To Ghost & IVF Nurse-Advice Re Cancelled Cycle

[Edel]

Hi Ghost/IVF Nurse

I started my second fresh IVF cycle on 10th July last but i didnt respond well to the medication, i had 4 follicles but by day 14 but the clinic said there were not mature enough to go ahead (1 was 16mm and the other 3 were 14mm) with egg collection and advised that we cancel the cycle which we did. One of my ovaries has also moved which made the scans quite painfull with the struggle of finding it which also had a knock on effect with the cancellation of the cycle.

When the cycle was cancelled on 5th August (day 14 of the cycle), i was told i would ovulate on Thursday 7th August and to try naturally so not to waste any chances. On 16th August i started spotting (very lightly) and cramping and assumed i was getting my period early. This continued for about 4 days and then stopped, ive done a pg test since and it was negative. I assume if i did ovulate on 7th August i would be due a period on 21st August but im still waiting. Im worried that something might be wrong cos i should have a proper bleed by now (assuming the clinic were right about the ovulation date!). Hopefully yous may be able to throw some light on it all, my main questions are:

How long does it normally take after a cancelled cycle to get a period?
How common is it for the ovaries to move?
My FSH jumped from 9.4 to 18.5 in a 8 month period (which is odd!) is there a chance those levels come down as i heard it can flucuate?
Would stress effect the outcome of a cycle?
Is it true that every cycle is different?
Is there any hope in me going ahead after a cancelled cycle?

Sorry for all the questions its just that im so worried.
Any advice would be appreciated as i feel like my fighting a loosing battle at this stage.

Edel

___________________
Me: 38yrs (Stage IV Endometriosis which has blocked my fallopian tubes)
DH: 38yrs (perfectly fine)
#IVF Nov 07 - BFP (m/c at 5wks-Chemical Pregancy)
FET March 08 - BFN
#IVF July 08 - Cancelled due to poor response

[Ghost]

I assume they gave you something (hCG) on August 5 to make sure you would ovulate on August 7.

I don't know the biological relationship between ovarian stimulation and overdue periods after cancellation, but a number of women have posted the same here. Maybe IVF Nurse can shed some light on that.

Ovaries sometimes move as they expand under stimulation, and again as they shrink afterwards. They sometimes twist, too.

The usual trend for FSH is upwards. The values do fluctuate, but whether this has meaning is not yet determined.

I think stress can affect the cycle outcome. There are studies showing this. However, almost all IVF patients are stressed about it to some extent.

Cycles definitely vary. A patient might produce 4 eggs this time and 10 eggs next time. Or none at all. A good predictor is your antral follicle count (very early small follicles seen on ultrasound before cycle start), but there is no way to be sure.

There is hope. But you should consult your doctor regarding how strong your chances are at his clinic. Then it's up to you (not your doctor) to decide your best option based on costs, the chance of success, and your own priorities. Many go for the donor cycles because they are much more likely to succeed, but others strongly prefer a biological child, and others are set back by the high cost (and often lack of insurance coverage) of donor cycles. Many try once or twice more with their own eggs, and some of them succeed.

[Edel]

Hi Ghost

Thanks for getting back to me so quickly. No my clinic never gave me a hCG to ovulate, the nurse just said i would and i took her word on it. Maybe she was wrong and thats what the delay is, time will tell i guess.

I have a review in a few weeks so i'll see what is said then, ive been so stressed and emotional with this cycle been cancelled so ill probably take a few months out before i try again cos im exhuasted with it all.

Again thank you so much help we'd be lost without you on this site.

Edel

[Ghost]

Hi Ghost

Thanks for getting back to me so quickly. No my clinic never gave me a hCG to ovulate, the nurse just said i would and i took her word on it. Maybe she was wrong and thats what the delay is, time will tell i guess.

I have a review in a few weeks so i'll see what is said then, ive been so stressed and emotional with this cycle been cancelled so ill probably take a few months out before i try again cos im exhuasted with it all.

Again thank you so much help we'd be lost without you on this site.

Edel

Then who knows how long it took. If you were on a typical Lupron cycle, then your pituitary was suppressed so that you could not ovulate for awhile. Lupron destroys the GnRH receptors, so that the GnRH from the hypothalmus will do nothing until the pituitary recovers. That takes days.

[Edel]

Thanks Ghost, that makes sense alright and thanks for explaining cos i was at a loss completely, sometimes when you know the logic behind something is becomes clearer so im not panicing too much now. I'll try and relax a bit and just let my body return to normal, God knows how long that will take but stressing over it probably wont help! Thanks again.

Edel