Anyone doing or have done Antagon (Ganirelix) Protocol IVF?

[Kim&Ed]

I'm new here and will be starting my 1st IVF cycle 8/2. I was hoping someone else has done this protocol. I was the only one class not doing the Lupron one and mine seems to be more complicated. And it goes at a faster pace I think. My retrieval is on day 13, transfer about 18 and test day 30. I guess I'm just scared, it seems like after all these years of trying things are just moving to fast! Does that make any sense at all?

Any advice would be wonderful and so would be any chatting buddies. Not very many people to cry on over here!

Thanks!
Good luck to all!

[wanttodiscuss]

I did my 1st round of IVF w ICSI in May. (Successful - currently 11weeks pregnant). I did Ganirelix. (Follistim for the stimulation part). What part seems more complicated? My timing ended up being the same as yours day 13 retrieval and day 18 transfer. However they didn't give me exact dates to begin with, they waited to see how I responded, but that is what it ended up being.

Good Luck!

[Kim&Ed]

Congrats on the baby!

On being more complicated, I guess it's that I have to do all of the mixing and the others in class were going to be able to use premixed meds in a pen type shot that you just dial the dose. And I have to do injections twice a day which wasn't the case with at least some of the other couples.

But , I'm sure this is just me starting to freak about giving myself shots more than anything. I worry about my hubby being able to do the Progesterone shots. He tends to faint when he gets his blood drawn, so I'm praying it is a blood pressure thing and not a needle thing! I guess we'll find out!

[wanttodiscuss]

FYI - The shots that you give yourself are tiny needles and really no big deal. Believe it or not, I barely felt them. (I didn't have to mix anything though.) I'm not sure what you were told, but I would do one in the stomach (Follistim) and one in the thigh (Ganirelix) each morning. The stomach one sounded scary to me, but was really no big deal, as I mentioned the needles were very small. I will admit that the shot did send my emotions for a loop, but the act of giving them was no big deal.

I just finished my progesterone shots a week ago and those needles scared me when I saw them, but were also not very painful. (I did get some painful bumps in my butt after awhile which were no fun, but getting the shots weren't bad.) I don't know what to say about your husbands reaction, but hopefully he will be OK with it.

My husband never did this, but a friend of mine told me it helped to have her husband practice sticking the needle into an orange to get used to using the needle and the pressure inserting it. (Of course you will have to discard the practice needle.) The more quickly he learns to insert the needle, the less likely it is to hurt.

Good Luck!

[Ghost]

Ganirelix cycles are pretty common. They are simpler than Lupron cycles (fewer injections). A recent conference I attended pitched antagonist cycles as more patient-friendly than agonist cycles (that is, drugs like Ganirelix are supposedly "friendlier" than drugs like Lupron).

In any case, it's a common protocol. Which one (Lupron or Ganirelix) is more effective overall is a matter of debate.

In the end, Lupron and Ganirelix do the same thing, but with opposite mechanisms. Lupron needs more time, and more injections, to do it.

Are you by chance a high responder? That is, young, lots of follicles, low FSH, etc? If so, there may be safety reasons why you are on the Ganirelix, while everyone else is on Lupron. Maybe.

[Kim&Ed]

Yes. I'm 29 and have been through every kind of test known to man and passed. After all that torture, they decided to focus on my hubby. Everything was fine but, his sperm only penetrated 1, said they like to see 5. But, they still have not said that was the problem. They are doing ICSI, so maybe.

Is there a thread that list all of the abbreviations for this topic?

Thanks for all your help.

[Ghost]

Yes. I'm 29 and have been through every kind of test known to man and passed. After all that torture, they decided to focus on my hubby. Everything was fine but, his sperm only penetrated 1, said they like to see 5. But, they still have not said that was the problem. They are doing ICSI, so maybe.

Is there a thread that list all of the abbreviations for this topic?

Thanks for all your help.

There's an abbreviations thread at the top of the General Forum.

I referred to FSH. FSH stands for "follicle stimulating hormone". It's a hormone your body produces during your normal cycle, and as a woman ages, she has to produce more of it. In other words, it rises as your fertility declines, so your base level of FSH makes a good predictor of response to stimulation.

The stimulation medications all use FSH. Gonal F, Follistim, Menopur, Bravelle, etc. Some have other active ingredients besides FSH, but mostly it's FSH.

Anyway, if you are a high responder, your clinic might have something interesting in mind as a safety measure. They could use Ganirelix for pituitary suppression, then have the option of triggering with either hCG (the usual case) or else with Lupron in order to reduce OHSS risk.

hCG = human chorionic gonadotropin

OHSS = ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome

[nicoleslp99]

I am doing this protocol also- my other meds are bravelle and menopur. Are you doing this to? It does seem like a short protocol- I am also on danazol instead of birth control.

[Kim&Ed]

Thanks you guys. Sorry, we ran off for a week at the beach to relax and prepare.
nicoleslp99, I am taking exactly those meds. I go for my trial transfer on the 31st. I'm sure this won't be a problem, done this before.

Guess I get to be a chemist for a while. Do you have to mix your meds?

[nicoleslp99]

yes, i have to mix my meds also. I will be starting on the 6th of august.

[Kim&Ed]

yes, i have to mix my meds also. I will be starting on the 6th of august.

Oh, wow! We will be starting about the same time! Is this your first time, if may ask. I think I'm really working myself up over this. But, I think the money is starting to over shadow all concerns. I have outstanding insurance, I am very lucky for that, but it really is tough right now.

[nicoleslp99]

Yes, this is my first time and insurance does not cover any thing. But... if I get a baby it will all be worth it. Keep me posted on how it's going

[Kim&Ed]

Well, I got my 11 pound box of meds and supplies today Fedex. I'm starting to sweat! I'll do my very first shot Saturday 4th. I'm going to keep a video diary, so wish me luck!
How are you coming along nicoleslp99?

[nicoleslp99]

Good luck with the shots- the meds were quite intimidating when they arrived! I have my baseline ultrasound tomorrow and shots start on monday the 6th. Let me know how the first shots went!