STARTING "FLARE PROTOCAL" CAN ANYONE EXPLAIN WHAT

[WISCONSINGAL]

STARTING FLARE PROTOCAL ANY ADVICE?

[AuntyPebbles]

Hi there...i have heard of this it works very well usually i think its used when we dont respond very well to stimms if this is the case im sure you will get many more mature eggs...wishing you luck i hope someone who has used this protocol replys to you i know lots of lady's have

good luck Aunty

[jenn]

Hey! I will be doing the flare protocol hopefully in March. If I get up the courage! I did not respond well to stimms for my age according to my Dr. and she feels very positively that flare is the way to go for me. She explained to me that I would call them on day 1 of period. Then I go in for an u/s and bloodwork. If all is ok, I start stimms AND lupron on day 2. (3 shots a day- yippy!!) So there is no month of BCP's, no down regging as they say. The lupron I would take would be microdoses, or very small amounts. The Dr. said tiny amounts of lupron mixed with stimm drugs creates the opposite effect of a regular IVF cycle with BCP's or down regging. It fires the ovaries up more to produce more eggs. I only had 5 eggs and I stimmed for like 13 days. Out of those 3 were mature, and fertilized, but only 2 made it to transfer. And really only one of those looked real good. So... she wanted to try this to get more eggs, and possibly have some to freeze.

So it looks like if I try again it will all happen pretty fast! Does that dound like what you're going to do? I have been looking through your posts and you are very brave to go again! When we started this we said we would do this at least twice, but after my BFN I wanted to wait until after the holidays and then trying again in Jan. turned into maybe Feb., and now i'm thinking March? I don't know if I can take the heartache! I'll be looking for your BFP!! GOOD LUCK!!!

[sassynlv]

wisconsingal:
just finished a flare protocol in dec and for me it was magic! 1st 2 IVF cycles weren't so hot... only had one transfer and the embryo quality was not real good. so RE switched me to microdose lupron flare (mdl flare) and i did much better. i hear it is used in older women, and in those who didn't respond real well to the more standard protocols. My E2 level was through the roof (10,000 by ER--- so hoping for better quality), i had 12 fertilize (compared to 6 and 5 in previous cycles). They were all frozen after fert and will be thawed for FET in a few weeks.

In general, it was very similar to my other stim cycles in regards to side effects.. except that i got hot flashes. I am so hoping that it also works well for you!!! let me know if you have any other questions.

[souris]

Hey Wisonsin

My first IVF cycle was a flare protocol
No pill, no downregg.

I went to the clinic on day 2 of periods and had a scan done (the only thing not very nice when you are on your AF...) then the lining was Ok so I started directly on the stims. I cannot remember the name of the meds... I think it lasted 8 or 10 days, and the normal EC and ET!

I found it so much easier than a long protocol!
This was done abroad and since I do IVF in france, I have been on a long protocol...

Take care and good luck!!
xxxsouris

[WISCONSINGAL]

THANKS SO MUCH FOR THE RESPONSES......I CAN'T SAY ENOUGH HOW MUCH THIS BOARD HAS HELPED ME GET THROUGH ALL THE DIFFERENT STAGES AND UPS AND DOWNS OF THESE PROCEDURES. I JUST HOPE SAY DAY I CAN HELP SOMEONE OUT AS MUCH AS ALL YOU GUYS HAVE HELPED ME!

I GOT MY MEDS YESTERDAY....NO LUPRON THOUGH SO NOW I'M WONDERING WHY?? IT SOUNDS TO ME LIKE EVERYONE ELSE HAS DONE THE MICRO DOSES OF LUPRON ALONG WITH THIS FLARE PROTOCAL......I GO FOR MY MED CONSULTATION THIS AFTERNOON....I HAVE $1400.00 WORTH OF FOLLISTIM, $250 WORTH OF GANIRELIX, AND $500.00 WORTH OF REPRONEX.....AND THEN THE NORMAL HCG, DOXYCYCLINE, PROGESTERONE, ESTRODILE...ETC. SINCE I DIDN'T GET TO USE THE PROGERTERONE & ESTRODILE LAST TIME.....THE MEDS FOR MY 2ND ATTEMPT WAS $2,200.00 INSTEAD OF THE $3,000.00. I ALSO HAVE TO PAY IN ADVANCE FOR ALL THE UP COMING U/S'S, BLOOD WORK, ER, THIS TIME BECAUSE THERE WAS NO DAY (3) OR (21) THE COST WILL BE $9,900.00 INSTEAD OF THE $11,000.00 LAST TIME. THE ICSI WILL BE AN ADDITIONAL $1,500.00....I'M NOT SURE IF POSTING THIS INFO WILL HELP ANYONE OR NOT, BUT IT'S LIKE I THINK THE MORE INFO WE SHARE THE MORE INFORMED A PERSON FEELS WHEN THEY ARE GOING INTO THESE PROCEDURES.

