hydroxycholiquine & steroids

[Rol81]

Hello all.

Firstly thank you to everyone that was such a great support to me after my failed FET, it really helped me . I’m always grateful for all the messages & apologies I’ve not been on here to support everyone the last few weeks. I just needed a complete break from anything ivf but I’m back now to catch up on all your posts and how your journeys are going.

Time to get focused.

Been back to my consultant , forgot my folder of prepped questions and as usual went blank and forgot t to ask loads when I’m there!

Nothing new though, except I did learn out of my two embryos transferred , one was top quality (but at day 2) So I’m trying to find the positive in that . 

I’ve been taking hydroxycholiquine but will now finally be taking it along side steroids. My consultant is very sceptical of hydroxycholiquine, she doesn’t seem to have much faith at all but more faith in the steroids. What is everyone’s feeling on it? 

She also wants me to have another  hysterscopy before I have another transfer. I had an Erpc last year so she wants to double check no damage to my lining.

The embryologist performed icsi my last 3 cycles, my husbands sperm is good so she has questioned the reason for isci. What are your thoughts on this? My consultant prefers ivf and natural selection rather than icsi if sperm is not a problem?

And we will be tweaking my protocol slightly, I’ve yet to see the final decision but I’ll be mixing stims meds and I think actually a lower dose, 350 instead of 450?

I’m hoping steroids is the winning ingredient this time because I’m at a loss otherwise what to do.

I’m hoping to start in January. My diet has been shocking so I’ll need a few months to get back on track and I want to enjoy Xmas! 

 In the mean time back to trying naturally and hope for a miracle. I’m supposed to take the steroids from ovulation day for 10 days 🤞Any advise or knowledge always welcome. 

Thanks xx 

[K8dferXdder]

did you move clinics? I am also thinking to start another cycle in Jan but my husband has a sperm issue/varicocele which we will try to improve before that. I will be on Prednisolone, Enoxaparin, Levothyroxine, Cabergoline and Cyclogest. Fingers crossed for you. Was your embryo transferred at day 2? My clinic are fans of day 5 embryos. I am taking ubiquinol 200-400mg daily, my clinic said they recommend melanin but i haven’t started it yet. I also take vitamin E, C, D, methylpholate etc. Hubby is on Impryl.

[Rol81 in reply to K8dferXdder]

Hi x I stayed with the same clinic. Re: embryos, yes 5 days is best but I only every have 1-2 embryos so I don’t risk it and transfer at 3 days. My frozen transfer was at 2 days . Im yet to find out the reason for this x

[DianeArnold Partner Nurse Fertility Network UK]

Hi Rol. Not too sure why you would need to take hydroxycholiquine as well as steroids?? Obviously trying to get your immune system to accept an embry and not reject it. Hope all goes well. Diane

[Rol81 in reply to DianeArnold]

Hi Diane , my ivf clinic have expressed the same concern. Thinking maybe I should push the miscarriage clinic for more info x

[MyLittlePinkness]

hi, just a quick reply to you…..I had 4 transfers of 9 pgd tested embryos…all resulting in chemicals..for my 5th transfer i took Hydroxichloroquine along with steroids, Clexane. The Hydroxichloroquine was new…*sensitive* i have my 14 week old daughter from that transfer, thanks to Hydroxichloroquine….i know it’s a strong drug but fo me it was a miracle drug. Good luck with the transfer 💕💕

[Rol81 in reply to MyLittlePinkness]

Hello, I’m so sorry to hear how many chemicals you had but delighted to hear you had a happy ending with your daughter. Thank you for replying with some positivity re: hydroxycholiquine. Ive been taking it since March alone but it didn’t seem to help with my last transfer , so Im hoping the steroids in addition will make a difference .

Steroids will just be at transfer stage, was this the same for you ?

Thanks 🥰

[MyLittlePinkness in reply to Rol81]

yes steroids from first day of FET cycle. I think taking both are a good idea. Sorry the Hydroxichloroquine didn’t work alone. It’s so hard to know what to do for the best.💕

[Chel91]

Hi lovely, just wanted to respond since I'm sadly in a similar position and I have a very experienced immune doctor I'm now working with who has given me very helpful advice! Unfortunately, I did take hydroxy and steroids over several transfers with no success. Not to put you off, but if you have endo / adeno what might be most important is to do downreg with Prostap / Lupron + Letrozole for at least 2 months before transfer. Excision surgery is really important too if it has been more than 1 or 2 years since your last surgery.

My doctor is keeping me on hydroxy and steroids too though, he thinks they are very helpful! Clexane / Enoxaparin twice a day my doctor says also helps reduce inflammation as well as being a blood thinner so it's a dual use. There is a host of other medications I'm going to try this time too. I wish I could say exactly what worked for me, but hopefully next transfer will be the time for us both 💗 xx

[Titawine in reply to Chel91]

I did down regulation for 3 months before fet and unfortunately it didnt work, can i ask you please at what time he recommended to take letrozole and why? I eant to ask for a modified cycle instead of fully medicated one (already 3 failed transfer with good embryos on medicated cycle)

[Chel91 in reply to Titawine]

What medication did you use to downregulate? I'm sorry I wasn't clear, I actually meant take Letrozole daily during the downregulation period. It has an additional effect suppressing endo and inflammation when taken daily long term.

Modifed natural cycles are definitely worth doing also though! I'll be doing a natural or modified natural with my next cycle. Medicated cycles make endo worse and can spike inflammation and immune problems in some women. Definitely don't be afraid to make sure you get what you want xx

[Rol81 in reply to Chel91]

Hello, thank you for your reply and all the info. I’m sorry you have not had luck yet either. I’ve actually never had surgery for my endo or aden, they didn’t recommend and actually discouraged me from it. But after your message I will put these questions to them again. Wishing you so much luck 🤞thanks x

[Chel91 in reply to Rol81]

I'm sorry they discouraged you from doing the surgery, that seems odd to me. I would really look into it independently and maybe get a second opinion. Perhaps you could try the endo downregulation if surgery doesn't seem viable. It's supposed to help a lot 🤞🏻🙏🏻 Thanks, loads of luck to you too 💕 xx

[Titawine in reply to Chel91]

I used decapeptyl 3.75 , it was a nightmare with all the side effects

[Chel91 in reply to Titawine]

Mostly I know people who have taken Lupron, and the side affects are terrible I agree xx

[Skittles11 in reply to Rol81]

Sorry to intervene here but if the excision surgery is a laporoscopy to remove endometriosis then I have found this not to be recommended for those with low ovarian reserve. I have had two clinics, both of which don't suggest surgery. The reason is it can further strip back an already low reserve. It's different if your reserve is not low, then it might be helpful... sorry Rol, I'm not sure about your reserve so this may not be helpful x

[Rol81 in reply to Skittles11]

That’s exactly why , you are correct . I knew there was a reason but couldn’t remember. Thanks for that xxx

[Chel91 in reply to Skittles11]

This is true as far as removing an endometrioma of the ovary or endo on the ovary itself. However, endo tends to be all over the pelvis, bladder, bowel, fallopian tubes, appendix, gallbladder, surface of uterus etc. (and removing these areas doesn't affect the ovaries at all). It's definitely a conversation to have with a experienced endo surgeon though (if someone is considering surgery). xx

[Rol81 in reply to Chel91]

As far as I know I don’t have it on my ovaries so I’ll ask my consultation about other areas. They’ve told me there’s nothing I can do re: adenemyosis .

Thanks x