No birth control before stims, egg re... - Fertility Network UK

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No birth control before stims, egg retrieval

Hope_1234 profile image
14 Replies

What's the reason for birth control before stims?

I've seen online that many people take it before starting stims for egg retrieval.

My wife's on day 3 of stims today but no one mentioned for her to take birth control before this retrieval, she just started stims (gonal F) on day 3 of her cycle after her appointment.

Although her first egg collection last year she did take birth control but that was to allign our periods as I was having a fresh transfer (we are in a same sex couple)

Sorry just wondering why so many people take birth control and we are worrying why she hasn't been advised to take it, and that it will affect anything

Hope someone can help x

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Hope_1234
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14 Replies
Mellyboo111 profile image
Mellyboo111

I dont know the reason why some ladies are prescribed birth control but I dont think it will affect the outcome. I did my first and only retrieval in November of 2019 and I was never prescribed any birth control before I started. Just like your wife I start my meditation when my period started. They retrieved 18 eggs and 14 went on to day 5 blastocyst and all 14 was frozen. My first transfer was February 2020 because i decided to rest my body after retrieval. It did not work but i think it was because of me not suppressing my autoimmune system( i have a autoimmune disease). After my first fail transfer i rest my body again ,did another transfer in march of this year. Now i am 9 weeks pregnant with twins . ( i did do intralipids and steriods this time to help balance my autoimmune). So wish you guys luck and as i say the birth control should not affect your out come.

Hope_1234 profile image
Hope_1234 in reply to Mellyboo111

Awww that's great, so happy it worked out for you.. You have put our minds at ease 🥰x

LCharlton profile image
LCharlton

I think some clinics prescribe it to control the timing of your cycle, but certainly mine just works with your own natural timing.

Hope_1234 profile image
Hope_1234 in reply to LCharlton

Aw great, thank you 😊

RecipIVF profile image
RecipIVF

My wife wasn’t prescribed birth control before stims either. Not sure why to be honest! We got 14 mature eggs and 4 made it to 5 day blastocyst. We also tried to match our cycles up so I delayed my ovulation with progynova to match up with the 5 day blastocyst. Good luck! X

Hope_1234 profile image
Hope_1234 in reply to RecipIVF

Thanks for letting me know. She was worrying that the clinic had got it wrong 🙈

To control your cycle and to stop you getting pregnant by accident as this can be quite dangerous

Hope_1234 profile image
Hope_1234 in reply to

Aww okay. Thanks for your message 😊x

Llizzie profile image
Llizzie

I’m starting in a week. No birth control prescribed but my understanding is that it’s generally used when cycles are more erratic.

Hope_1234 profile image
Hope_1234 in reply to Llizzie

Aww okay, thanks for messaging and letting me know 😊x

Llizzie profile image
Llizzie in reply to Hope_1234

No problem. Just checked my pack and it says “many patients are prescribed the pill the month before the start their fertility medication. This enables the ovaries to rest and can be used to bring on a bleed in women with irregular cycles. By manipulating the number of pills taken, the dates of treatment can be scheduled which may help many patients and their partners plan treatment.”

If you’re in a same sex couple then there’s no risk of pregnancy either! Best of luck. x

Hope_1234 profile image
Hope_1234 in reply to Llizzie

Aww thanks so much for taking the time to send that😊

Yeah definitely no risk of pregnancy here 😂

Thank you, my wife's just had her 3rd gonal F injection and feeling fine, they have lowered her dose this time around, hoping for a good response 🤞

Best of luck with your journey 🥰x

BBHH1 profile image
BBHH1

The birth control is for planning the cycle. Then you decide when to start. For woman with good ovarian reserve using pills is not a problem. For low ovarian reserve better to avoid, however estrogen prime might be used in those cases. There is not necessarily a right or wrong answer...

Hope_1234 profile image
Hope_1234 in reply to BBHH1

Fab thanks for your message..you learn more and more each cycle 😊x

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