Infertility

Has anyone used Saizen ( human growth hormone) during IVF?

przemosbabeprzemosbabe member
edited July 2014 in Infertility
My next protocol includes this. It's really expensive. I haven't really heard of anyone using it. My RE said its for bet egg quality, ( i only had 4 mature) better embryo quality ( I only had blast one and it was high quality but he wants more blasts so I can do a freeze all cycle...which I want to do too) and said studies have shown women that use it get take home babies. I'm really interested to hear all anyone has to say about it. Did you get great eggs, good embryos? More embryos than previous cycles? Why did your RE suggest you use this? I'd like to hear any and everything :) Thanks ladies

Re: Has anyone used Saizen ( human growth hormone) during IVF?

  • ****PAIF response

    I used Saizen with my successful cycle.  I had less eggs mature this time but the 4 that were were perfect eggs that created perfect embryos that have created 2 perfect babies.  I only used it for the first 4 days due to cost.  I wonder what would have happened if I used it the entire 12 days I stemmed for.  First cycle 3 fertilized 1 made it to day 6 early blast (behind from the start).  This time we did day 3 of our 2 fertilized embryos and they were both 8 cell.  I did add other meds to this cycle see siggy.  Not sure what it was but I totally would have regretted not trying
    TTC 2007
    Me-OK DH- MFI
    2010 IUI 1-3 Femara + Ovidrill BFN
    Change DR 5/12 IUI 4-5 Natural Cycle BFN
    5/13 DH diagnosed with b1/b3 microdeletion of Y chromosome
    IVF #1 July  Started Lupron 7/5 AF 7/14
    ER 8/1 7R 5M 3F W/ICSI ET 8/6 Moved to 8/7 due to no blast 
    Transferred our UNO embryo Beta #1 27 Beta #2 33 Beta #3 29 CP :(
    IVF #2 Started Lupron 2/14 
    Protocol 10U Lupron, 150 Bravelle, 150 Menopur, HGH for 4 days, Dexamethesone, 
    Supplements 6000mg CoQ10, 100mg DHEA, Vitamin D, Folic Acid, 
    ER 3/12 8R 4 able to be injected 2f with ICSI ET 3/15 2 "perfect" textbook Embryos
    2 crinone, estrace, dexamethesone, doxycycline
    BETA #1 3/26 201  BETA #2 3/28 524  BETA #3 4/5 9,876  Ultrasound April 7 Showed TWINs
    April 18 ultrasound Baby A HB 147   Baby B HB 146  Both measuring 7w1d
    WE ARE TEAM BLUE X2!
    Jonathan Daniel received his angel wings July 23, 2014 :( born 9/20/14
    Jackson Thomas was born October 31, 2014 @ 35w 5d
    image



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  • At my WTF my RE recommended HGH.  My ER concluded with 7 of 28 mature & only 3 fertilizing, so it sounds like we're in the same boat.... similar, anyway.

    I haven't gotten my Rx yet, but Saizen's a likely candidate.
    I should find out soon, b/c I AF came today, and one of the nurses left me a message regarding the cost of the HGH, which, apparently, is not covered by my Rx plan (I didn't think it would be, but she's estimating $500 - 600 per... dose?  It's not clear to me how much I'll need, or what the cost will be, but I guess I'll find out tomorrow morning).

    On the downside, HGH might keep us out of the Baseball Hall of Fame.... but I don't like baseball anyway, soooo..... :P

    *** Ticker Warning ***

    Me: 37, DH: 39, TTC 5 yrs

    2013 summary: Diagnosed with Hypothyroid; Cervical polyp removed (benign); 
    2 rounds ovidrel with timed intercourse (no result): 3 rounds IUI with clomid + ovidrel (no result)
    2014 summary (to date):
    IVF cycle 1 - ER: 4/17 (28 follicles, 3 fertilized, 2 survived to day 3);
    ET: 4/20 (3rd day, 2 embryos - 1 @ 6 cells & 1 @ 4 cells); Beta 5/1 - BFP!; 
    1st scan 5/13 - development behind, no heartbeat detected; D&C 6/2; WTF 6/13
    IVF cycle 2 - BCP begun 7/12; stims w/ HGH begun 7/26; 
    ER: 8/6, 12 follicles, 7 fertilized w/ ICSI; ET: 8/11, 3 blastocysts left, 2 transferred, 3rd arrested 8/12 - none to freeze :'(
    1st beta 8/19 - BFP! 294; 2nd beta 8/26 - 4976; 1st u/s 9/2; 2nd u/s 9/9 - two little heartbeats at 140 each!!! 
    EDD: 29-April-2015
    Other Meds: Synthroid 100 mcg/daily

