Short Protocol

[Anneonimous]

Hi all,

I've been told I'll be doing the short protocol when I start ivf shortly.

I have quite a low AMH (nearly 40 years old) but no idea about anything else.

Can anyone who also did the short protocol give me a rough timeline of how long it took for you from start to finish?

Thanks xx

[MiniCeeCee]

I’m about to start short protocol in 3 weeks too, and had my nurse appointment yesterday where they took me through the whole plan. I’m looking at around 2 weeks of period blocking progesterone tablets, followed by 5 days of no tablets, followed by 5 days of 1 set of injections, followed by 6 days of 2 lots of injections. Then you go into egg collection and egg transfer window, and 2 weeks post egg collection you do a pregnancy test. So all in all, looking at around a 6-7 week process. Hope they helps! My first time, so only going off what the nurse told me yesterday. Apparently I’ll get a proper planner sent to me soon so it’s super clear.

[Kittykat198]

I can only give you a rough guide as I don’t have lower Amh so the drugs may impact you differently but you start stimulation meds in cycle day 2. I have taken these on average for about 12 days. I think 12 days is about average.

You have a scan after about 5 days and start injecting fymadrel or a similar drug to stop ovulation. The nurses will scan you to check how the follicles are responding and can adjust your medication if you need this.

I don’t know if this helps but you can ask your nurses how many follicles you have and what to expect from egg collection in terms of numbers. The nurses were not clear about all follicles not equating to eggs for me (only ones of a certain size) and I had a very disappointing first round as a result.

After about 12 days, the nurses scan you and tell you when to take your trigger medication and egg collection is about 36 hours later. Then (fingers crossed) transfer is 3-5 days later and pregnancy test 14 days after that. So in total about 5-6 weeks including your 2 week wait.

I had to take northisterone to bring on a period (irregular cycles) which adds about 2 weeks to this time scale (10 days of tablets and about 5 before period arrives).

Our clinic gave us a clear break down of when to take everything which makes it easier. Best of luck!

[DianeArnold Partner Nurse Fertility Network UK]

Hi Anneconimous. It’s usually done to encourage mature eggs to pop unto your follicles, rather than forcing them out. The other ladies will give you an idea how cycles were managed. Good luck. Diane

[raverg]

i was on the short protocol too and the timeline for me was:

- I had a scan on day 4 of my period which could have been any time between days 2 and 4, after which in the evening I started the Menopur

- then on the 6th day of Menopur I started Fyramedel

- had another scan on day 10 of Menopur and in the evening I took Ovitrelle the trigger injection

- 36 hours after Ovitrelle I had my egg collection prodedure