[sassynlv]

wisconsingal: for all i know, there are other flare protocols that don't include lupron (i guess i just made an assumption as that is the only one i am familiar with). Will be looking to hear wat they tell you this afternoon. SOOOO hoping this cycle is more successful for you than your last. Keep us posted!

[WISCONSINGAL]

WELL, I'M STILL NOT REALLY SURE HOW REPRONEX RELATES TO LUPRON (OTHER THAN WHAT I'VE PULLED UP AND READ), BUT THAT'S WHAT I'M USING THIS TIME......ALONG WITH THE FOLISTEM PEN. IN A NUT SHELL I WAS EXPLAINED THIS WILL GIVE ME THE MOST FOLLICLES......AND LET THEM GET AS BIG AS THEY CAN.......BUT YET I'LL BE MONITORED SO I DON'T OVULATE TO SOON....I HAVE TO GET SEEN AGAIN ON FRIDAY TO SEE HOW THESE MEDS ARE DOING WITH AN U/S AND BLOOD WORK.

[sassynlv]

so wait, (i am feeling a bit dense this am), does that mean you are on lupron or no? If not, did they explain how it is a flare protocol? I am especially curious as i am thinking about my possible future cycles...
Thanks... and good luck!

[kellyh]

Hi Wisonsingal,
I did the flare and antagonist protocol when I did IVF. I think you're actually on the antagonist protocol. The Lupron or Synarel with the flare protocol basically suppressed your pituitary gland so that your ovaries don't try to "think for themselves" and ovulate too soon. With the antagonist protocol, there is nothing preventing your pituitary from influencing your ovaries, so you inject ganirelex to prevent ovulation. Basically you will stimm (with follistim and repronex) for a couple of days and then when your follies reach a certain size you will add the ganirelex to your daily injections. This protocol worked very well for me in terms of number of follicles and mature eggs created. Good luck to you!
Kelly

[WISCONSINGAL]

KELLY:

WOW, THANKS SO MUCH........THAT TOOK CARE OF A LOT OF MY QUESTIONS FOR THIS FRIDAY 1/12/07, MY NEXT APPOINTMENT!!! I HAVE 3 BOXES OF THE GANIRELEX....SO THAT MAKES SENSE NOW. THIS CYCLE DOESN'T SEEM NORMAL....I'M WONDERING NOW IF I SHOULDN'T HAVE WAITED A COUPLE BEFORE TRYING AGAIN. I GUESS THE U/S WILL TELL THE WHOLE STORY......I HATE SECOND GUESSING ON THIS WHEN YOUR TALKING $15,000.00 AND YOUR "LAST" TRY.

[WISCONSINGAL]

HI EVERYONE: THE LATEST UPDATE THIS MORNING WAS FINE. THERE'S AROUND 10 FOLLICLES......9'S, 10'S, & 11'S.....HE SAID WHICH IS FINE, I GO BACK 1/17 AND THEY WILL SHOW ME HOW MUCH GANARELIX TO USE....SO THAT WILL MEAN (3) SHOTS A DAY INSTEAD OF 2. THEY ARE THINKING THE ER WILL BE AROUND THE 20TH. I'M NOT SURE IF IT'S BECAUSE I JUST CELEBRATED A BIRTHDAY OR THE FACT THAT I GAINED 10 LBS.....OR WHAT......BUT I'M SO TIRED.

I STILL HAVE TO FIND OUT WHEN TO DO THE ACUPUNCTURE.....RIGHT NOW I'M SCHEDULED FOR WED. 1/17, WITH ER ON 1/20.......DOES ANYONE KNOW IF IT'S BETTER TO HAVE IT RIGHT BEFORE.....OR THE DAY OF WHAT?