Gonal F or Menopur ?

[Hope76]

Just wondering if anyone has any advice or been in similar position. At 39, I was on Gonal F for my FSH injections and responded very well collecting 8 eggs, one who is now my DS now 3. I am truly blessed to have him but we just want one more miracle. Currently in middle of fresh cycle at 43, on menopur this time, no explanation given I just assumed there was a good reason, I think my DR felt we could have more success on it given my age. Second monitoring scan on Monday showed 1 leading follicle measuring 17mm and only 1 other measurable one 10mm, the other 2 on left ovary too small to measure. No action at all on right ovary, showing 4 antra follicles but not responding. Tomorrow we will find out if it’s looking promising to go ahead with the 2 follicles or cancel. The fear is the leading one will be too big. Am really disappointed and can’t help feeling I wish was on gonal f and wish I was actually given the option. When I asked a Nurse how it is decided what FSH drug they give, the response was ‘whatever is in the fridge at the time and depends on who you get ‘ Am feeling as costing us 4K this round this is not good enough. The medical team feel it wouldn’t have made any difference given my age however my ovarian reserve is classed as excellent for my age so am at a loss why they wouldn’t have just kept me on gonal f. I was also given buserlin for 3 days prior to starting Menopur but clearly made no difference. I will see what tomorrow brings, just feeling very low as had BFP last year which resulted in miscarriage, this is now our 4th attempt for a sibling and we feel it could be our last one so I have put so much effort in to this one accupuncture the lot. Hoping we get good results and go ahead tomorrow

[Orla9298]

Wow, I’m sorry to hear about your stresses and worries about this cycle.

I do agree with your concerns too - if you had a great cycle on gonal f then why move to menopur. Gonal f is all FSH whereas menopur is a combination of fsh and LH. My nhs consultant didn’t even know that fact after putting me on two consecutive disaster rounds of merional (like menopur).

If I were you, I really think I would ask for the cost of cancellation and start again if it’s feasible. It’s not looking like you’ll have many good follicles at this point and cancellation could just end up being the cost of a couple of scans, plus the drug money, so you could start again. It’s often about the baseline scan at the start with no follicle being too dominant - one cycle I can have double the amount of Antral follicles than another month.

I hope you can come up with a good solution or result xxx

[Hope76 in reply to Orla9298]

Thanks, I wish to god now I queried it immediately but you trust what they give you is the best for your circumstances. I was advised same protocol as previous but giving you extra booster this time. I assume that was the buserlin, but thiught menopur was maybe part of the plan to get me more eggs. I will be discussing in depth with consultant should we have to go through yet another follow up.

[Orla9298 in reply to Hope76]

I don’t know properly because I’m obviously not medically trained, but I think using menopur might help if you develop immature eggs as it might help nature them? But sounds like your first round went well so I also can’t understand why they would switch.

However... you can do two identical protocols and one can be great and the next one a disaster. It’s a bit of luck sometimes too.

Keep us posted how you get on xx

[Hope76 in reply to Orla9298]

Thanks. Today the leading follicle they feared would get too big is measuring 19mm with the other at 17mm. Other 2 under 10mm. Right ovary still showing 4 antra follicles that haven't responded to drugs. Anyway on their advice we have decided to go ahead with EC on Friday. We have always had top scores with fertilisation so as been taking ubiquinol for 3 months am hopeful the quality will be there.

[Orla9298 in reply to Hope76]

Fingers crossed for you for two great eggs. Xxx

[Olivia1980xxx]

Hi hope my first cycle I was on menopur . They collected 11 eggs went down to 6 then 4 (what I remember) they transferred morula and blastocyst...nothing to freeze and we end up BFN. My second cycle different meds I was on gonal f . They collected 6 eggs went down to 3 . One being recommended to put in and one to freeze. My baby girl is 22 months so we decided to go through fresh cycle now due to my age 39 this year and my AMH level is 5.7 . So I’m on injections now and I got the same meds what my last cycle just the dosage being increased to 375iu . I remember what my doc said in my previous cycle that they find better respond on gonal f ... 2morrow morning I got scan to see how things r ... xx

[Hope76 in reply to Olivia1980xxx]

Hi Olivia, thanks for your reply, How did your scan go today? I really hope you had a good response like last time. I can only think my FS prescribed me Menopur as supposed to help with egg quality and am 43. Today my scan showed 2 follicles are ready (17mm&19mm) One measuring only 8mm and the rest on right ovary still not responding 😕 They recommended to go ahead with EC on Friday. Trying to focus on quality not quantity 🙏🏻🤞🏼🙏🏻

[Olivia1980xxx in reply to Hope76]

Hi hope . My scan went well just that bloody cyst refill again in left side but doesn’t do any harm and they will drain her in egg collection. They took blood to check oestrogen . I got 8 follicles on left side and 5 on other side . Size 6 and 7 . Two each of 8 and 9. One each 10 , 11 and 13 . And 3x size 12 . Next scan this Friday . But like we say quality over quantity. ...we need just this one 🙏xx