and you might not need anything else.
Looking forward to hearing some great news from you. Join TWW thread, lots of ladies are in similar boat and can go "crazy" together... there are amazing support there!
I am on an antagonist cycle i'm interested to know when you all started to introduce the orgalutron and when your first b/t and u/s was.
Tonight will be my 5th puregon injection 150iu then tom (Fri) i do 150iu + the first orgalutron. Then i have my first b/t and u/s sat which will be 7th day. I'm not really feeling any symptoms yet - i'm a bit paranoid it's not working!
(just noticed i'm not far in front of you cuddlepie - 1 day!)
i was on day 7 before introducing the antagonist meds on the full IVF stim cycle, and didn't have BT and scan until Day 8 (friday) - had EPU on the following Tuesday, so only had 3 days of the antagonist meds on that cycle....
Bella, I think every clinic is different. Mine did b/t after 3 shot of FSH which was yesterday and I am going in Friday (will be Day5 on FSH) for another b/t and u/s to see when to start Orgaultran. Its my very first cycle, so I guess they are monitoring closely.
I dont' have any symptoms either but from the b/t they say will see good number of follicles, so I guess its not neccessarily not working if you don't feel anything...we are just lucky ones...
Hope your scan goes well on Saturday.
BG, you are so lucky only have 3 shot of Orgaultran, they say it really hurts. I am not looking forward to start that.
Antagonist Vs. Long Stimulation Cycle
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for one blastie on board! Don't forget it only takes one and you might not need anything else. 
there are amazing support there!
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