Hybrid cycle or just injects?

Lindsey7348

Hi Ladies!

So, currently on a break from IVF and trying the good old fashioned way (with acupuncture and vitamins). But of course once AF comes (2 days) I want to ask my RE about doing something less invasive. Should I ask to do femara/injects or just straight injects?

I believe I heard somewhere that just injectables is better for the quality of your eggs? 

I have done hybrid cycles before but never just injectables. 

TIA!!

Mommalawyer

I've never had a hybrid cycle. However, I do recall my RE saying that follistim was better for quality of eggs. I'm 38, so there was a concern about egg quality & that's why it was brought up. Good luck!

Pintobean39

I've never done a hybrid cycle just injects. I don't know if it's just me but my inject cycles have just as much monitoring as IVF and my last one cost about 4k. I'm on day 10 of stims for IVF and I've had just as many appts as I've had on a reg injects cycle. That's just something to consider if that is the norm.

My dr doesn't even recommend any oral meds for me then again I'm almost 40 so that might be the reason.

lebradford

I would go for straight injects, but obviously people do combo cycles for one reason or another.

Here is a thread about the topic that was posted a few days ago: https://forums.thebump.com/discussion/12360755/follistim-vs-follistm-femara#latest

wishiwaspreggo

I'll chime in though my previous conversation is posted

I did a hybrid cycle last time and it failed.  My doctor said it's because I didn't respond to Femara and I needed more aggressive therapy.  Do you know how you respond to Femara?  For some women it works but for me it's too gentle.  I responded to higher doses of Clomid but for whatever reason that didn't work for me either so... here I am, trying all injects.

It is quite expensive.  The medicines and additional monitoring are budget-busters.  However, I've heard injects give you the best chances for IUI so there's that.  With a higher risk of multiples, of course. 

In any case, the idea of a hybrid cycle is to get things going with a cheaper drug (i.e. Femara) and then boost those follicles with Follistim.  Since Femara doesn't work for me hybrid cycles are no good - but that's not to say it wouldn't work for you.

Try to weigh the pros and cons.  If you already have meds from your IVF cycle that you didn't use or you know you could afford the drugs you'll need for an all injects cycle, it may be worth it just to try all injects rather thanks risk a poor response to Femara.  If I'd known that I'd have done straight injects from the get-go.

Good luck!!

Lindsey7348

Thanks ladies for your insight!

I honestly have done everything fertility related, except for just straight injects. Its never really been offered for me for some reason or another. 

I am not completely OOP, as my insurance does pay for some stuff and I also have a flex spending account.

Started spotting today so I am going to call my insurance as well as my RE so I can move on.