what happens to the leftover follicles?

Fluffypuppygal · Post by **Fluffypuppygal** » Tue Oct 07, 2008 5:34 pm

Hi all!
I was just wondering what happens to the leftover immature follicles which aren't extracted? Can they still grow, expand and pop after the embryo transfer? Do they do nothing and just deflate?
I get weird, occasional sharp pains in the ovary areas now and then - particularly when I have been walking a lot or at the end of a long day at work.
Is this old pain from the needle extraction, remaining follicles popping, or something else? Has anyone else experienced this?
It has been two weeks since the extraction, so I think this is kind of odd, but the pain isn't constant or awful to where I feel concerned enough to call the doctor. My numbers are going up, so I guess it isn't hurting the pregnancy progression. It is just bugging me!
Anyone else experiencing this?

sprouthaus · Post by **sprouthaus** » Tue Oct 07, 2008 5:41 pm

Hi fluffy! I have the same pains as you, although I'm only in 2ww. I'll be interested to see what others say. I assumed the pains were due to cysts. I think cysts can sometimes form from leftover follicles - but don't quote me on that.

I've mentioned the pains to my doc before (first got them after a clomid round of IUI) and she thought it was due to a cyst bursting - but the pain has been fairly constant since ER, so I don't know!

RSC · Post by **RSC** » Wed Oct 08, 2008 2:08 am

I have the same pains, which is panicking me because I have had two ectopics on the same side that the pains are on.
However, I called my IVF nurse, and she said it is most likely still residual pains from the enlarged ovaries I got from stimming (apparently they grow as big as lemons!!). There also may be cyst(s) from all those follies!
I am getting my first u/s on Friday, so I'll let you know what happens!

loopie · Post by **loopie** » Wed Oct 08, 2008 5:50 pm

Hi Ladies!
good luck with your 2wws it's grueling for sure!!!!!
From my understanding, there are no "leftover follies" so to speak - during egg retrieval (ER) when you are under in the OR, the reproductive endocrinologists (REs) take out all the follies mature or not - each one may or may not have an egg in it- mature or not- that is why they'll say something like you have 4 follies at 22mm, 3 at 20mm and a few smaller like 17mm, 14mm etc - they take them all out and see what they get-
usually, the 18-22mm follies have an egg each that is the right size for fertilization, however, each smaller follie may have an egg as well, so they just hedge their bets by taking them all. Occasionally, there are some that are big, but no egg inside- that's why if you have say 10 follies, you may only have 8 eggs at ER - and according to what I've read, if you are doing standard IVF (not with ICSI) they can put a bunch of sperm in the dish with a slightly less mature egg and it may fertilize in time - with ICSI, the egg must be mature right away as they mechanically fertilize the egg w/ 1 sperm.
So- long story short - what you are feeling is not leftover follies, but may be your ovaries and rarely OHSS - and remember there's been a lot of activity in there- take it easy on yourselves!!!! check w/ yer REs to be on the safe side and hang in there!

loopie

sprouthaus · Post by **sprouthaus** » Wed Oct 08, 2008 5:52 pm

loopie - thanks for the great advice! You have helped put my mind at ease - which isn't easy during 2ww!

lkmisc · Post by **lkmisc** » Wed Oct 08, 2008 8:41 pm

My ET was on Sept 13th. I had 28 eggs retrieved. They considered me to have been hyperstimulated. I was told to take in as much water and salt as I could. Your body produces fluids to displace the eggs removed and if you hyper stimulate, your body can produce excess fluid. It sounded counter intuitive to take in salt, since it retains water, but the nurse told me that it helps you retain water where your body would normally store it, and not encourage it to leak out of the ovaries into your body cavity, which is not a good thing. I had sharp pains over both ovaries for about 3 weeks and felt it primarily when I walked or used the bathroom. My transfer was almost cancelled as I still had some fluid inside and they don't like to see that after 5 days post retrieval. Luckily, the amount wasn't enough to cause the dr to cancel the transfer, as I also felt fine. I was bloated, but didn't have any nausea, which is another symptom.

I had a BFP and am now 6 weeks along...

Good luck to you!

Linda

what happens to the leftover follicles?

what happens to the leftover follicles?

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