concerned about OHSS with IVF

Hi there,

I am about to try IVF for the first time - I have had 6 failed IUIs so
far, 3 with 50 mg Clomid, and three with Gonal F.  My concern is
that I had mild OHSS with my first round of Gonal F.  I took 112.5 IU
for 4 days, then 75 IU for one day, and then the cycle got canceled
due to 12 moderate follicles.  My estrogen after 4 days of meds
was 789.   The next couple of cycles were better, using doses between
37.5 and 75 IU.  I do not have PCOS and I am 39.

My question is:  How am I going to get through an IVF cycle without
OHSS?  I seem to get it pretty easily.

Thanks.  :)

[Helen72]

OHSS does not affect probability of ivf success.  But if you do get pregnant you will be in a lot of pain if your OHSS is pretty bad.  I did not have OHSS but I know that some clinics after retrieval freeze all embryos or retrieved eggs and try a transfer a month later after your body recovers from OHSS.  That is the worst case scenario...

Best of luck to you!!  I hope ivf works for you the first time.

[pls353]

Thanks for the reply Helen.  I guess there is no hooking up to a morphine
drip while pregnant, with OHSS.  I guess I will let the IVF doctors deal
with these questions and just try to get back into my Zen mode.

[Hope4best]

I had mild OHSS during my 1st IVF cycle.  Got pregnant but unfortunately miscarried.  Just finished my 2nd IVF cycle at a different clinic and to avoid OHSS my doc started with low dose of meds (Gonal F).  This cycle was very successful and I am now pregnant!  Talk to your doctor starting you with low dose of meds.  Good luck with everything!

[sarge1]

There is a difference, too, between IUI and IVF in that, with IVF, you WANT to stimulate a lot of eggs. That many eggs with IUI is not good because of the chance of all  of them getting fertilized. With IVF, since the eggs are removed and then fertilized, it's ok to have all 12 fertilize, because you won't be putting all 12 back in.  
Does that make sense?

[pls353]

Hi Sarge1,
It makes sense, yes, but I was sick during that IUI cycle.  Nausea, abdominal pain, drinking Gatorade.  And I never even took the trigger shot.  So I am wondering how things are going to feel with 20-30 eggs as opposed to just the 12.  :|