Needing some advice

[Star26]

Sorry for the essay! I turn 35 next week. I had my first ICSI round back in July last year. I was put on Menopur and Cetrotide and Ovitrelle trigger. I only had 2 eggs collected and neither fertilised. My meds were tweaked and I have just finished my second round of ICSI and AOA. I was on Menopur, cetrotide and they added gonal f on top this time. They also added buserelin when I did my trigger injection. I also took DHEA and COQ10. I had 4 eggs collected on Friday but 2 were immature so back to 2 again. 🙄🙄 But I got a phone call on Saturday just gone to say one had taken. I was so pleased as I did not get to this stage last time so I felt a step forward. However I still can't understand why my egg production was so low? 😕😕 I had an embryo transfer yesterday morning after speaking to the embryology department. They said if I was happy to go ahead it was because I only had 1 it was a day 3 transfer. Also they told me that it had only progressed slowly and only had 3 cells, whereas ideally it should have been at 6-8 cells. I didn't think I had anything to lose so I just went ahead with the procedure. I am not confident at all that it will work but I was just glad that it was a step forward from last time. I am experiencing slight bloating and cramping this morning. I just need some advice on when my AF will arrive as this whole timetable has thrown me off/out kf where I am? So confused! 🙄🙄 Also any other advice on what I could possibly do for my next round? I will not give up on this as I am so proud of myself to have progressed this far from my first round last year.

Thanks everyone. Xxxxxxx

[Hidden]

I am so sorry you are having to go through this.

Have they changed your protocol? From short to long or long to short?

My first round I got 3 eggs and did a 2 egg day 2 transfer as they weren't great quality. Second round we changed from long to short protocol and I got 13 eggs, 7 fertilised and got 3 to day 5 nearly blasto..

it was incredible what a difference the change in protocol made xx

[Star26 in reply to Hidden]

Hi. ☺ No they haven't. It seemed that the timings for everything; scans appointment days and egg collection day was exactly the same as my first round. I started Menopur and Gonal F meds on evening of Saturday 18th Jan. They tweaked my meds. I had Gonal F added. I was on 300 menopur, 150 Gonal F and 250 Cetrotide. So is this classed as a short protocol? I also am unsure what to do next as I will be funding it myself for the next times. These were my 2x goes on NHS. x

[Hidden in reply to Star26]

Hey sorry for delay - it sounds like short protocol - I assume you didnt take anything to down regulate and instead just went straight onto the Menopur around day 3 of your cycle? They can try long protocol where you down regulate your body first so it completely sort of wipes out your lining, stops you ovulating etc and then you start stims and it sort of kick starts your body into action. You normally start that around day 21 of your cycle. I have to add I am not a medical expert but from what I have read if your body doesnt respond well to one method its often worth trying the other and it can have a dramatic impact.. it might be worth asking about? x

[Star26 in reply to Hidden]

Thank u Daisy. Yes def worth asking about. On my first round they started me on Microgynon for just a few days and then into Norethisterone for about 7 days and then when I stopped that I had to wait for a bleed within a 3/4 day window. My normal monthly AF I can time exactly so when it was time for round 2, I questioned what exactly the microgynon did because I found that when I had my bleed on the first round it would have been when my AF was due anyway so I did not know what it did. There also was another reason as to why they didn't put me on microgynon this time round (can't remember! 🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️) the consultant then planned for me to start with norethisterone again 12 days before my stims. So I had northisterone for 7 days, then a 4 day break to which I had a bleed amd then I started my stims. I am not sure but is them classed as down regulation? Thank you. 😊😊 x

[Hidden in reply to Star26]

I have to admit I don't know... but it doesnt sound like its quite the same as the long protocol I have described because I think all they are doing is delaying your period to a certain date and not preventing you ovulating, whereas with long you want your period but even after It has happened you are still on the drugs stopping you from even starting to product eggs.

But don't take my word for it cos I am definitely not a doctor 🙈 sorry! xx

[Star26 in reply to Hidden]

Yes u sound right because I did have to have a scan beforehand to make sure I was not ovulating in that 4 day window when I was waiting for my bleed. I am wondering whether meds can be upped again. They were unsure at a point whether to continue with stims and defer egg collection for 3 days but then they were concerned also coz I only had 4 dominant follicles that 2 were ahead and could have been lost if stims were extended. It is all so confusing and I am so surprised of even remembering it all coz I don't think my head can take much more info before it will burst! 😊😊🙈🙈🙈 x

[Lilly12255 in reply to Hidden]

Hi Daisy, could you please let us know what is a short protocol that worked for you? When do you start medication? Before the periods or after? What medications and what doses? I am also wondering whether I am following the right procedure. Thank you

[Hidden in reply to Lilly12255]

With short protocol you normally have a scan around day 2 or 3 of your period to check your lining is thin and your ovaries are clear with no cysts etc and then you start your stims that day or the next day, then your first scan is normally about a week after that. its a much quicker cycle than the long protocol which is when you start around day 21 and start down regulating first.

Everyone is different obviously and some protocols work better on some than others.

My meds I was on super high dose (maximum) of Menopur and Fyremadel to stop me ovulating but thats just my clinic and linked to my age and AMH. It definitely doesnt mean its the right thing for anyone else obviously xx