      imageimageimage
    Pregnancy Ticker
  • przemosbabeprzemosbabe member
    edited July 2014
    @AMShark‌ we had 100% fertilization with the four mature eggs that they did try to use, and on day 3 they were all looking great. So because all but one arrested on day 5, my RE says this could indicate a problem with the sperm. Apparently the egg is the one in charge until day 3. He suggested the HGH because we want good eggs that are more mature, but more importantly good blastocysts that turn into a pregnancy. I did some digging around about hgh yesterday and there are some places you can get it for cheaper. Let me finish eating and ill post that information
  • @przemosbabe - Interesting!  I transferred day 3, so its hard to say which side was failing.
    I'll keep an eye out for your post on cheaper HGH.  According to my Rx plan provider, they do cover an alternative for Saizen, but its not clear if the coverage would apply in my case.

    *** Ticker Warning ***

    Me: 37, DH: 39, TTC 5 yrs

    2013 summary: Diagnosed with Hypothyroid; Cervical polyp removed (benign); 
    2 rounds ovidrel with timed intercourse (no result): 3 rounds IUI with clomid + ovidrel (no result)
    2014 summary (to date):
    IVF cycle 1 - ER: 4/17 (28 follicles, 3 fertilized, 2 survived to day 3);
    ET: 4/20 (3rd day, 2 embryos - 1 @ 6 cells & 1 @ 4 cells); Beta 5/1 - BFP!; 
    1st scan 5/13 - development behind, no heartbeat detected; D&C 6/2; WTF 6/13
    IVF cycle 2 - BCP begun 7/12; stims w/ HGH begun 7/26; 
    ER: 8/6, 12 follicles, 7 fertilized w/ ICSI; ET: 8/11, 3 blastocysts left, 2 transferred, 3rd arrested 8/12 - none to freeze :'(
    1st beta 8/19 - BFP! 294; 2nd beta 8/26 - 4976; 1st u/s 9/2; 2nd u/s 9/9 - two little heartbeats at 140 each!!! 
    EDD: 29-April-2015
    Other Meds: Synthroid 100 mcg/daily

      imageimageimage
    Pregnancy Ticker
  • @AMShark‌ so I called walgreens speciality pharmacy just now and they have omnitrope, a different brand of hgh for for $335 for a 5.8mg vile. I'm calling around to see the other prices ( I read about them online, but I just want to confirm), but if your insurance covers it then you may not need to find the cheapest! I'm sure mine won't, they cover nothing for fertility treatments :/
  • @HollowBerry‌ so you used two 8.8mg bottles and they were $758 each???? Do you mind telling me what your dosage was each day? Also do you mind telling me if you used Saizen or Omnitrope?
  • I used Tev Tropin for IVF #2.... It was our worst cycle by far.
    **SIGGY WARNING**

    Me: 32 DH: 35  TTC#1 since March 2012
    Dx: Poor Embryo Quality, Arcuate Uterus, Poor Uterine Blood Flow, Mild Endo, 
           Protein S Deficiency, Sjorgen's Syndrome 

    IUI #1-5: BFN
    Laparoscopy & Hysteroscopy: minimal endo, partial septoplasty
    IVF #1: 10R/6M/6F ~ Day 3 ET = BFN
    IVF #2: 14R/9M/5F ~ transfer canceled ~ all embryos arrested at 1-2 cell stage
    IVF #3: 9R/5M/5F ~ 1 frosty!
    IVF #4 (FET #1): BFN

    IVF #5 (DE IVF #1 with Dr. KK protocol): Currently PREGNANT!!!!!!
    Synthroid + Prednisone + Metformin + Baby Aspirin + Supplements Galore = 15+ pills a day
    Lupron + Lovenox + Delestrogen + IVIG + B/W = 2-5 pokes a day
    19R, 17M, 17F - transferred two Grade A blasts 11/16, four frosties!!!
    Beta #1 11/24 (13dpo/8dp5dt) = 367 ~ Beta #2 11/26 (15dpo/10dp5dt) = 709
    Beta #3 11/29 (18dpo/13dp5dt) = 1,997 ~ Beta #4 12/1 (20dpo/15dp5dt) = 3,403

    imageimageimage

    My Blog: Running and Dreaming for Two ~ All are Welcome!
  • @RunCC37‌ do you mind telling me why it was your worst?
  • I don't mean to come across as a negative nelly, and I hope that my response is nothing like yours!! Here's the synopsis of our IVF journey:

