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IVF Question
I am on birth control pills right now, gearing up for my first IVF cycle. I'm wondering when I will start the meds? I meet with my RE on Friday, so I'm sure I will get my medicine protocol then, but I'm wondering if people usually start Lupron while still taking the pill for a few days? Any insight would be great. :-D
Sorry mamom that you have to postpone, are you sure though? What is your protocol supposed to be?
As for shots hurting and how often... totally depends. My stims and lupron were sub (stims at night, lupron in the am) - using an insulin needle - tiny and does not hurt. I did lupron in thigh and stims in belly. I am 5dp3dt I am taking PIO now and some nights my husband does a good job and they do not hurt at all, some nights they kill. But in the grand scheme not a big deal. Keep the PIO OUT OF THE FRIDGE! You can hold the needle in your hand for a while to warm it up before shooting up :) that can help. But really, after you start it will become old hat in no time and you won't even think about it.
As for shots hurting and how often... totally depends. My stims and lupron were sub (stims at night, lupron in the am) - using an insulin needle - tiny and does not hurt. I did lupron in thigh and stims in belly. I am 5dp3dt I am taking PIO now and some nights my husband does a good job and they do not hurt at all, some nights they kill. But in the grand scheme not a big deal. Keep the PIO OUT OF THE FRIDGE! You can hold the needle in your hand for a while to warm it up before shooting up :) that can help. But really, after you start it will become old hat in no time and you won't even think about it.
Thank you so much, your answer really helped. I may have to postpone my ivf. I am in my brother wedding in CA end May, I am really bummed as I don't want to delay the process either. Of course now I don't know if I iwll have vacation time left. Why is life so hard. Thank you everyone and good luck. SSBD
mamom,
about injections everyone is different,that ur RE dicides baised on ur condition & ur harmone level.i took initialy lupron inj then,follistim& menopor mix,which was not muscular,ithat was subqutaneus i use to take once at night in lowerabdomen area.progetron inj started after transfer which was muscular.i didnt had much problem with muscular.for me subqu---was painfull.hope this answer will help u.feel free to ask anything.goodluck for ur IVF.
about injections everyone is different,that ur RE dicides baised on ur condition & ur harmone level.i took initialy lupron inj then,follistim& menopor mix,which was not muscular,ithat was subqutaneus i use to take once at night in lowerabdomen area.progetron inj started after transfer which was muscular.i didnt had much problem with muscular.for me subqu---was painfull.hope this answer will help u.feel free to ask anything.goodluck for ur IVF.
congrats on the twins, I love their names. I have to tell you you did one hell of a job explaining the procedure, you are way better than dr's and nurses. Thank you this really help. I will be doing my first IVF waiting on AF. I guess my protocol is different, 2nd day of AF i will be starting Lupron for like 14 days then start the injections for the next 10days something like that. AF due around the 15th cant wait to start and get it over with.
I was wondering, how "bad" is the pain fron the retrieval?? I think that's what I'm most nervous about!! Should I expect to only need that day off of work? Did anyone take the following day off of work as well?
I am taking off 2 weeks after the transfer (during the 2ww) as I work a VERY stressful job so I want to make sure I am nice and relaxed during this time.
I am taking off 2 weeks after the transfer (during the 2ww) as I work a VERY stressful job so I want to make sure I am nice and relaxed during this time.
Protocols vary some, but not a whole lot. For most people the standard IVF cycle starts with you on birthcontrol pills. Birthcontrol pills are used to regulate and control your cycle as well as to reduce the chance ovarian cysts will form. At some point an ultrasound should be done. Towards the end of your cycle you will begin Lupron (some doctors use different drugs, but the goal of Lupron is to down regulate. It sort of "shuts down" the mechanisms that normally control your cycle). Lupron is given once a day. It is a tiny amount given with a standard diabetic needle. It is usually given in the abdominal area.
