Short protocol response question

[lmno]

Hello, wondering if anyone has any advice. We’re doing our last fresh cycle and have changed clinics and protocol (from long to short). I started stims (ovaleap) on Wednesday evening so have taken 5 doses so far and had my first scan this morning to see how I’m responding. There was only one follicle in my left ovary and four in my right. That’s way less than previous cycles and I feel really worried that it’s just going to be a big flop. The clinician basically just rushed me out the room before I could ask anything but said it was unlikely there would be any more. Anyone switched to a short protocol before and can offer any advice/reassuranc? For reference I’m 38, AMH 6.3, last AFC was 8. I’ve done 4 egg collections before and had between 5 and 11 mature eggs collected. Is this one over before it starts? Feeling worried that I insisted on trying a new clinic/protocol and that it’s actually going to worse than what our previous clinic was trying.

[DianeArnold Partner Nurse Fertility Network UK]

Hi. All I can say, Is go be aware that if you go for egg collection and there are no eggs collected, you have used that cycle up. If your tubes are ok and your partners sperm is, you might want to have sex and see if you are fortunate to ovulate from that one follicle. Good luck. Diane

[lmno in reply to DianeArnold]

We need ICSI so can’t imagine this would do anything for us unfortunately. TTC for over 8 years and never conceived naturally

[Kitkat10]

I switched from long to short. Went from 7-9 eggs collected from the long cycle but all BFN to only 3 😳 eggs collected on the short cycle but a BFP and a now 2 year old little boy.

I was 40 at the time but had similar test results to you and I think although the egg numbers were lower on the short cycle they were better quality?!

The clinic I changed to only does short cycle and they seem to have decent success rates so this is why I swapped. I don’t know statistically which is better for which age group but for me the short cycle worked. Good luck xx 🍀🍀

[lmno in reply to Kitkat10]

Oh thanks for your reply, that’s really reassuring. Yes I keep trying to tell myself quality over quantity but it’s hard not to assume that fewer eggs might mean lower odds of success. I wanted to try something new as we weren’t having success doing the same protocol over and over so I think I maybe just need to try to hold my nerve and ride it out. Congrats on your wee boy and thanks again xx

[Kitkat10]

I felt the same when I only got 3 eggs, in fact I cried all day but turns out that they must have been better quality. Plus, the shorter protocol is much easier on your body. I really disliked the down regulation part of thr long and one of my ovaries didn’t really wake up again after and I had really one sided follicles whereas for thr short protocol, both ovaries played a part and I felt like it was a bit more in line with a natural cycle just boosted a bit ( or a lot for me ). Good luck 🍀🍀

[lmno in reply to Kitkat10]

Yes it’s definitely different not doing a long down reg - I sort of wonder why I endured that so many times if there was another option! I’m responding in the opposite way than you with one ovary not doing anything which has never happened to me before but I guess it’s maybe still early days. It’s such a rollercoaster isn’t it? Xx

[Marms81]

I have sent you a private message as you are a day behind me in dame process x