gonal f shots for ivf

[betya]

Hi!  I am 36 yrs old and been married for 3 years, has blocked fallopian tubes and  endometriosis. I was suppressed by suprefact at 50 units for 2 weeks and was decrease to  20 units on my third week. Start of my third week suppression, i was given a shot of gonal f for 225 ui for 5 days, after my lab test, estradiol is low and follicles are not present. dosage was increase to 375 ui for  3 days and still, estradiol is low and no follicles seen. doctor advised to cancel the ivf due to abandon cycle and try next cycle again with an increase dosge of 450ui.

Why is it that my body is not responding to gonal f even though the dosage has been increased? Is there a problem? How sure i am that i will respond to next cycle if its already 450 ui? What would be my other options if i am really not responding to that med? are there any alternatives injectables that can help me produce more follicles?

betya

[betya]

Yes, i was tested for FSH, LH and estradiol on my 2nd day of my period and they were all normal.
Is menopur different from buserilin?
If follicles were not seen in the beginning of gonal f shots, is it possible that they were just delayed?

[John Kim, M.D.]

I wonder if you had any ovarian reserve testing like cycle day 3 FSH, Estradiol, antral follicle count or any other.  If you have diminished ovarian reserve, then you will not respond well to ovarian stimulation. I hope you will respond to future increased doses of Gonal F.  One suggestion would be to add LH sooner to the stimulation by adding a drug like Menopur that has FSH and LH in it for ovarian stimulation right at the beginning of stimulation in addition to the Gonal F.