Awaiting consent appt... Told antagonist protocol will be used.. i have questions I wish I'd asked!

[MrsH007]

So after six months and over a year of fertility appointments we are finally getting somewhere. Got to wait another 7 weeks for our consent appointment but other than this wait there is no waiting list to start our funded first cycle.

I am 29 and all my test results came back better than average, I have lots of egg reserves which is comforting but I have slight PCOS. Although I'm 8st 10 5ft 3 so not overweight the fertility doctor wants me to do an 'antagonist' protcol which she said involves less injections so as to not overstimulate my ovaries.

My research online is making me wish I'd asked more questions. How long will this cycle take? Will it result in less egg retrieval?

Doctor did mention I'd need to come into the clinic on the day of my first period for a scan before starting... what are they scanning for at this point?

Hoping one of you kind souls will help answer my questions as I'm now going to be frustrated for the next 7 weeks!

Thanks

[DianeArnold Partner Nurse Fertility Network UK]

Hi Tynemouth_mrs. The aim of using an antagonist is that by not suppressing (down regulating) your ovaries with nasal spray, the stimulation injections work with your own hormones and then the antagonist just stops you ovulating before egg collection. The benefit of using this type of drug is that an antagonist cycle means all the drugs are usually given within a shorter period of time so it ends up as a shorter process. Also, lessens the chances of over stimulation, which can happen even if you don't have the "syndrome". Hope it all goes well. Diane

[genten]

Hi

It's good that you've gone through tests and that you'll be starting treatment soon.

I didn't have scan on day 1, my first scan was on day 8 but each clinic has their own procedures so I'm not sure what they are looking for exactly.

My injections went on for 13 days in total but some ladies are ready before and some like me take a little longer, it's just depends on how the follicles are growing.

Doing the short protocol does not mean that you will have less eggs.

I hope that made sense?

Best wishes on your journey I will be praying for you xx

[MrsH007 in reply to genten]

Thank you, I appreciate your prayers and have been praying also. Can I just ask if the injections are over a short time does it mean that the entire process is less than the unusual IVF six week process?

Thanks x

[genten in reply to MrsH007]

Yes, ordinarily it is shorter. I didn't go full cycle, I had eggs collected then they were frozen due to there being fluid in my tubes. Xx

[kumkums]

Hi, great things are progressing for you. I had an antagonist protocol and it didn't result into less eggs. Not to scare you, but at my third scan I had 56 follicles but at egg collection, the doctors worked on just 20 follicles she deemed fit and they got 17 eggs and we had 7 embryos frozen. So i don't think it lessens your chance of pedociing many eggs.

The scan on the first day of your cycle is to check your lining to see if it's well shed, they can then tell you when to start stimulation injection.