Starting Stims on CD10? GHOST?

[SouthernGrace20]

Hi All,

I've been a lurker for awhile, but find myself needing to post because I'm facing a scenario on which I can find nothing - zero - not one post or mention. Quick background - after 2 failed fresh cycles (transferred 2 fresh in both), the hubby and I switched clinics. We then had a failed FET (2 frozen embryos from very first fresh cycle), and now two cancelled cycles. I am 35, high end of normal FSH, dx DOR, AMH 0.52. During a sit down with the doc, he was adamant that we would not use BCP (because 15 days of it pre-CD1 over-suppressed me in cancelled cycle #2), and that we would wait for the best baseline, with a good follicle pattern. When pressed on this, he mentioned the "wave theory" of follicle development and wanting antral follicles that were not "hanging off" the ovary. Fast forward to last week, I go in on CD3 for my baseline. When I see follicles "hanging off" the ovary, I assume we're waiting until next month. Instead he says he likes the follicle pattern, but that the follicles are growing too fast, so....he puts me on BCP for a week and says he thinks we'll be able to start stims after that. Totally confused, I asked him about using BCP at this point, as I'd never heard of it, and he said he wants the follicles to "strink back into the ovary", then ran out. I left, and after trying to do some research and finding no mention of this approach, I called back and left a message asking for more of an explanation. A nurse called back and gave me the same explanation. I asked whether this would hurt egg quality and she said not with only using BCP for a week.

Has anyone ever heard of this approach? Starting BCP on CD3 and then stims on CD10? I'm a solid CD13 ovulator...so I'm a bit concerned about this approach, not to mention the COMPLETE 180 by my doc on the BCP. Any experience with this?

Thanks in advance.

Grace.

[Ghost]

Hi All,

I've been a lurker for awhile, but find myself needing to post because I'm facing a scenario on which I can find nothing - zero - not one post or mention. Quick background - after 2 failed fresh cycles (transferred 2 fresh in both), the hubby and I switched clinics. We then had a failed FET (2 frozen embryos from very first fresh cycle), and now two cancelled cycles. I am 35, high end of normal FSH, dx DOR, AMH 0.52. During a sit down with the doc, he was adamant that we would not use BCP (because 15 days of it pre-CD1 over-suppressed me in cancelled cycle #2), and that we would wait for the best baseline, with a good follicle pattern. When pressed on this, he mentioned the "wave theory" of follicle development and wanting antral follicles that were not "hanging off" the ovary. Fast forward to last week, I go in on CD3 for my baseline. When I see follicles "hanging off" the ovary, I assume we're waiting until next month. Instead he says he likes the follicle pattern, but that the follicles are growing too fast, so....he puts me on BCP for a week and says he thinks we'll be able to start stims after that. Totally confused, I asked him about using BCP at this point, as I'd never heard of it, and he said he wants the follicles to "strink back into the ovary", then ran out. I left, and after trying to do some research and finding no mention of this approach, I called back and left a message asking for more of an explanation. A nurse called back and gave me the same explanation. I asked whether this would hurt egg quality and she said not with only using BCP for a week.

Has anyone ever heard of this approach? Starting BCP on CD3 and then stims on CD10? I'm a solid CD13 ovulator...so I'm a bit concerned about this approach, not to mention the COMPLETE 180 by my doc on the BCP. Any experience with this?

Thanks in advance.

Grace.

Stimulation can be started most any time, as antral follicles appear continually. If you are doing a fresh transfer, then stim will generally start on or about CD1 so that the endometrium will have about the right duration of hormone exposure before transfer. These days, many cycles have all embryos frozen for fertility preservation, to get PGD results, or to get a better uterus in another cycle without stimulation. For cycles with all embryos frozen, it may not matter that much when stim is started.

Try searching on "random start ovarian stimulation" or "luteal phase ovarian stimulation", not necessarily as exact phrases. Publications and research abstracts on this topic have been coming out mostly in the last year or two.

[SouthernGrace20]

I don't know who you are, Ghost, but much thanks to you. I'm finding tons more info now which at least helps me to understand what's going on. You have my gratitude....