Estradiol pills vs patches for FET - curious

[leorira11]

I'm soon going to start my 3rd FET (gosh darn it). My protocol will be the same as my last two FETs.

Basically I go to the clinic on the first (or second, depending how the weekends fall) day of my period and have an u/s and blood work. Then I'm told to start taking my estradiol (2mg pills, 1x 3/day). I go back a week later for another u/s and blood work. I keep taking the estradiol, usually for a little less than a week, and go back for another u/s and blood work. Then they usually tell me to start progesterone (suppositories or injections, I pick my 'preference'). A few days later, I have the FET.

Some people take Lupron for the month before their FET. I never take Lupron (not even for fresh cycles, I've done 2 antagonist cycles). I just start the same month we are doing the FET.

Also, a lot of people on message boards (like this one) mention that they take their estradiol in patches instead of pills. Is that because the dosages are different? (ie, is my dosage only available in pills - either because it's high or low - I don't know how to compare with other people's dosages)

If you've done both the patches and the pills, which do you prefer? Should I ask my doctor about the patches? (I'm not very good at remember to take the pills 3 times a day)

Basically, there is lots of information out there about different types of fresh IVF cycles and the theories behind different drug types and dosages. I'm finding not so much information to compare for FET cycles. If you've done FET cycles, how does it compare to mine?

[not that I don't trust my doctors. I do my IVF at a national health care clinic (I live in Israel. IVF is covered by the national health care). Because it's not private care (and I'm not paying anything), my doctors are a little disinterested in my case (especially since it's not 'interesting'). I have to push for things that I want. I know it's not ideal, but it's free! The care is obviously competent (I've gotten pregnant twice and neither loss was the fault of the IVF), but the doctors don't really give big explanations. It's just not the way the culture is here. You are supposed to just trust the doctors... But since losing my twins (after a few doctors told me I had to, but later online research showed me I could have had other options), I don't necessarily put all my trust into my doctor's hands]

I'm just curious about different people's FET cycles. If you don't mind sharing, I'd love to hear.

Thanks!

[Ghost]

My clinic uses both the patches and the pills, but more often the patches.

We sometimes use Lupron in FET cycles, but not always. It's not necessary, and does not promote implantation. It's purpose is to prevent ovulation. If you ovulate too early, then your progesterone timing may be wrong (follicles make progesterone after ovulation). So we can use the Lupron to make sure you don't ovulate or we can just test your progesterone to confirm that you have not ovulated. In the rare cases where the patient ovulated, it's easy to cancel and just keep the embryo(s) frozen.

[EYCI]

My first FET was a BFN using estrogen pills. There was no explanation for the BFN (lining looked good, 2 embryos were great quality.) So, for my 2nd FET my doctor wanted to "change things up a bit" and suggested I do estrogen injections (estradiol valerate.) He said he has no data to prove that one is better than the other, but that for "superstitious" reasons he liked to change things from one cycle to the next if the first didn't work. My second FET was a BFP So, maybe the inejectable estrogen is an option for you as well????