Growth hormone during cycle

[Lilly12255]

I have discussed the possibility of trying growth hormone during my next cycle with my doc. My doc has no experience of it - not given it before - and warns me I need to check if it could be harmful to the cycle instead of helpful and decide what I want to do. Could you share any experience of taking growth hormone during a cycle? Did your follicles grow? Did you create embryos? If you had cycles with and without growth hormone, how did they compare? Have you heard anything negative about growth hormone?

And if you could share what meds/dosage did you take.

Thank you

Xx

[Peony85]

I did 3IU per day from the start of stims. This was based on one recent study that was in a population similar to me (normal ovarian reserve, but at least one cycle that did not make it to transfer). What I found was, every study had a different regimen ranging from 2 IU / day to 6 IU / day. Definitely not enough data to do a good comparison. Sometimes with long protocols, they started day of down reg, others with stims, so we just did with the start of stims. Some even start a few months before.

There are side effects so I was OK doing a lower dose.

I had the fastest egg retrieval I’ve had, despite being on a long protocol, which no one expected. So I do think it helped them grow. I went into EC thinking I’d get 10-12 and I got 20+, 16 mature. Of that, I had the best (most even, lowest fragmentation) and most consistent development, also highest number of blasts. We also used testicular sperm due to DNA fragmentation so I think that helped with the blasts, but definitely think the day 1-3 development improvement was due to HGH.

My suggestion, if you’re comfortable reading scientific publications is to find one (or several) that most closely align to your situation. But I think taking something middle of the ground can be a good way to go, as there can be HGH side effects. Truthfully I can’t remember what most of the are as I didn’t experience but I think carpal tunnel was one of them.

[Chartman0816 in reply to Peony85]

Hello! I am thinking of incorporating growth hormone in my next cycle. When did you stop taking growth hormone? I’m thinking the day before your Trigger Shot? Thank you!

[Peony85 in reply to Chartman0816]

I used it for the entire period of stims, including the day I took the trigger. I did not take it in the interim day between trigger and egg collection.

[Chartman0816 in reply to Peony85]

Thank you so much for confirming. How were your results if you don’t mind me asking?

[Peony85 in reply to Chartman0816]

We are 27 weeks pregnant after a fresh transfer from that round 😊 much better embryo development overall which was evident from the embryo scope footage.

[Chartman0816 in reply to Peony85]

That is Amazing news! Congratulations!!!! We will be including growth hormone in our treatment plan for sure now. We had our first cycle last November which failed. Next month will be our second cycle. I’ve been on GH since we got the results. I’ve been taking 2 IU about 5 days a week. We are hoping this will help, although 4 had 11 eggs retrieved, 10 mature and all fertilized. We did a fresh transfer with 2 good quality embryos, and also ended up with 2 frozen decent quality (3BC, 4BC). I was 38 at the time so we are hoping the HG may help with getting euploid embryos (we didn’t PGS test and don’t plan to this round either).

[Peony85 in reply to Chartman0816]

That sounds great! I read good things out of US with that kind of protocol but the most relevant study to me I found was just during stims so my consultant wanted to use that. Wishing you the best of luck with your next cycle!

[BBHH1 in reply to Peony85]

The growth hormone has been used during the cycle in studies, but similar to DHEA it will act in the primordial follicles so the rationale is that it should be used for 6 weeks prior to doing a cycle...

[Hidden]

Growth hormone gave me much better quality embryos - I will never do another cycle without it. It doesn't increase the quantity, but it increases the quality.

[Bluebirds7]

I had growth hormone on my IVF cycle. It was my first cycle so I have nothing to compare it with but I have my little boy to show for it! Before IVF I had had 3 miscarriages so I did not have a problem getting pregnant just the quality of my eggs was a problem. So I think the growth hormone really helped me have a successful pregnancy (although nothing can prove that).

I took Zomacton 4mg it was 5 injections in total every other day and started at beginning of stimms. So it finished before I finished the stimulation phase.

Good luck with your next cycle x

[leo1980]

Hey girls, I am interested in trying this on a cycle. I am 40 😀. Are any of you in advanced maternal age? I have a low reserve and hubby and I can’t make blastocysts. I had a second opinion at a clinic different from my one and it was suggested there. Could you please share which clinic suggested it too... thank you so very much

[BBHH1]

My doctor says it works through IGF1. So if it’s low it can help and he recommends. Otherwise he doesn’t think it helps. There can be serious side effects however he never saw anything serious but very commonly carpal tunnel syndrome like someone mentioned.