You wil start your period at some point. This is where things can change. For some people the doctors will have them start the gonadotropins right away, I didn't. My doctor did a baseline ultrasound and drew blood and I stayed on Lupron for almost a week into my period before starting the gonadotropins. You will remain on Lupron at this point, still once a day. The dose may go down, but you will still take it. The gonadotropins, such as Braville, Menopur, Gonal, are often Intra muscular injections. Don't worry it doesn't hurt that bad. You will take these for 10-12 days average, or until your eggs are mature. You will be doing lots of sonograms to check the rate of growth of your follicles. When you follicles are mature you will take a huge dose of HCG to trigger ovulation (HCG mimics lutenizing hormone which triggers ovulation in the real world). Now note many women are on estrogen and other drugs in addition to what I mentioned. It depends on your doctor and depends on what has brought you to undergo IVF in the first place.
After the HCG trigger shot which must be taken PRECISELY when the doctor says, you will have your eggs removed about 36 hours later. You will probably be told to trigger in the evening, say 8pm. Then not the next morning but the morning after that you will have your eggs removed. This is done under general anestesia, and yes there is cramping when you wake up. The progesterone shots start now too. These are great. Progesterone is suspended in oil, so these are thick intra muscular shots that hurt like the dickens but guess what ladies you have to take them. Your hips will be bruised, but these are very important as progesterone prepares the lining for implantation and helps maintain a pregnancy.
3 to 5 days after you eggs are removed you will have the transfer done. The transfer is painless other than the doctor will probably want your bladder painfully full. Then the wait begins. The wait is torture. The wait hurts worse than the rest of the procedure all together.
For everyone out there beginning an IVF cycle you have my blessings. It is a rollarcoaster ride, and although not always successful everytime, many woman have been blessed with children through this route. Don't give up there is hope.
You wil start your period at some point. This is where things can change. For some people the doctors will have them start the gonadotropins right away, I didn't. My doctor did a baseline ultrasound and drew blood and I stayed on Lupron for almost a week into my period before starting the gonadotropins. You will remain on Lupron at this point, still once a day. The dose may go down, but you will still take it. The gonadotropins, such as Braville, Menopur, Gonal, are often Intra muscular injections. Don't worry it doesn't hurt that bad. You will take these for 10-12 days average, or until your eggs are mature. You will be doing lots of sonograms to check the rate of growth of your follicles. When you follicles are mature you will take a huge dose of HCG to trigger ovulation (HCG mimics lutenizing hormone which triggers ovulation in the real world). Now note many women are on estrogen and other drugs in addition to what I mentioned. It depends on your doctor and depends on what has brought you to undergo IVF in the first place.
After the HCG trigger shot which must be taken PRECISELY when the doctor says, you will have your eggs removed about 36 hours later. You will probably be told to trigger in the evening, say 8pm. Then not the next morning but the morning after that you will have your eggs removed. This is done under general anestesia, and yes there is cramping when you wake up. The progesterone shots start now too. These are great. Progesterone is suspended in oil, so these are thick intra muscular shots that hurt like the dickens but guess what ladies you have to take them. Your hips will be bruised, but these are very important as progesterone prepares the lining for implantation and helps maintain a pregnancy.
3 to 5 days after you eggs are removed you will have the transfer done. The transfer is painless other than the doctor will probably want your bladder painfully full. Then the wait begins. The wait is torture. The wait hurts worse than the rest of the procedure all together.
For everyone out there beginning an IVF cycle you have my blessings. It is a rollarcoaster ride, and although not always successful everytime, many woman have been blessed with children through this route. Don't give up there is hope.
I started my meds the first day of AF after my baseline u/s. That was after one cycle on b/c pills.
Hi , I will start my ivf next month, is it true you have to give yourself shots twice a day. Is it muscular shots ? Please do share as I have no idea what's going to happen
no my dear:( it didnt work .going for 2nd ivf, frozen embroyo transfer,this month.this time they r doing natural with out any medicines.for that i ahve to track my ovulation,that day OPK shows positive they will do U/S,if everything looks ok lining & all they will decide when to transfer.goodluck to u.
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