Short protocol length

[Nic_o_la_la]

Hi lovely ladies,

Another prep question from me! I am just trying to figure out where I might need to book leave from work in my diary and change around meetings I’ve already got scheduled in. I know it’s dependent on so many factors and individual but wondered if you guys could give me an idea how long the process is for short protocol. Mainly between starting stims / trigger / EC please? I know I’d like to have a couple of days off for EC and ET but trying to work out roughly when they’ll be! Typical, I have a couple of weeks off in March but I’ll only just be starting stims then and need to use up leave before the end of the month (work for the council) so not an option to just shift the 2 weeks back to April if that makes sense - just need to book in more. Thanks guys, any advice is much appreciated 🙂x

[Lovemylion]

Hey. Havent you been given any dates yet? My short protocols involved taking menopur and cetrorelix for 10/12 days, a trigger shot and egg collection 36hrs (I think....can't quite remember exact hours) later. And then transfer depends on how many fertilised eggs you get as to what day it gets put back in...I've had a 2 day and 5 day transfer. You will definitely need time off for egg collection as you will be sedated. I took the rest of the week off. Have you got an estimated w/c egg collection date? If you can I'd just book two weeks off from there. 🤷🏼‍♀️☺️💗 Xxx

[Nic_o_la_la in reply to Lovemylion]

Hey Lovemylion, thanks for responding. Been suffering from a horrible migraine so sorry for late reply! I’ve had rough dates/protocol given to me but nothing individualised to me yet. I’ll get that when I go on for my Day 2 scan. I have the rough timings around trigger shot to collection abs transfer but was really wondering how long between the day 2 and trigger if that makes sense? To then know when actual egg collection might be, but I guess that’s the bit that might depend on how my body responds in that time to how long it is? Wishing you lots of luck for your March cycle 🤞🏼x

[McQueeny]

Similar to lovemylion - I think the stims shots were about two weeks, then egg collection - it would be roughly when you would have ovulated on a normal cycle.... agree to take a day or two off work for egg collection - I felt pretty rubbish on the day (nauseous and bloated and achy) but mostly fine the day after. Then depends on whether you do a 3 day or 5 day transfer . The transfer is massively easier than the egg collection so you technically don’t need more than half a day off - but I like to take a couple of days just to relax and not stress about anything.... when they give you your protocol it should have all these dates explained good luck! 🤞x

[Nic_o_la_la in reply to McQueeny]

Hey McQueeny, thanks for responding 🙂 Yes definitely thought I would want at least a couple of days off for egg collection and transfer. Like you say even just to rest a bit after transfer and not worry about getting too stressed with work etc. Want to give it by my shot. It’s just hard to know when to plan those dates in my diary without some specifics from the clinic. They’ve just said scans every 2-3 days from day 2 to egg collection but not how long that will be! Useful to know it’s around 2 weeks/my usual ovulation as can use that as a bit of a guide now. Thanks and wishing you luck with your journey x

[McQueeny in reply to Nic_o_la_la]

Yes it’s hard with the dates - all they can ever give you are guidelines since it depends how your body responds to the meds. But yes at least you have a rough idea thank you and good luck to you too! 🤞😊 x

[LCharlton]

The key thing to remember is you won't know for sure until 2 days before when EC will be - I've had a round when I was on stims for 7 days and one when I was on stims for 14 days, it all depends on what your follicles decide to do that month. I told work I needed a minor operation but was waiting to hear when I'd be booked in. Wishing you lots of luck x

[Nic_o_la_la in reply to LCharlton]

Thanks LCharlton for replying ☺️ Oh that makes things a bit more confusing for me! Work do know and are really supportive so am holding off booking anything else extra in my diary for that month which is super helpful but just don’t know what to do with the rest of my appointments! I know I want to keep working where I can to keep my brain occupied but definitely want some time off around the collection and transfer. I guess I’ll just have to take it as it comes when it happens and take off last minute leave when I know. Wishing you the best for the next steps in your journey 🌈🍀 x

[Sparklylife]

Hi Nic_o_la_la ☺️ We did a short protocol in November. Like people say, vary depending on your body, but we started stims on first day of a full bleed - I did stims for 9 days. We only had a check up uss at day 9 - and my follicles were ready, so we triggered on day 10. EC was then 36 hours later. After EC our embryos got to bake for 5 days - and we had a transfer. I felt great EC day, loved the sedation, but I was very bloated and achy for two days after - only needed Paracetamol once, so was not bad. After ET I felt fine, but I did have 4-5 days off - I was slightly lucky with how the weekends fell too so got a few more days!

Exciting times for you and I am so glad your work is being supportive! My work was too as I had told them in advance. We needed to isolate with our clinic you see between day 9 scan and ET, so could not leave the house for work- I therefore had the whole time off as leave.

All the best with your upcoming round!! 🤞🥰