Endo - IVF Down Reg Cycle - Have you tried?

[VMJ007]

Hi ladies. 39 years old. My 5th cycle of IVF starting. None have been successful. We get to blasocyst but my darling, healthy embryos won’t implant. Has anyone done down-reg technique? There’s some sniffing involved. Apparently it puts the body into menopause. Need some words of wisdom. Praying this will work 🙏🏻

[ace3]

Hi VMJ007! I’m 39, too. With suspected endo (identified through endometrioma seen on ultrasound). We had 4 embryos (all top grade) very fortunately. One fresh cycle and one frozen cycle - sadly unsuccessful. Waiting for period to start the second FET. I have been on Prostap injection to keep the cysts and endo sleeping. Sadly, it delayed my period more than it should - I’m on day 51 of a cycle (my cycles are normally 25-26 days long!). So, I would say if you can avoid Prostap it wouldn’t be a bad thing. But everyone is different. Hopefully we will keep in touch here and exchange notes as we progress with the cycle. Baby dust your way. x

[albbbxo]

Hey! I’m currently in my 2 week wait after the down reg cycle. I was on bruserline for about 5 weeks! I also have endometriosis. This time round everything seemed to do what it should unlike my last 2 where I had to up my medication and things. So I’m holding to hope for this one. All the best x

[Lisa843]

I've got stage 4 endo and have down regged on every cycle (2 fresh/2 frozen). I'm surprised it hasn't been offered to you before as it really helps calm endo down. I've never used the sniffing one. I've had Zoladex for 4 months, Prostap for a month and twice i've injected Buserelin daily for a month.

The side effects are not nice and you need to make sure you drink at least 3 litres of water each day but in terms of prepping for transfer I would never not down reg. It actually shrunk my endometriomas which was amazing x

[VMJ007 in reply to Lisa843]

Thanks. Yes I’m stage 4 endo - severe - and I agree, I wish it was offered earlier. I can’t find much online about down-reg and stopping the endo. But if that’s what happens? I am excited to start something néw. Even if the side effects are dismal.

[Lisa843 in reply to VMJ007]

Down reg stops your own hormone production and allows the medication to completely take over your cycle. Estrogen is what feeds endo so in theory, you take that hormone away for a few weeks and it stabilises any adhesions/endometriomas you have. Good luck x

[p226 in reply to Lisa843]

Hey Lisa, sorry for barging in the conversation… I am currently on down regulation cycle for FET and started 6mg estradiol from today .. my doctor is suggesting to take some vaginal viagra and steroids as well.. do you have any experience with support medications along with E2 in down regulations?

[Lisa843 in reply to p226]

Hey, i've never had viagra but I did use Prednisolone (oral steroid) with my last cycle. I have been on 20mg a day since 5 days before transfer and will start weaning off them from 13 weeks. I'm currently 12+3. This was my first cycle using steroids but I also used Lubion instead of Cyclogest this time. Prednisolone reduces the immune system so you need to be careful and isolate as much as possible but for me (so far) it's been worth it x

[Twiglet2]

Yeah this is how my clinic do FETs with the down reg, it’s longer but means they can time everything. After lots of failures with IUI and fresh transfer our first down reg FET we got a BFP but miscarried and second down the FET was our little boy. So we have had success with this technique.

It a little longer than non down reg FET (about 6-8 weeks of treatment) and the menopause part isn’t much fun but is short lived. I also only had to take the nasal spray for a few days (I was previously on it for months with IUIs and it was a pest).

Good luck to you! 🤗 xx

[VMJ007 in reply to Twiglet2]

Thank you for the reply! Wow. Okay so it does mimic menopause. What did it do with your endo? My endo is bad, stage 4. Is it true that if shuts down the endo?

[Twiglet2 in reply to VMJ007]

Sorry lovely I dont have endo but I have heard that it can help with that as the nurse told me that’s why it’s often used in IVF.

Yeah it wasn’t too bad from a menopause angle just some hot flashes and a bit moody 😂 In fact the first time I didn’t have much symptoms at all but the more times I had it the worse the ‘menopause’ type symptoms got but it is only for a few weeks before they start you on the meds to restart your cycle (then you are back to the usual hormonal because of that lol). It doesn’t seem to be as common a FET method but it defo worked for me xx

[Lunasa81]

I have stage 4 endo and was put on the long protocol down-reg with the nasal spray on 1st cycle so can't compare it to doing things any other way but it was successful for me,currently 13w. Best of luck, I didn't feel great on it but it wasn't for too long.

[VMJ007 in reply to Lunasa81]

Fellow stage 4 endo sufferer. Congrats!! I kinda wish I started on down reg, instead of starting on normal IVF on 4 cycles only to fail. Oh well, I guess Now is better than never.

[Lunasa81 in reply to VMJ007]

Ya must be really hard to put them behind you after all it puts your mind and body through (especially being used to endo pain on top) but hopefully it's exactly what need and positive thoughts going into this one. 🤗

[Latetotheparty38]

How are you getting on? I’m 39 and starting 5th cycle too! Have been down regulating for the last 21 days, taking the contraceptive pill and Syneral spray (stops ovulation). Now I wait for period then start taking about 5 injections! E2 patches and Human growth hormone (Saizen). What drugs will you be on? Like you I’m excited to try something new.

[VMJ007 in reply to Latetotheparty38]

Hello. I start Syneral on Sunday! I have enjoyed the small break between cycles. I will be on Puregon, and Luveris. I pick up my injection meds next week. I’m hoping and praying this works. Bloody endo! How are you finding your body reacts to the syneral?