    IVF #1 - antagonist protocol, 10R, 6M, 6F. By day 3, we transferred the best two (7 cells with moderate fragmentation), the four others arrested before day 5. BFN :(

    IVF #2 - estrogen priming & antagonist protocol with HGH, 14R, 9M, 5F. They all arrested before Day 3.... Only two actually divided into 2 cells and were highly fragmented. No transfer :(

    IVF #3 - down regulation Lupron protocol, 9R, 5M, 5F. Three arrested by day 3, two were still growing by day 5. One arrested by day 6, one made it to blastocyst!!! 6CC, and normal by CCS testing. Not the best quality, but our best shot. FET resulted in a BFN :(
    **SIGGY WARNING**

    Me: 32 DH: 35  TTC#1 since March 2012
    Dx: Poor Embryo Quality, Arcuate Uterus, Poor Uterine Blood Flow, Mild Endo, 
           Protein S Deficiency, Sjorgen's Syndrome 

    IUI #1-5: BFN
    Laparoscopy & Hysteroscopy: minimal endo, partial septoplasty
    IVF #1: 10R/6M/6F ~ Day 3 ET = BFN
    IVF #2: 14R/9M/5F ~ transfer canceled ~ all embryos arrested at 1-2 cell stage
    IVF #3: 9R/5M/5F ~ 1 frosty!
    IVF #4 (FET #1): BFN

    IVF #5 (DE IVF #1 with Dr. KK protocol): Currently PREGNANT!!!!!!
    Synthroid + Prednisone + Metformin + Baby Aspirin + Supplements Galore = 15+ pills a day
    Lupron + Lovenox + Delestrogen + IVIG + B/W = 2-5 pokes a day
    19R, 17M, 17F - transferred two Grade A blasts 11/16, four frosties!!!
    Beta #1 11/24 (13dpo/8dp5dt) = 367 ~ Beta #2 11/26 (15dpo/10dp5dt) = 709
    Beta #3 11/29 (18dpo/13dp5dt) = 1,997 ~ Beta #4 12/1 (20dpo/15dp5dt) = 3,403

    imageimageimage

    My Blog: Running and Dreaming for Two ~ All are Welcome!
  • You're not negative you're telling me your experince and it is greatly appreciated! I'm so sorry that happened to you!
  • AMSharkAMShark member
    edited July 2014
    The website for my Rx plans says they don't cover Nutropin, Omnitrope, Saizen or Tev-Tropin, but the following are listed as "covered alternatives": Genotropin, Humatrope, Norditropin.
    According to my RE I would need 2 vials of 50 mg each of omnitrope or its equivalent.  (Why does that seem like so much more than the numbers listed above?)

    Now I need to find out what "covered alternative" means in this situation.  I spoke with my Rx plan, and HGH is a "specialty drug" which must be ordered from a single specific pharmacy, and which requires a "clinical review" of my case.  So, my RE is supposed to call a 3rd number and complete a survey - I hope she's willing to do that.  I wish they could just tell me if the drug is covered for infertility treatments... I have a feeling that it isn't, since I've read that the FDA doesn't approve of HGH for that use.
    *sigh*

    More phone calls to make, and return calls to wait for ... guess I'll just need to wait and see. However I get it, FX that it gives some positive results.  At this point, I'm just excited to be moving forward again.

    ***** update ******
    Just heard back from my RE, and HGH is definitely *not* covered by my Rx plan.  Oh well, I knew it was a long shot.  It will be worth it if it gets results.  Here's hoping.

    *** Ticker Warning ***

    Me: 37, DH: 39, TTC 5 yrs

    2013 summary: Diagnosed with Hypothyroid; Cervical polyp removed (benign); 
    2 rounds ovidrel with timed intercourse (no result): 3 rounds IUI with clomid + ovidrel (no result)
    2014 summary (to date):
    IVF cycle 1 - ER: 4/17 (28 follicles, 3 fertilized, 2 survived to day 3);
    ET: 4/20 (3rd day, 2 embryos - 1 @ 6 cells & 1 @ 4 cells); Beta 5/1 - BFP!; 
    1st scan 5/13 - development behind, no heartbeat detected; D&C 6/2; WTF 6/13
    IVF cycle 2 - BCP begun 7/12; stims w/ HGH begun 7/26; 
    ER: 8/6, 12 follicles, 7 fertilized w/ ICSI; ET: 8/11, 3 blastocysts left, 2 transferred, 3rd arrested 8/12 - none to freeze :'(
    1st beta 8/19 - BFP! 294; 2nd beta 8/26 - 4976; 1st u/s 9/2; 2nd u/s 9/9 - two little heartbeats at 140 each!!! 
    EDD: 29-April-2015
    Other Meds: Synthroid 100 mcg/daily

