Zoladex injections before starting IVF - Any experiences please?

[RosalieMax]

Hi all, please has anyone experiences with Zoladex (Goserelin)? I have stage 4 Endometriosis, had Laparoscopy in January. We want to go for IVF, but before we start I will be treated with Zoladex for 3-4 months. I understand this will induce Menopauze for 3 months which apparently might improve our changes for IVF.. I am a bit scared of going through Menopauze, especially the side effects / emotional instability! Has anyone had this treatment and any tips? Many thanks!

[penny24]

Hiya, I had prostap which is similar to zoladex. I found the side effects started about 1 week into the injection and I had most listed side effects, hot sweats, headaches etc but on the plus side if you are going straight into ivf u need less injections and as soon as you start the stim injections the side effects go away. The hot sweats were quite handy in the cold weather ! Good luck with it and the ivf xx

[RosalieMax in reply to penny24]

Hi Penny, thank so much for your reply! That's helpful to know. Did you go straight to IVF too? And did you get emotional when on the injections? I hope it's going well for you, x x

[penny24 in reply to RosalieMax]

Yes I went straight into ivf after the prostap. To b honest I felt so tired and drained on the prostap (probably due to the diagnosis and finding out the cause of the infertility post laparoscopy ) that I felt great on the ivf stim injections, more energy, happier etc. Unfortunately the ivf didn’t work because I also have poor egg quality. Good luck with your journey, ask any questions - happy to answer them xx

[RosalieMax in reply to penny24]

Hi Penny, thanks for your message, I'm so sorry to hear IVF didn't work out, that's really sad. The diagnosis is such as rubbish one and I think gets most of us down! Hope you're okay. It's nice to share experiences with other people going through similar issues x x

[Abbs]

Hi

I had a bad Endometrosis my doctor said the worst he’d seen I had 6 months zoladex which induced menopause and I had all the side effects including suicidal thoughts and another medicine was prescribed to counter the side effects. To cut the long story I had bad reaction to zoladex and my menopause lasted for 5 years and some months ( worst time of my life ) we were meant to start IVF which we ended up cancelling and a year and 7 months after my period started I CONCEIVED NATURALLY . Good luck

[RosalieMax in reply to Abbs]

Hi Abbs, thanks for your message. Oh my gosh that sounds terrible! I'm sorry you had to go through such as hard time. I am quite anxious about getting the emotional side effects / low mood / emotional instability etc.. But will just have to see how it goes! But it's so great to hear you fell pregnant naturally! Hope you're happy with your little one Thanks for sharing your experiences x x

[Abbs in reply to RosalieMax]

Thank you so much for your reply my miracle is keeping me on my toes, but it all worths it. You have every right to be scared zoladex earned me depression and suicidal thoughts I was on antidepressants for about 9 months until I researched and I realised that since my estrogen was severely suppressed that’s what made me nearly killed myself. Honestly if to be honest I would advices people against zoladex, but on a flip side being menopausal for 5 years created a perfect condition for me to conceive naturally since the odds they gave me was very slim. I pray that the treatment you are embarking on will be in your favour and am sending some baby dust your way.

[RosalieMax in reply to Abbs]

Thank you so much Abbs, you're very kind. I'm so happy for you and your "miracle", amazing that you have fallen pregnant naturally! Thanks for sharing your experiences and let's hope for some baby dust for us all! x x

[Tillyfloss]

hi. How you feeling since your lap? I have stage 4 as well and had what they described as major surgery. Immediately afterwards I was put on prostap to allow my body to heal from the surgery. We didn't know the extent of my endometriosis and it also gave us time to deal with it and decide our next step. We had the ivf tests and had planned on starting last month but unfortunately my husband is very poorly so its temporary / permanently on ice at the moment. I found prostap brilliant I was pain free and the cycle I have had since was very minimal pain. I'm looking into birth control at the moment whilst we get my husband sorted but it worked well for me.

good luck with the ivf. Xx

[RosalieMax in reply to Tillyfloss]

Hi Tilly, many thanks for your message. To be honest I felt quite rough after the lap for a few months.. And also my first two periods after lap were absolutely awful, more painful than ever. However it seems to be slightly improving now I think.. I think my tummy needed to heal after the op. (it was also quite a big op!). I am anxious about the side effects of the Zoladex, however hopefully it will mean that I won't have so much pain so that might be nice. I'm sorry to hear your husband is poorly, must be really stressful. I hope he recovers well and you can go ahead with IVF.. It's all such as big deal and overwhelming sometimes! It's nice to hear other people's experiences. Thank you x x

[Bluetop1981]

Hi - I know this thread has been quiet for the last 7 months but hoping to reopen it - I have severe endo and am starting IVF. My consultant has put me on 0.5ml of buserelin for 4 weeks to calm my endo down - has anyone been through the same? Is this enough?

