Should I be concerned...only Estradiol for FET cycle...

MSU_Girl1202

Hi ladies,
I'm just about to start my first FET cycle and I've been reading a lot of different protocols on here and other websites for FET cycles, all that involve Vivelle patches and antibiotics, baby aspirins, lupron, medrol, etc.
My Dr basically has me taking birth control pills for another week, until I start the placebo week (week 4 of birth control), and then, when I start day one of my cycle, he wants me to take 2mg Estradiol three times per day for 2 weeks. After 2 weeks, I go in for an ultrasound of my lining and if it's "getting there", I'll start vaginal progesterone for three days until the transfer (and after the transfer until the beta).
Just given that I've seen so much other 'stuff' that can be done with FET protocols, do you think that my Dr is being too minimalist with the meds? I don't mind not being over-drugged, but I just don't want to waste an embryo on lining that isn't optimal because I was under-medicated...
What do you ladies think? Has anyone else only done estradiol with a little bit of progesterone at the end?

tifga

That is what my Dr. has planned for my FET (minus the BCP), but I had already been taking baby aspirin with my other cycles and he was fine with me starting up again.

Aimothy

I'm currently in an FET cycle and I'm only doing Estrace (3x day) and a baby asprin (1x a day)    I started Estrace once a day (for 5 days) , then went up to twice a day (for four days) and am now finally doing three times a day. Progesterone just started and transfer will be on Friday. 

For me, it's a welcome change from the overabundance of meds. It's been a nice, boring cycle so far. My lining was just fine at my check last Friday. I would assume if, at the check, things weren't as thick, they could up the dosage as needed before transfer. 

pblge

Yup, this is what my clinic does, too, not even including the vaginal estrogen or the BCP (although I took a few for scheduling issues). You'll likely get antibiotics and Medrol in the last few days leading up to transfer, but not necessarily. They said that sometimes they'll do more if women have a history of poor linings, and I guess some clinics just go more aggressively for everyone.

No need to worry!

sweetpotato123

Just goes to show how very different protocols can be. I finished BCP after starting lupron and am working my way up to 4 minivelle patches over the next week or so. I have one lining check 9/5 with b/w and only b/w on 9/10 for a 9/12 transfer. I've been on baby aspirin and will take keflex and medrol.

You'll do just fine- this process so far seems much easier than the fresh ones!

MSU_Girl1202

Thanks for the input ladies! It can be so daunting reading so many different protocols and then wondering 'should I be on this?' or 'should I be on that'? I'm definitely okay with not taking as many meds...as long as it works.
After having such a rough IVF leading to ER in July, I just don't want to 'waste' any of my embryos. It's reassuring to know that others are doing estradiol alone :-)

gnl42

For FET#1 I was on Lupron and estrace pills (oral and vaginal) with PIO (progesterone in oil) starting a few days before transfer. This time, I'm only taking estrace for now until it's time for the PIO. You're definitely not the only one! 

I was prescribed steroids and antibiotics right before my planned fresh transfer (that was cancelled). They weren't prescribed for my FET though. 

Best of luck to you! 

Twinkie0612

It really depends on the clinic. My clinic uses BCP, lupron, dex or prednisone, cipro, estrogen, and PIO. I've never actually done an FET with them because I've never had anything to freeze. The clinic I did my donor embryo cycle through used estrace or vivelle, cipro, and PIO.