      imageimageimage
    Pregnancy Ticker
  • STL34STL34 member
    *** SAIF Post ***

    I used HGH during my first three IVF cycles.  Each cycle I used 2-3 vials.  I was successful on my third cycle.  I have very low reserve and am a poor responder to stims.  So, I never made very many mature eggs.  My first two cycles we tried growing the three embryos we had (we had three both cycles) to blast.  The first cycle we ended up with three beautiful day 5 blasts.  The second cycle we ended up with one beautiful and one not so good day 5 blast.  The third cycle we did an early transfer with assisted hatching.  It was the only cycle we had only to embryos and it was our successful cycle.

    Since finding success we have done two more failed IVF cycles.  We have only had one embryo each time.  If we can scrape together the funds to cycle again, I will likely request adding HGH since we didn't use in the last two failed cycles.

    Best of luck!

    imageimage


    ~SAIF/PAIF/Everyone Welcome~ 

    Me= 37 and DH = 41 

    Dx: DOR, Endo, APA+ (really high beta 2 glycoprotein antibody and high everything else tested), heterozygous MTHFR mutation, positive for lupus anticoagulant, high FSH, low AMH and both tubes blocked (per HSG on 3/8/11)

    IVF #1 - long lupron (with HGH, intralipids, lovenox and BA); 4 retrieved, 3 fertilized; ET 2 blasts and 1 frozen = BFN

    IVF #2 - a version of antagonist with EPP (with HGH, intralipids, lovenox and BA); 6 retrieved, 4 mature, 3 fertilized, 2 blasts and 1 frozen blast transferred on day 5 = BFN.

    IVF #3 April was postponed to May, May was canceled. June/July was canceled. Had a cyst aspiration and then began IVF #3 in August. ER on 8/22; ET on 8/24 with AH. +HPT on 9/5. Beta #1 (11dpo) = 3; Beta #2 (15dpo) = 29; Beta #3 (17dpo) = 60; Beta #4 (19 dpo) = 118. Heartbeat at 6 weeks 6 days =132.  Lil is here!

    TTC#2:  Trigger + TI = BFN; Clomid + Trigger + IUI = BFN.

    IVF #4:  BCP + MDLF + Lovenox = 7R, 1F = Transferred 1 6-cell embryo on day 3 = BFN

    IVF #5:  MDLF + Lovenox = 4R, 1F = Transferred 1 10-cell compacting embryo on day 3 = BFN

    IVF #6:  (New RE):  Long Antagonist November 2014 (transferred two 8 cell grade 1 embryos and froze one blast) = BFN

    FET#1:  BFN

  • zazu13zazu13 member
    **** SAIF I also used it on my successful cycle. Good luck!

    Age: 35 TTC since 2005, MFI & DOR 

    IVF #1 Sep '11 - canceled poor response

     IVF #2 Nov '11  8R/8M/4F 3dt x2 - chemical

    IVF #3 April '12  11R/6M/4F 3dt x2 - m/c

    FET #1 Aug 2012  3dt x2 - BFN

    **new RE**

     IVF #4 Jan '13 BFN 11R/6M/6F 5dt x2 - BFN

     IVF #5 July '13 16R/10M/10F 5dt x2 + 1 frostie

    9dp5dt Beta 1 = 344!! 16dp5dt. Beta 2 = 4822 7wk u/s= 2 heartbeats!

    Twin girls! 3/6/14

     

  • You ladies are wonderful :) Does anyone mind telling me what their dosage was? I'm starting lupron suppression today! So ill be needing this HGH soon!! I'm hopeful :)
  • @AMShark‌ please let me know if you find some that is less expensive than the Walgreens specialty pharmacy I called. I will also do more calling around as soon as Monday comes.
  • I just authorized my credit card payment for 2 vials of 5.8mg each for the bargain basement price of $632 with shipping (she said sarcastically).  Maybe slightly better than the Walgreens price.  

    I ordered from Mandell's Pharmacy in NJ.  It's pretty local for me, so shipping doesn't add much.  I don't know if it would be more of a factor for you.  I included the link above, in case you want to price it out there for yourself.  

