Cancelled cycle

[Gold00]

Hi everyone, just wanted to see if anyone had experienced a cycle cancellation due to the risk of OHSS.

After 8 days of stimulation, I've been told that my cycle had to be cancelled as too many follicles have been developing (29 were seen on the scan) and my estrogen levels were way too high (3,500 pg/ml, with at least 3 more days of stimulation left). I've had the same protocol with Elonva before, but this is the first time this has happened...

I just feel numb and not to sure what to make of it, stopping all medication except for taking half a trigger and not proceeding with egg collection had been very upsetting, as it felt like I was killing potential embryos 😢. I always thought getting a lot of eggs is a good thing, but clearly this is not the case...

I've already had a lot of setbacks (2 attempts at myomectomy due to developing anaphylaxis and, as a result, no longer being allowed to have egg collection under anaesthesia, adenomyosis, upcoming polyp removal procedure and needing to correct 0% lactobacillus). I am 43, no PCOS, FSH of 5, AFC of 37 and AMH at 41 was 29pmol and this cycle was my first cycle 6 months post myomectomy and at my age I really hoped it was going to be my last prior to fixing other things and before doing embryo transfers.

If anyone had experienced a cycle cancellation due to OHSS, how did you feel before your period and straight after? Did you do another cycle straight away? If yes, what was the protocol and medication dose?

Thank you in advance and baby dust to you all xx

[Poppygarden]

Hi Gold00,

I’m really sorry to hear you are going through this. It’s all such a hard process. I wanted to reach out as I’ve had a negative experience of Ohss too but for slightly different reasons.

I had ohss last year and they went ahead with my egg collection and transfer. I’ve since had 4 embryos transferred and two miscarriages. The embryologist has since said that they saw dna damage in the embryos that didn’t make it to day 5 and they thought this was a result of my body creating 44 folicals and being overwhelmed. Going forward they have suggested I test future embryos as they suspect dna damage in my eggs. In hindsight I wish I’d been told the risks so I could have been given the option of doing another cycle with less drugs. I feel like I’ve wasted the last year on very loved embryos that were never destined to work

This whole journey is so hard and I’m sorry you are going through a tough moment. Whenever you decide to go through another egg collection I really hope it gives you a better outcome. Xxx

[Gold00 in reply to Poppygarden]

Thank you Poppygarden for sharing your experience, the kind words and encouragement. So sorry to hear about what you had to go through. Wishing all the very best on your IVF journey and I hope the next embryo transfer is a successful one! xxx

[Poppygarden in reply to Gold00]

Thank you so much. I really hope it works out for you soon too. Xxx

[Eloquentia]

I am really sorry about what you are going through I developed OHSS after egg collection. They collected 32 follicles. I hope you don't get it but if you do, my consultant recommended having a few protein shakes/yoghurts a day to help absorb the fluid that collects in the abdomen. Hot water bottle helped me too. I was allowed to go for another round after the first proper period after that cycle, i.e. the post-IVF bleed plus one normal period. Good luck!

[Gold00]

Many thanks Eloquentia for your tips regarding protein shakes/yoghurts/hot water bottle. That's very helpful, as I've been feeling very bloated in the last couple of days. If I may ask, has your next protocol changed as a result of developing OHSS after egg collection?

[Rainbowretrieval]

Hi Gold00. Sounds like you’ve got a lot of stuff going on which must feel overwhelming. Your clinic is perhaps being extra cautious because of the history. I had 31 eggs collected and whilst I felt ok we waited a month and then did a FET. This ended in an ectopic which had to be surgically removed which was seriously traumatic. Perhaps my bits hadn’t really recovered from overstimulation in hindsight. So they might be trying to look out for you but it must have been a big blow x

[Gold00 in reply to Rainbowretrieval]

Yes, I agree Rainbowretrieval. The clinic was putting my health first. With Elonva protocol unfortunately there's no way to adjust the daily dose, as you do 1 FSH injection only and it will last you for 7 days, as it will be slowly releasing into the body for a week and tests will only be done on day 8 of stimulations. I've had this protocol a few times before and it was always ok.

I know ovaries on day 2-3 of the period should be quiet, but my estrogen level on Day 2 was not just low, it was extremely low (17 pg/ml only). I never had it that low, so I was actually concerned I would not respond well to stimulation. So, to go from that extreme to having the cycle cancelled because of OHSS was very unexpected and a big shock to the system...

Sorry to hear what you had to go through. I hope you are fully recovered and the next transfer will be a success!