Another IVF virgin with questions....

[Luchia]

I'm on day 3 of my injections. Gonal-F 300iu

I've been talking to a few people that have had IVF and also reading the posts and am shocked at how many follicles most women are producing.

Also one girl said her Gonal-f dose was 600 that's double of what I'm taking!!! WOW some of these girls are saying they had over 20 follicles!

Here's the kicker that really has me concerned...Dear hubby and I have done 3 cycles of Gonal-F 225 w/ timed intercourse and I was on average producing only 4-5 mature follicles with maybe 2 smaller ones so total 7.

My doc says if I don't produce at least 10 mature follicles in this cycle it might not be a good cycle to go forward with IVF and just do IUI but how am I going to produce that many more follies with only a 75iu increase in meds?

Can someone please give me there feed back on this?

Did you use Gonal-F?

What was your dose? pre-ivf & during ivf

and what were your follicle #'s?

Thank you in advance!

~Lisa

[patie]

Hey Lisa

Welcome aboard!

Personally I didn't use Gonal F, instead during the 2 first attempts I used Merional and the 2 second attempts I used Puregon...

However concerning the dosage it varies from one lady to the other! and usually the first time it is more of a test to see how your body would react and they can't give you a high dosage as you might risk hyper stimulation of the ovaries which is not desirable!! Even the production of the follicules is relative!

I don't advise you to compare because everything is so relative, from Dr. to your body to the medicine...If you have good faith in your Dr and trust in him then I am sure he knows what he's doing...if not then maybe you can get a second opinion!

In all cases Good Luck!!! wish you all the best! and I hope I was of any help!

patie

[brekkemdb]

Lisa--I am in the 2ww of my first round of IVF. We used Gonal F 300 pen. I did 3 cycles of iui with repronex 225 and only produced 4 follies. Well at retrieval for ivf they retrieved 28 eggs. OMG was i uncomfortable. I wouldn't worry to much yet as they will monitor you really close and if need be will increase your dose to help produce more eggies. My first scan only showed 7 measurable eggs and that was after 6 days of taking the gonal f. 8 days after taking the meds i had 19 measurable eggies. They grow really quickly with those meds helping them. I will thinking of you.
Bridget 8dp3dt (taken two HPT and both are +++++++)

[Luchia]

Thanks for your reply Patie!

I know treatments are going to vary with everyone depending on the doctor, there medical situation, etc.

I'm not really doubting my doctor, I would just be curious to hear from other ladies that have used Gonal-F and there experience so far.

Oh my gosh Bridget! How are you getting through? I don't know how I'm going to get through my 2ww! I'm a nervous wreck already!!

Do you know why they changed you from Repronex to Gonal-f? Is it the same thing?

So forgive my ignorance but when you say you had 28 eggs does that mean follicles? WOW!!!

How many of them fertilized? How many did you have transfered? Did you freeze any?

Do I have this right? Each follicle can have one egg or it might not have any right?

LOL sorry 101 questions here!

~Lisa

[cheekymonkey]

Hi Lisa,

I deffinatley agree with what Patie says, you really cannot go on how other women respond to these drugs because everyone is completley different,
Bridget is also right as the eggs do grow quickly over a short space of time so I really don't think you should worry!!
I was taking Gonal, but I only used 150 for the first ten days, I then went for a scan and I had produced lots of follicles after my scan the doctor reduced my dose to 75 and I went back two days later and all the follicles had grown, needless to say I was very uncomfortable, after my scan the doctor explained there were too many eggs and a risk of OHSS and so my ER did not go ahead!!!
This just shows you that you should not worry about other peoples reaction as we are all different.
If I would have been on your dose I would probably have exploded!! HAHA.
I hope that these messages have put your mind at ease!!

Take Care
Cheeky Monkey

[Luchia]

Hi Cheeky Monkey!

So sorry to hear about your delay! ((BIgHug))

What is OHSS? How many did you have?

~Lisa

[cheekymonkey]

Hi Lisa,

Thanks for the big hug, sorry about the abbreviations, I don't know what most of them mean myself.
OHSS is Ovarian Hyper Stimulation Syndrome, I was told that I was at risk from it because I have Polysystic Ovarian Syndrome! it was because I had too many follicles and so my stomach was swollen and filled with water, it just makes you really uncomfortable and need to wee alot!!! Mine was not as bad because they did not give me my injection to mature the eggs and so I was taken off all the drugs and the follicles were just left to shrink!!!
I am not sure of the final count because both of my ovaries were completley full, I think they said there were over 20 in each ovary of all different sizes! as you can imagine I was rather uncomfortable and that is why they cancelled me because they didnt want them growing anymore!
They are going to lower my dose next time and I am starting on just 75!!!! that is why I don't think you should worry about being on 300!!
I hope you are feeling a bit better about things now, when do you go in for your scan? try and not worry about things you should be filling yourself with PMA!!!!!!

Take Care
Cheeky Monkey

[jordan22]

are you on any other types of meds that are different from your IUIs????

Do you know if you have PCOS????

[Moritsha]

Hi Lisa. I also used Goanl F. On my first cycle i was on 150 and produced 6 follies and got 5 eggs. On my second cycle (current one) I was put up to 225. I had 25 follies!!!! They reduced me down to 150 on the last few days. We got 16 eggs - 12 fertilized. 2 put back and 9 frozen. Everyone reacts differently. My hormone levels went through the roof. We were on tender hooks at ER because they said if they got 20 or more eggs they'd freeze all the eggs and I'd have to wait 3 mths for a FET. Our prayers were answered. We're now on our 2 WW. Good luck with your treatment. Paula x

[Luchia]

Cheeky monkey I finally looked up the list of abbreviations. Today is my 4th injection and I go in on Wed for a scan and he said that on that day we should know when Egg retreval will be. I know I need to relax!

jordan22 not sure who your questions is to but I never did IUI and no I do not have PCOS.

Paula... Thank you for your reply I do feel so much better now! How are you making it though your 2ww?

~Lisa

[cheekymonkey]

Hi Lisa,

The abbreviation list is really helpful isnt it! I am glad that these posts have helped you feel a little better, and I hope everything goes well on wednesday for your scan, keep us updated with how you get on!

Take Care
Cheeky Monkey

[cheekymonkey]

Hi Lisa,

I have been away for a while and am just catching up on the boards,
I was just wondering how things are going for you, last time you were a little worried about things and I just wondered if everything is going ok?
Hope all is well
Take Care

Cheeky Monkey

[Luchia]

Hi Cheeky Monkey

I go in tomorrow at 7am for my ET.

my boobs are really really tender. I'm guessing that's the progesteron?

Thank you for thinking about me!

~Lisa

[KoshkaBuba]

Hi,Luchia. I am also from MI and I also supposed to have embryo transfer tommorow. I am in a study group with IVF Michigan.

GOOD LUCK TO YOU!!!!!

[Luchia]

Hi KoshkaBuba! I pm'd you before I saw that you were in Troy! My ET is at 7:15 at IVF MI Rochester clinic.

My a$$ hurts so bad where the progesterone shots are going. There is no visual bruise but MAN it really feels sore and bruised. Has anyone else experienced this? I wonder if icing would help?

~Lisa