[RosalieMax]

Hi, I was on Zoladex for four months, before starting IVF. I did suffer from the side effects (hot flushes, poor sleep, headache, feeling down), but I think it has helped the endo. Unfortunately our first round of IVF was not succesful. But I have just found out I am pregnant, naturally, after our first IVF cycle! It's a bit of a Miracle! But I do believe the Zoladex may have helped in getting some of my endo under control. Good luck! x x

[Mara_Simba in reply to RosalieMax]

Hi, I’m in the same situation as you were, I’m currently on the zoladex then will go straight to IVF as my egg reserves are low. Did you go straight from one to the other or did you have to have a gap after the zoladex course? TIA

[RosalieMax in reply to Mara_Simba]

Hi, I went straight from Zoladex to IVF, starting with "down regulation" the first stage of IVF but I was already on Zoladex! We didn't have a break in between, Gynaecologist told me that Zoladex would increase our chances of IVF. Unfortunately our first round was not successful. Good luck!!

[Bluetop1981]

Congratulations!! That is great news and I hope your pregnancy is going well

See, 4 months v my 1 month is my concern. I not sure it’s long enough and can’t get much info from the clinic aside from “come for a scan to see how it is if you feel it’s needed” 🙄

[RosalieMax in reply to Bluetop1981]

Hi, thank you! I really cannot believe our Miracle and am keeping everything crossed! About the Zoladex / Buserelin I'm not sure, I would ask your Gynae Doctor. I've had a quick look at some medical resources and I think they usually recommend 3 to maximum 6 months for these types of medications.. But I'm not a gynaecologist... I hope it will help you! X x

[Bluetop1981]

I keep seeing the 3-6months too, but the IVF nurses have told me to trust my consultant and just go with it. I guess we'll see how much it's reduced in a few weeks time.

Wishing you lots of happiness with your miracle :)!

[RosalieMax in reply to Bluetop1981]

Thank you! Feeling very nervous and insecure about it, but keeping all fingers and toes crossed! I hope the treatment will help you to get your endo under control like it did for me. Let me know if I can give any other advice! Good luck! x x

[Rainbow567]

Hi, all. This is my 1st time trying Zoladex, I’m 3wks into it, it stopped my period and that worries me. I intend going for ivf after this 1st dose of Zoladex, pls my question is, do I have to wait for my period to return before starting other injectables for the ivf? I’m 41 and worried my period may never return. Pls advice.

[justmai]

Zoledex is meant to stop periods its to give the endo a chance to go into remission, i was on zoldex monthly for 6 years, i never had side effects, but sadly it didn’t work for me the endo still grew, ended up having a hysterectomy,

[RosalieMax]

I was treated with Zoladex for 4 months and then we had our first cycle of IVF, which unfortunately was not successful. But after that we got pregnant naturally! Our dreams have come true we now have a lovely baby. I believe the Zoladex helped to reduce my endo so I got pregnant!!

[Rainbow567 in reply to RosalieMax]

Hi RosalieMax, I'm so happy for you, I'm praying hard to get my baby too. Pls after taking zoladex, did you get your period before you started your first round of IVF? And also do I really need to go through 4months of Zoladex before starting IVF? I'm in my first month and my period has stopped. Today is day 28 of taking it.

Pls help

[RosalieMax in reply to Rainbow567]

Hi, I did not have any periods while I was on Zoladex, which was soo nice! No pain!! No periods for like 5 months. I did have side effects, hot flushes, headaches, sleepless nights :-(. Your Doctor will advise you how long to take Zoladex for!

Good luck!! X x

[danniev040 in reply to Rainbow567]

Hi, I know this is really old but I can’t find any other info online! I’ve been given zoladex for 1 month, I’m day 16 and still no period after being told it would come between day 7-12. Can you remember when yours did and how long after your FET was?