    *** Ticker Warning ***

    Me: 37, DH: 39, TTC 5 yrs

    2013 summary: Diagnosed with Hypothyroid; Cervical polyp removed (benign); 
    2 rounds ovidrel with timed intercourse (no result): 3 rounds IUI with clomid + ovidrel (no result)
    2014 summary (to date):
    IVF cycle 1 - ER: 4/17 (28 follicles, 3 fertilized, 2 survived to day 3);
    ET: 4/20 (3rd day, 2 embryos - 1 @ 6 cells & 1 @ 4 cells); Beta 5/1 - BFP!; 
    1st scan 5/13 - development behind, no heartbeat detected; D&C 6/2; WTF 6/13
    IVF cycle 2 - BCP begun 7/12; stims w/ HGH begun 7/26; 
    ER: 8/6, 12 follicles, 7 fertilized w/ ICSI; ET: 8/11, 3 blastocysts left, 2 transferred, 3rd arrested 8/12 - none to freeze :'(
    1st beta 8/19 - BFP! 294; 2nd beta 8/26 - 4976; 1st u/s 9/2; 2nd u/s 9/9 - two little heartbeats at 140 each!!! 
    EDD: 29-April-2015
    Other Meds: Synthroid 100 mcg/daily

      imageimageimage
    Pregnancy Ticker
  • AMSharkAMShark member
    edited July 2014
    Thought I'd add.. when I was breaking the news about the price in an email to DH, I told him it would be worth it if it worked, but it would hurt more than the $1000 I just wasted on car repairs that fixed nothing if it didn't work.  To which he replied, "It won’t be worse than the radiator if you develop guns "

    At least he has a sense of humor about it.  Perhaps I'll challenge him to some arm wrestling after I've been pumping myself with HGH for a week.

    ***edited - because I'm typing challenged ***

    *** Ticker Warning ***

    Me: 37, DH: 39, TTC 5 yrs

    2013 summary: Diagnosed with Hypothyroid; Cervical polyp removed (benign); 
    2 rounds ovidrel with timed intercourse (no result): 3 rounds IUI with clomid + ovidrel (no result)
    2014 summary (to date):
    IVF cycle 1 - ER: 4/17 (28 follicles, 3 fertilized, 2 survived to day 3);
    ET: 4/20 (3rd day, 2 embryos - 1 @ 6 cells & 1 @ 4 cells); Beta 5/1 - BFP!; 
    1st scan 5/13 - development behind, no heartbeat detected; D&C 6/2; WTF 6/13
    IVF cycle 2 - BCP begun 7/12; stims w/ HGH begun 7/26; 
    ER: 8/6, 12 follicles, 7 fertilized w/ ICSI; ET: 8/11, 3 blastocysts left, 2 transferred, 3rd arrested 8/12 - none to freeze :'(
    1st beta 8/19 - BFP! 294; 2nd beta 8/26 - 4976; 1st u/s 9/2; 2nd u/s 9/9 - two little heartbeats at 140 each!!! 
    EDD: 29-April-2015
    Other Meds: Synthroid 100 mcg/daily

      imageimageimage
    Pregnancy Ticker
  • @AMShark‌ what brand was it that you ordered?
  • I ordered Omnitrope in multi-use vials (as opposed to the pen).

    *** Ticker Warning ***

    Me: 37, DH: 39, TTC 5 yrs

    2013 summary: Diagnosed with Hypothyroid; Cervical polyp removed (benign); 
    2 rounds ovidrel with timed intercourse (no result): 3 rounds IUI with clomid + ovidrel (no result)
    2014 summary (to date):
    IVF cycle 1 - ER: 4/17 (28 follicles, 3 fertilized, 2 survived to day 3);
    ET: 4/20 (3rd day, 2 embryos - 1 @ 6 cells & 1 @ 4 cells); Beta 5/1 - BFP!; 
    1st scan 5/13 - development behind, no heartbeat detected; D&C 6/2; WTF 6/13
    IVF cycle 2 - BCP begun 7/12; stims w/ HGH begun 7/26; 
    ER: 8/6, 12 follicles, 7 fertilized w/ ICSI; ET: 8/11, 3 blastocysts left, 2 transferred, 3rd arrested 8/12 - none to freeze :'(
    1st beta 8/19 - BFP! 294; 2nd beta 8/26 - 4976; 1st u/s 9/2; 2nd u/s 9/9 - two little heartbeats at 140 each!!! 
    EDD: 29-April-2015
    Other Meds: Synthroid 100 mcg/daily

      imageimageimage
    Pregnancy Ticker
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