follistim injectibles

[babybun08]

hi
i was wondering how long have people been on injectables for one cycle. i am currently on day 13. no mature follicles still. started at 50 units per day. on monday went to 75 units per day. they want me to come back on monday for another ultrasound. but i'm like can i be on injectables that long, and they said sure. but why not increase the dose if its obviously not working. i don't even have a follicle that is 10mm yet. all are around 8mm. oh and i do have pcos. any advice would be great.
thanks

[babybun08]

thanks for all the responses. but when i went back friday my estradiol level dropped from 62 to 46. and they still don't want to increase my dose. i'm only at 75 units and on day 14 now. i just see this cycle going nowhere. i understand about time and patience. but i conceived twice with one cycle of clomid and metformin. i just wonder if there is something more than just the pcos. anyone experience a drop in estradiol and still have a successful cycle?

[Shayne Plosker, MD]

Dear babybun08 - it sounds like your doctor has you on a low dose, slowly incremental, protocol. This is most often used for women with polycystic ovary syndrome. Do you have PCOS? The idea is to start slowly, and increase the dose slowly, in order to get just one or two mature eggs rather than many, in an effort to minimize the risk of twins or triplets. This is a good protocol for women who have PCOS and do not ovulate - the thinking is that you eggs are pretty healthy, so that it will only take one egg for you to get pregnant. Unlike when fertility drugs are given for IVF or for IUI in women who ovulate regularly, your protocol can take time. I have had some patients go for longer than three weeks.

[kindergal]

The first two months I was on injectables through Day 12/13 and then had IUI.  The third month I started out with high doses, went down a couple of days and then went back up. That month I did the injectables through 15/16 and then had IUI.  The third cycle finally worked---my body just needed a few more days on meds to get those follies growing big.  If you do not have success this month, maybe next month they can start you out on a higher dose and then cut back....

[babyalive]

I think they are trying to ensure all your follicles grow at the same time.  If they up your dose too much, sometimes one follice will grow quicker than all the rest and the goal is to have more than one follice of similar size.  They should be growing about 2mm a day.  I hope yours mature very soon!