Can you increase follicle numbers by waiting?

[Beatrix_K]

Hey ladies, I started long protocol just after Christmas and have been injecting supercur every night since then. A week ago I started Meriofert jabs too. The plan was always that I’d be ready for collection in early Feb

Anyway, cut a long story short, yesterday I went for a scan to see how the follicles were doing. On one side they found a few (maybe 5?) healthy looking ones over 13mm. On the other there were 5 under 10mm and only 2 above that at like 11. They think I’ll be ready by Friday for collection.

My question is: would the follicle numbers and size be increase/ improve with a few more days of stims??

Can I ask for a couple more days or will they laugh me out of the clinic?? (Not a medical expert y’see)

I burst out crying on the way home because I felt so disappointed - they were worried I may over stimulate(!!) - and plus this is my last chance on NHS so I was hoping to get more.

I only got 5 eggs last time with nothing to freeze and they thought the answer lay in a long protocol. I am desperate to get something ‘extra’ this time. I know it’s greedy, sorry.

Going back for a check up tomorrow so I need your wisdom- lay it on me! Xx

[2littleducks]

Hey, I’m going through stimms and having a hard time too so feel your pain you do not sound silly at all, most places including my clinic will not say you are ready for egg collection until a few of your follicles have reached about 18mm or above, see how your check up is tomorrow but if they are still on the lower side I would definitely ask for a few more day! Lots of people stimm for 10-12 days so you definitely see have some leeway here. Good luck to you Xx

[Beatrix_K in reply to 2littleducks]

Thanks for that 2littleducks, yeah I guess that’s true and tbh of the 5 they measured on the one side the 13mm was the smallest so I know that I’ll get something l. Just really praying and hoping the other guys catch up! Good luck to you too. The hormones are horrible on us but this site if amazing in terms of support so let’s keep in touch 😊

[2littleducks in reply to Beatrix_K]

Hey 👋🏻 did you end up going to collection? X

[Beatrix_K in reply to 2littleducks]

Hi I did - I had 19 follicles in the end, which was nice but had EC yesterday and was told after they thought 12 would viable but only managed to got 9 eggs. I should be happy but we were all expecting more. it’s been so up and down this week! How are you? I saw you had tonnes of follies! X

[2littleducks in reply to Beatrix_K]

Hi, that’s still a great amount but disheartening if you thought you were going to have more! Are you doing a freeze or planning on having transfer? When will you get more news? Good luck to you!! Tell me about it, IVF is such a rollercoaster of emotions!! I also had egg collection yesterday, they collected 23 eggs and 20 were mature but I’m waiting on the call today to see how many fertilise! Fingers crossed! ❤️ X

[Beatrix_K in reply to 2littleducks]

That’s an amazing number! With those odds you’re laughing!I was just in the danger zone of developing of OHSS (18 follies apparently) but I had a good number fertilise and they’re happy to go ahead with fresh transfer next week! Are you doing a freeze all cycle due to amount? Either way you should be super pleased! 😊 x

[2littleducks in reply to Beatrix_K]

Hey, good luck for your transfer!! When is it? ❤️ I’m going for a scan tomorrow to make sure everything is ok regarding (no ohss) and then if all is well il have transfer weds! 11 of the 20 fertilised and just got a call this morning to say 11 are still going strong so fingers crossed! 🤞🏻 Xx

[Bernie150781]

Hi Beatrix I believe that if they wait too long, you can over stimulate and the ones that come to the size they need can actually then make you ovulate if you wait too long and lose them and the smaller ones may never get to the size you need anyway. I had a fresh transfer in December, I had 6 follicles drained with only 3 eggs, all 3 fertilised and 2 made it to blasto, I am now 10 weeks pregnant, I'm age 39, they would never laugh at you for asking the questions and maybe you still should and they can give you a medical explanation which would probably give you more satisfaction with their response, as I am not qualified. You just need a couple of good ones, try not to fixate on the numbers too much. Good luck to you x x x

[Beatrix_K in reply to Bernie150781]

Congratulations Bernie, that’s amazing news!!Thanks for your message too. I think you are right, in the end I had a bunch of follies come through so there was no need to raise it with them. Anyway, I got a decent amount and most fertilised so maybe i worried for no reason but I just wanted the give myself the best chance possible as I’ll be turning 37 later this year. Reading your reply has made me positive about prospects - let’s hope I get a blasto and it sticks too!

Good luck to you over the next few months - super exciting!xx

[Bernie150781 in reply to Beatrix_K]

This is such an emotional experience, I think it's normal to worry every step of the way, the next bit is, will it make it to blasto, then the dreaded TWW then the 3 week wait for the scan, then every tiny little symptom you will analyse and so on, people on here are always happy to try and help and reassure so no matter what, if you need some support, we are all here x x x

[Beatrix_K in reply to Bernie150781]

Thank you really appreciate it - right back at you xx