Does anyone have any info on the protocal for FET?
Just spoke to my IVF nurse and she said start on BCPs and Lupron, then Estrogen pills and patches for about a week, then transfer.
I'm surprised at having to take BCPs and Lupron again, since my ovaries should have nothing to do with this?????? Was hoping for a needle-free cycle. Plus this makes the wait longer!!
Frozen Embryo transfer
Frozen Embryo transfer
Me - 35 Unexplained DH 37
TTC#1 since '97
5 IUIs
1st IVF 5/04 - transferred 2-neg
2nd IVF 7/04 - transferred 3-pos but MC at 8 wks.
TTC#1 since '97
5 IUIs
1st IVF 5/04 - transferred 2-neg
2nd IVF 7/04 - transferred 3-pos but MC at 8 wks.
Hi Hope!
I live in NJ too, and completed a FET in March. The protocol for me was the same as what you explained. I began BCP for about 6 weeks straight (I started them on Jan. 29 and did not take any placebo pills. On March 2 I had an appointment for an exam and ultrasound. At that time I started Lupron. My last pill was on March 4. I continued the Lupron after I stopped BCP. The Lupron continued with the estrace pills.
Cycle days 1-5 Estrace 2 mg daily in AM
Lupron 1 cc daily
Cycle days 6-9 Estrace 4 mg (2 mg am and 2 mg pm)
Lupron 1 cc daily
Cycle days 10-14 Estrace 6 mg daily (2mg 3 times a day)
Lupron 1 cc daily
Cycle days 15 onward Decrease estrace to 4 mg daily
stop Lupron
Start Progesterone in Oil 1 cc (IM injection)
Cycle day 18 Embryo transfer
Cycle day 29 pregnancy test
This was the protocol for me....I believe they make you do the BCP and Lupron so that they can pinpoint each day of your cycle. They do not want you to ovulate prematurely, that is why they have you take the Lupron, etc.
I wish you the best of luck. This FET worked for me after a failed fresh cycle last December. They transferred 4 Frozen Embryos, two took , and one split. We started with triplets, but sadly lost one around 8 weeks. We are blessed with identical girl twins due on Dec. 15.
I will keep you in my thoughts!
xo,
Denise
I live in NJ too, and completed a FET in March. The protocol for me was the same as what you explained. I began BCP for about 6 weeks straight (I started them on Jan. 29 and did not take any placebo pills. On March 2 I had an appointment for an exam and ultrasound. At that time I started Lupron. My last pill was on March 4. I continued the Lupron after I stopped BCP. The Lupron continued with the estrace pills.
Cycle days 1-5 Estrace 2 mg daily in AM
Lupron 1 cc daily
Cycle days 6-9 Estrace 4 mg (2 mg am and 2 mg pm)
Lupron 1 cc daily
Cycle days 10-14 Estrace 6 mg daily (2mg 3 times a day)
Lupron 1 cc daily
Cycle days 15 onward Decrease estrace to 4 mg daily
stop Lupron
Start Progesterone in Oil 1 cc (IM injection)
Cycle day 18 Embryo transfer
Cycle day 29 pregnancy test
This was the protocol for me....I believe they make you do the BCP and Lupron so that they can pinpoint each day of your cycle. They do not want you to ovulate prematurely, that is why they have you take the Lupron, etc.
I wish you the best of luck. This FET worked for me after a failed fresh cycle last December. They transferred 4 Frozen Embryos, two took , and one split. We started with triplets, but sadly lost one around 8 weeks. We are blessed with identical girl twins due on Dec. 15.
I will keep you in my thoughts!
xo,
Denise
Hope:
I love that you are already onto the next stage doing your research and figuring out your calendar. I'm a lot like that as well. I did the dreaded hpt this am...I know I said I wouldn't, but found them in the back of the linen closet in the master bath. Once I found them it was over...couldn't stand it. It was -tive. Bummed me out for about 30 minutes. Got on the treadmill, had a diet Pepsi and feel better. Blood test is tomorrow, which is 11 days after transfer....don't have high hopes.
I should have flown to NJ to buy you many many drinks, ok some for myself as well.
Paige
I love that you are already onto the next stage doing your research and figuring out your calendar. I'm a lot like that as well. I did the dreaded hpt this am...I know I said I wouldn't, but found them in the back of the linen closet in the master bath. Once I found them it was over...couldn't stand it. It was -tive. Bummed me out for about 30 minutes. Got on the treadmill, had a diet Pepsi and feel better. Blood test is tomorrow, which is 11 days after transfer....don't have high hopes.
I should have flown to NJ to buy you many many drinks, ok some for myself as well.
