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Follistem?
Hello!
I've done three rounds of clomid (50 mg) with IUI and no luck, so on Thursday I had a laparoscopy to check for scar tissue or blockage. The doc found a few small patches of endometriosis and a little scar tissue on my right fallopian tube, but nothing that he felt would have prevented pregnancy. They also did an HSG while I was asleep and both tubes functioned fine.
So, now he is suggesting I move to injectibles and try a low dose of Follistem with IUI. Has anyone here tried Follistem and what has been your experience? I'm very worried about OHSS because on 50 mg of clomid, I had up to 8 mature follicles!
Also, the doc said the injectibles run about $1200 a month, but I've seen online where you can get Follistem a little cheaper from mail order pharmacies. Does anyone have any suggestions about where to get injectibles like Follistem that are a little more reasonably priced.
Thank you so much!!
I've done three rounds of clomid (50 mg) with IUI and no luck, so on Thursday I had a laparoscopy to check for scar tissue or blockage. The doc found a few small patches of endometriosis and a little scar tissue on my right fallopian tube, but nothing that he felt would have prevented pregnancy. They also did an HSG while I was asleep and both tubes functioned fine.
So, now he is suggesting I move to injectibles and try a low dose of Follistem with IUI. Has anyone here tried Follistem and what has been your experience? I'm very worried about OHSS because on 50 mg of clomid, I had up to 8 mature follicles!
Also, the doc said the injectibles run about $1200 a month, but I've seen online where you can get Follistem a little cheaper from mail order pharmacies. Does anyone have any suggestions about where to get injectibles like Follistem that are a little more reasonably priced.
Thank you so much!!
Thanks, everyone!
You are all so lucky that you have health insurance that covers infertility! I have great health insurance, but one thing it does not do is cover ANY meds for fertility treatments, so I'll be paying on my own.
My doc feels like Follistem not only gives you more follicles, but much better quality follicles, so I guess that's why he is suggesting them. Clomid isn't working, IUI isn't working, and surgery didn't show any problems, and I'm ovulating normally, so it's a bit of a mystery as to why I don't get pregnant! He just wants to pull out the big guns I suppose?
My first month on clomid, I had 8 mature follicles, the second month, 6 follicles, and the third month, only 1. Maybe because I didn't respond well on the third one, he felt we need to move to injectibles I suppose.
I'm just now trying to figure out how to pay for it! EEEP!
You are all so lucky that you have health insurance that covers infertility! I have great health insurance, but one thing it does not do is cover ANY meds for fertility treatments, so I'll be paying on my own.
My doc feels like Follistem not only gives you more follicles, but much better quality follicles, so I guess that's why he is suggesting them. Clomid isn't working, IUI isn't working, and surgery didn't show any problems, and I'm ovulating normally, so it's a bit of a mystery as to why I don't get pregnant! He just wants to pull out the big guns I suppose?
My first month on clomid, I had 8 mature follicles, the second month, 6 follicles, and the third month, only 1. Maybe because I didn't respond well on the third one, he felt we need to move to injectibles I suppose.
I'm just now trying to figure out how to pay for it! EEEP!
hi sheri,
i did 3 months of clomid and never ovulated.so my RE had me do 10 days of follistim injections (dosage was 75)..then a shot of ovidrel...with an IUI...i only produced one mature follice and got pregnant. i am in my seventh week right now.
i was fortunate that my insurance had unlimited injection and IUI coverage...but i had no IVF benefits at all...(luckily didnt need them). (i have aetna HMO)
when i was on the clomid the first month i was in alot of discomfort...like a stabbing feeling...but the next 2 months on clomid i didnt have that at all....my only side effect on clomid was hot flashes...bad ones...lol...on the follistim i had mild ongoing cramping..and a few head aches.
at first i was so scared to give myself the injections but it was real easy and barely felt it..it came in an injectible pen..(very small bendable needle).
good luck to you...keep us posted!!!
i did 3 months of clomid and never ovulated.so my RE had me do 10 days of follistim injections (dosage was 75)..then a shot of ovidrel...with an IUI...i only produced one mature follice and got pregnant. i am in my seventh week right now.
i was fortunate that my insurance had unlimited injection and IUI coverage...but i had no IVF benefits at all...(luckily didnt need them). (i have aetna HMO)
when i was on the clomid the first month i was in alot of discomfort...like a stabbing feeling...but the next 2 months on clomid i didnt have that at all....my only side effect on clomid was hot flashes...bad ones...lol...on the follistim i had mild ongoing cramping..and a few head aches.
at first i was so scared to give myself the injections but it was real easy and barely felt it..it came in an injectible pen..(very small bendable needle).
good luck to you...keep us posted!!!
I am doing IVF and I get my meds from Apothecary Shop in Arizona. There is a division that is for fertility meds. I am not sure how much they cost as my insurance covers them, but my IVF coordinator told me they are one of the less expensive places which is why they use them. If you are already getting 8 follicles on clomid, why are they suggesting injectables? Usually follistim is used to recruit more follicles than clomid or if you don't respond to clomid. You can do clomid, with a trigger shot and IUI. I don't think the injectables are bad, or maybe it is just that I have gotten used to them, but follistim is just a sub-Q shot in the stomach-at least that is where I gave myself mine.
Hi, I've been using Follistim for 3 months now, bec I wasn't responding to clomid. A low dose of Follistim will probably give you the same results as clomid, but it looks like you have a great response with clomid.
If you have medical insurance, you should find out if they cover fertility drugs. My insurance covers 15K for fertility treatement for a lifetime. But you have to order meds through their mail order pharmacy. 1 Cartridge can cost up to a thousand, but with insurance I only pay $60 co pay. So it's not so bad. The problem is that meds expire 28 days after opening. So many times you end up throwing up unused meds.
If you have medical insurance, you should find out if they cover fertility drugs. My insurance covers 15K for fertility treatement for a lifetime. But you have to order meds through their mail order pharmacy. 1 Cartridge can cost up to a thousand, but with insurance I only pay $60 co pay. So it's not so bad. The problem is that meds expire 28 days after opening. So many times you end up throwing up unused meds.
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