change in protocol

[dublinmask]

Hi there,
I was wondering if anyone has any suggestions as to the changes my clinic has made for IVF #2. First time I took Lupron for 23 days, and 8 days of stims with Bravelle and Menopur. Got 9 eggs and 4 fertilized. Transferred 2 at 3dpt. BFN. This time around no Lupron, instead will take Ganirelix after stims have begun. Nurses have not really explained why the change except to try something else (but what will Ganirelix do that Lupron doesn't?) and that it could be that my period came later than they expected. I want them to change the protocol if it'll improve chances, but I've read that Ganirelix often results in eggs of lesser quality and lesser quantity. Please help! Any experience is appreciated. Also, how does a doctor choose which protocol is best for you?

[kellym]

Hi There,
I have been put on 3 different protocols and finally the third one seemed to work best for me. I think they start with the one that works for most of the population and then it that doesn't seem to produce the anticipated results they try another. It seemed with me that it was trial and error. So the one with lupron or suprefact (same thing I think) is called the Long Protocol. I started with this one but it didn't seem to produce great results for me,

I was then put on the Flare which was a small amount of suprefact started after the stims began and then cetrotide once my eggs were larger than 1.4 or my hormones reached a certain level (not sure what though). I ovulated through this protocol so we didn't try it again.

Then the last one called the Antagonist protocol is the one that has worked best for me - a few more eggs and much better quality. It uses no suprefact or lupron but adds cetrotide which is the same as Ganirelix (an antagon) after a few days of stims - once your eggs reach a certain size or your homones levels increase to a certain level. In each round of IVF using the antagonist protocol my fertilization rate has been about 80-90% and my egg quality has been great. My egg numbers haven't increased substantially (one or two) but the quality has been greatly improved.

Hope this helps! The nice thing about this protocol is that you don't have to inject lupron for so many days before the stims - so less needles!!!

Take care.
Kelly

[wannabeamomma]

I am on my 2nd round of IVf also and I am doing the reverse. I did the ganirelex the last ttime around. This time we are doing the lupron flare. I got a bfp the first time but anded in an m/c at 6.5 wks. I am hoping that 2nd time is a charm. Good luck to you too!