Paige
Hope,
I'm doing a medicated FET right now. I'm glad to see your clinic is having you use birth control pills first before starting the Lupron. That should greatly minimize the chance you will have cysts. For some unknown reason (which I plan to ask them about at my appt. tomorrow), my clinic didn't give me the bcp's and just started me on Lupron on Day 21. As a result, I ended up with cysts which is why I've been stuck on Lupron forever! Like you, I was disappointed to have to face needles and medications again but I just keep focusing on the fact that at least I don't have to go through the whole stimming thing and EC. In addition, I should only have to go in to the Dr.'s office a total of 4 times including the day for the pg test. For the fresh IVF, I was there at least every other day once I started stimming. Plus, due to no stimming, you can actually exercise like normal right up until the transfer.
There have been a good number of success stories with FET's!
Staci
I'm doing a medicated FET right now. I'm glad to see your clinic is having you use birth control pills first before starting the Lupron. That should greatly minimize the chance you will have cysts. For some unknown reason (which I plan to ask them about at my appt. tomorrow), my clinic didn't give me the bcp's and just started me on Lupron on Day 21. As a result, I ended up with cysts which is why I've been stuck on Lupron forever! Like you, I was disappointed to have to face needles and medications again but I just keep focusing on the fact that at least I don't have to go through the whole stimming thing and EC. In addition, I should only have to go in to the Dr.'s office a total of 4 times including the day for the pg test. For the fresh IVF, I was there at least every other day once I started stimming. Plus, due to no stimming, you can actually exercise like normal right up until the transfer.
There have been a good number of success stories with FET's!
Staci
Me 35/DH 41
TTC 4 years
Diagnosis: MF infertility
IVF/ICSI April 2004: -tive
FET Aug. 2004 (canceled due to cysts)
FET Jan 2005: -tive
FET Aug. 2005
TTC 4 years
Diagnosis: MF infertility
IVF/ICSI April 2004: -tive
FET Aug. 2004 (canceled due to cysts)
FET Jan 2005: -tive
FET Aug. 2005
Hope,
My clinic has offered me an unmedicated FET in a couple of weeks. I don't know when they choose medication and when not. Maybe because this is my first one they are giving it a try to see what happens. Anyway, I'm relieved that I won't need the meds this time and if it doesn't work (PMA, PMA) I can start again right away the next month with a fresh IVF.
However, I'm pretty sure that clinic's numbers with FET are not great relative to others in the US, so who knows?
Also glad to see you're on to the next page already. It was like that for me too, but I had to wait three weeks for my post IVF consult
.
Alicia
My clinic has offered me an unmedicated FET in a couple of weeks. I don't know when they choose medication and when not. Maybe because this is my first one they are giving it a try to see what happens. Anyway, I'm relieved that I won't need the meds this time and if it doesn't work (PMA, PMA) I can start again right away the next month with a fresh IVF.
However, I'm pretty sure that clinic's numbers with FET are not great relative to others in the US, so who knows?
Also glad to see you're on to the next page already. It was like that for me too, but I had to wait three weeks for my post IVF consult
.Alicia
TTC 2.5 years - Me 38 no tubes; DH 32
1st- IVF June 2004 - early MC
2nd - FET Aug 2004 - Twin boys born April 25, 2005!!!
1st- IVF June 2004 - early MC
2nd - FET Aug 2004 - Twin boys born April 25, 2005!!!
Denise, Staci, Paige, Alicia,
Thank you so much for sharing your info. I don't feel so in the dark when I find out what others are doing. Talked to my RE this morning and she said that the HCG has to be completely out of my system before I can start the BCPs, she said it may take several weeks!! I'm very surprised.
Strange, my re didn't mention anything about an unmedicated FET.
Paige don't put much faith in home tests, the best only detect an HCG of 20 and most 50 so you could be pg with anything over a 5. I've got my fingers and toes crossed for you!!
Thank you so much for sharing your info. I don't feel so in the dark when I find out what others are doing. Talked to my RE this morning and she said that the HCG has to be completely out of my system before I can start the BCPs, she said it may take several weeks!! I'm very surprised.
Strange, my re didn't mention anything about an unmedicated FET.
Paige don't put much faith in home tests, the best only detect an HCG of 20 and most 50 so you could be pg with anything over a 5. I've got my fingers and toes crossed for you!!
Me - 35 Unexplained DH 37
TTC#1 since '97
5 IUIs
1st IVF 5/04 - transferred 2-neg
2nd IVF 7/04 - transferred 3-pos but MC at 8 wks.
TTC#1 since '97
5 IUIs
1st IVF 5/04 - transferred 2-neg
2nd IVF 7/04 - transferred 3-pos but MC at 8 wks.