Hoping to get people's thoughts about my new IVF protocol as there are a lot of changes...
Background: Have done 5 rounds of IVF (3 for banking embryos, 2 with fresh transfers) all with poor results.
-->Embryo banking cycles (one clinic):
-January 2023 (menopur 150, gonal F 150); 13 eggs, 6 mature, 5 fertilized, 2 embryos frozen (4BC day 6, 3BC day 5)
- March 2020 (OCP x2 wks, m 150, gF 300): cancelled because only 3 follicles grew
-April 2023 (m 150, gF 300): 17 eggs, 15 mature, 7 fertilized, 1 embryo frozen (4CC day 6)
-May 2023 (m 150, gF 300, growth hormone, ICSI): 13 eggs, 8 mature, 5 fertilized, 1 embryo frozen (3BA day 5)
-->Cycles with fresh transfers (new clinic):
-Nov 2023 (m 75, gF 150, ICSI): 17 eggs, 8 mature, 6 fertilized, 1 early blast transferred on day 5 but failed, nothing left to freeze
-March 2024 (m 75, gF 225, ICSI, double trigger): 11 eggs, 9 mature, 9 fertilized but all started to fragment on the morning of day 3 so 2 embryos transferred on day 3 (7 cell and 8 cell) and this failed, nothing to freeze on day 5
REI didn't think it was worth doing another cycle. Just turned 34 and want 2-3 kids, though recognizing I may not even have 1. I'm moving to a city without good access to IVF so while I am between jobs, I have decided to travel to a clinic that has expertise in challenging cases. New REI is recommending a completely new protocol with: estrogen priming, microdose leupron, growth hormone, high dose menopur and gonal F, ICSI, PGT testing, only frozen transfers. She thinks I have poor egg quality. She mentioned the possibility of doing duostim to save time, which she said we will discuss in the future.
I know I could transfer the 4 untested embryos that I have but I figured now is the only opportunity I have to get care at a place that specializes in challenging cases and is known for their great lab. Plus, I think embryo transfers are easier to coordinate with my job (I'm in medicine so am in the hospital M-F and some weekends). I've been taking lots of supplements and tried acupuncture and haven't noticed a difference. If anything, things seem to have only worsened and I have a hard time believing my eggs are rapidly declining over the course of 1 year. AMH 2.1. AFC 10-12.
My questions:
1) Has anyone noticed improvements in the ability to grow blasts with estrogen priming and microdose leupron? My biggest fear is oversuppression, which I had after priming with OCPs.
2) Has anyone without DOR done duostim? I've only heard of duostim being performed for DOR, which I dont have. I like the idea because I'm limited on time. I have a few months off between jobs and would like to focus on IVF all summer.
Thank you for all of your input. I've been really struggling lately.
ivf - poor embryo development
August, let the ball roll again
4th failed cycle - where to go now?
Good responder but low blast rate - egg or sperm issue?
TW *mentions successful pregnancy ** Sibling round question
