Long vs short protocol

[Maryc32]

I have my follow up with the clinic tomorrow. Following a freeze all round last feb (infection, ohss and a week in hospital) which was long protocol.

Following the transfer of 5 frozen embryos (2xBfn 2xchemical) we will probably do another collection and any other tests recommended

I’m interested in doing a short protocol stims. I hate down reg and I don’t want to end up in hospital again.

Does anyone have experience of both short and long? Are the numbers comparable?

I know I’m overthinking everything before the appointment but obsessing and any advice or anecdotes very welcomed xxxx

[Iamtrying150]

Hi Maryc32, Iv done 2 long protocols previously which were both unsuccessful, I’m currently going through the short protocol and so far has been an actual breeze. My meds are still quite high this time but I have responded much better and more importantly within a reduced time. I think it’s kinder to your body. I’m due to have egg collection on Wednesday and hopeful that I have a good outcome. With the long protocol they retrieved 4 eggs and 2 made it to blastocyst xx

[PenguinBlue]

Hi Mary, I’ve done both long and short protocol. For me, long was better as I got more mature eggs which I didn’t have with short but everyone is different and you may respond better with short protocol as it’s a bit easier on the body.

Good luck with whatever you go for xxx

[KiboXX]

Hi Maryc32,

I’ve done both and like you I hated the down reg part! I was told that long typically gets more eggs but short focuses on fewer eggs but better quality. For me that was definitely the case as I got my best embryos from the short round. Also it’s much easier on your body xxx

[Applepie7]

Hi

I had two rounds of short protocol responded well to meds collected 19 to 24 eggs but both cycles only got 2 mature eggs both ended in BFN starting ling protocol this week as my consultant thinks this will be a better approach for me! All the best x

[HopeOfYou]

Hi Mary, I also had both protocols, I'd say the numbers would have been comparable if everything else went to plan, instead :

1st IVF, short protocol, 11 eggs, only 4 were fertilised, and were of lower quality, BFN (I discovered only one year later that the incubator for the embryos broke at some point, the clinic kept that quiet, I found a note, in very small handwriting, in the documents I requested when I changed clinic).

2nd IVF, short protocol, only one ovary accessed, 5 eggs, 1 fertilised, and sticked, but in the tube... Ectopic with surgical removal. They accessed only one ovary because the other one moved up, I'm pretty sure it was because I had a cyst there, which I discovered later, indeed I had been complaining about pain on the right ovary, but they didn't bother to investigate.

We changed clinic and protocol.

3rd ICSI, long protocol, 8 eggs (but only from one ovary because I was in pain, they only managed to drain the cyst on the right one), 7 fertilised, 2 were transferred on day 2 (BFN), one was frozen, then transferred and gave us our lovely daughter. The doctor at the clinic also realised that I needed to keep my TSH levels under control, indeed now I have officially Hashimoto's disease.

I think, for me it was not the protocol that made the difference, but everything else (technique, equipment, care of investigating if there's something more that can be done).

Good luck with your journey!

[Maryc32]

Thanks ladies 😘😘😘😘😘😘