Question on estrogen patch.

[kbat]

I have a question. I will hopefully be doing my last IVF soon--hopefully in March.

When I had the follow-up phone call w/ my doctor, she decided to do the same regiment as my last cycle. I did end up pregnant, but it was etopic. So it was recommended that I continue w/ the same meds in addition to keeping up the acupuncture since this is the furthest I ever got while doing treatments.

When the nurse sent me my plan in the mail, I did notice however that after the e/t I will take the progestrone shots like I've done before. But there was something about doing an estrogen patch after the e/t. This is pretty much the only thing that's different.

What's the purpose of this estrogen patch. I would assume it's to make sure those levels don't go down. Is it suppose to help prevent misscarriages, etc?

I would have asked my re, but she never brought the patch thing up. I am not fond of my nurse. I've asked her questions in the past, and on 2 or 3 occassions the answers didn't make sense to the question I asked (asked if the re would be willing to do one more cycle after last one b/c dh thought she said one thing and I heard another thing--so wanted to clarify her position. The nurse said that it depends on insurance--totally non responsive to my question. Then I reminded my nurse to make sure that they don't order follistom b/c my insurance doesn't cover it anymore (since July 1) and for #5 they did order follistom--just to make sure they ordered the gonal-f. I got this message saying that she can't order follistom b/c it's not covered by my insurance. I was like huh? I don't know if she just doesn't listen to what I am asking or if she just wants to giving me just a stock answer b/c she doesn't want to be bothered.)

Anyway, thanks in advance for any information you can give me.
Kara

[Ghost]

What's the purpose of this estrogen patch. I would assume it's to make sure those levels don't go down. Is it suppose to help prevent misscarriages, etc?

Exactly. They like to keep your serum estradiol above some threshold, like 200 pg/ml, to help sustain the pregnancy. Different protocols have different thresholds.

There is some controversy over whether the supplemental estradiol is necessary (or much benefit) in the common types of IVF cycles. I've seen protocols that don't use it. We always use it.

Hope this helps. Good luck.

[Neffi211]

I am in the 2WW and currently on my second day with the patch, i also dont know why it is used..any answers would be helpful, I dont hear about many other women doing it

[TammyS]

I am on the estrogen patches too.

Neffi: Ghost responded the same time that you were typing. LOL

Thanks Ghost.

[mulligan]

I was on estrogen patches for about three weeks before ET and then until BFN (I would have stayed on them almost through 1st trimester). Mine were used to build a lining and then to keep it. They work well. I didn't get (stay actually) pregnant, but I had a great lining! They aren't bad at all. I wore 4 at a time and had to change them every other day. They were a little annoying (at times they itch, hard to get the sticky adhesive stuff of your belly), but they are much better than doing shots!!

[kbat]

Thanks ghost and everyone else for your responses. It's something that I really hadn't heard of either--and I've done 5 of these so far. I just like to know why I am doing something so I don't feel so in the dark.

Thanks again!!!

[ChrystyVOG]

I wish I had used them for my IVF cycle but now I will have to do an FET. My lining was too thin to transfer.

I will use them next month starting from CD3 to build my lining.

[henypeny]

Hi kbat, I am also from RI and looking for friends in RI. Can I write to you privately?

[henypeny]

Hi kbat, I am also from RI and looking for friends in RI. Can I write to you privately?