Long or short protocol

Hi ladies

Firstly, sorry for my naivety… We signed up yesterday and now have our IVF dates in the diary for Jan/Feb.

The consultant has suggested a short protocol due to my young age, low AMH and risk of over stimulation. I can see that short typically takes less time, but I can only really find the timescales for long protocol. Can anyone shed some light on how long typically a short protocol takes? I appreciate this could vary from cycle to cycle.

Thank you in advance 🙂

[KiboXX]

Hi CJohns,

Short is the same as long, just take out the down regulation part. So you start directly on stimulation drugs, normally you take those for around 10-14 days depending on how you respond. Your clinic will scan you during this time to check how things are progressing. Once you’re ready, they will schedule your trigger shot and egg collection is normally around 36 hours later (or something like that!).

Transfers are normally 5 days later but sometimes clinics will do them earlier if you don’t have many embryos. Hope that helps! xx

[Hidden in reply to KiboXX]

Thanks for the extra information. I’ve got my egg collection week for the last week in February and they’ve said cycle meds etc will start end of December/start of January, so I just can’t quite marry that up given it should be a bit quicker 🤔. Might give them a call next week to confirm. Xx

[KiboXX in reply to Hidden]

Yeah definitely give them a call as doesn’t sound right for short protocol unless they are getting you to take the pill first? Some clinics do that to time it better for their schedules xx

[McQueeny]

Heya and welcome A short protocol really is quite short - you start injections on day 2 usually, then first scan will be on day 8, and depending on how you’re responding to the stimulation hormones they’ll keep scanning you every day or two until you’re ready - then they’ll book you in for egg collection, usually around day 12-15 I think. Then from egg collection it’s 3 or 5 days till transfer. So you’ll have your transfer roughly 3 weeks from your starting point x

[Hidden in reply to McQueeny]

Ahh that’s so helpful, thank you for the additional information. So much information is given in the apts and there are so many things you forget to ask 🙈. Xx

[Pnw2020]

Hi. Great replies above. Just to add with low AMH there isn’t usually a risk of overstimulation. Usually you are on a higher dose of drug ( which means a higher cost if private . I believe short protocol can be preferred with low AMH as you don’t switch off the ovaries beforehand. Best of luck with your cycle x

[Hidden in reply to Pnw2020]

Hi - he’s said it’s my age that is the reason behind the risk of overstimulation as I’m only 28, and short protocol for the AMH (didn’t quite word my post right!). Luckily this is our NHS go so no additional costs 🤞🏻 thank you xx

[Chiefy]

Hi, if you haven't read it yet, get yourself a copy of a book called "Get a Life - his and hers guide to ivf". It is a great book written by a couple who have been through the process 3 times and explains it all in simple terms. Both my husband and I found it so useful.

Wishing you the best of luck x

[Hidden in reply to Chiefy]

I’ve got it and read but think I read it a bit too prematurely when I didn’t really have any information on my individual plan! I think I’ll revisit it - thank you ☺️ xx

[PinkPanther1234]

I am doing short protocol for my next cycle. I have done 2 long protocols previously, so it is new to me too. The nurse at my clinic said short protocol takes 7 weeks and long protocol takes 9 weeks. I was surprised, as I thought it would just be a few weeks of meds before egg collection! But they are putting me on the pill for the month before. Judging by the timings they have given you, it sounds as though they are planning to put you on the pill the month before too. Good luck, I hope it goes well for you x

[Hidden in reply to PinkPanther1234]

Thank you - he did mention the pill but said it could be a week or 3 weeks . As you can see I’m struggling not being in control of what is happening and I just want to know exact timescales 🙈🤣.

Good luck for your next cycle! Xx

[PinkPanther1234 in reply to Hidden]

I know that feeling well! Thank you 😊 xx

[Ariel24]

Hi, my first short protocol was really long because my ovaries didn’t stimulate for a while and then when the dose was increased they went mental! Our last round though (3rd one) from the first scan/injection day until our pregnancy test was only a month!!!! It was really short. So it can vary - sorry, not that useful

[Hidden in reply to Ariel24]

Crikey that was quick - and it is useful to me. It helps to know so if I need to query anything with the hospital then I don’t look like a complete plonker. Thank you ☺️ xx

[Ariel24 in reply to Hidden]

Good luck!

[Linzeeee]

My first round was a short flare protocol and I was only on injections for 9 days but that depends on how your body is responding and when the doc thinks your eggs are ready for collections. Good luck!