Injectables & IUI?

Manada

Who out there is doing injectables and IUI?

I'm trying to get some information based on real-life experience, so if you feel like sharing I'm most interested and thankful!

Some questions I'm wondering about:

1. What are you on, and your dosing schedule?

2.  Cost?

3.  Any side effects?

4.  How many follicles do you usually get?

5.  At what point to do think you, or your RE, would cancel a cycle?

6.  Anything else you think is worth sharing?

 

*My RE is recommending we switch to injectables because of my DOR and a poor response to Femara.  We are going to take a cycle off to get our information in place, save a little $, and hopefully get all the other consults and information we're still waiting for done in the meantime.  

 So we're going to meet with the RE in a couple of weeks probably, but I want to get as much info as I can first, and some things you can only really get from first-hand experience

Thanks so much.

katib77

I did an injects cycle last March/April which you can read about in my blog if you go to the link in my siggy and then go back to last year.  But I am also currently in a injects cycle which is also documented there.  

I have done 75iu of Follistim from cd4-cd10, on cd11 I had three follies - two were on my right at 20mm, and 16mm, and one was on my left at 16mm.   I triggered that night and had the IUI 38 hours later.  Side effects were pretty much just mild headaches during stimming and cramping or dull ache pain in the ovary area because of growing and or releasing follies.  

The cost  has been $1450 so far (I still will have to pay OOP for 7dpo blood work tomorrow and Beta next week).  BUT this does not include the cost of the follistim as this was given to me by a friend who moved on to adoption.  That would have added another $1,000 to it.  

Because this was my fourth IUI and we're dealing with MFI I would not be canceled unless I had more than four follies with a corresponding e2  at least five mature follicles.  

Any other questions, feel free to ask. 

Manada

Thanks so much to you both.  This info in super useful to me....  I will definitely check out the blog.

vpine

Link to medication/pricing: https://www.freedomfertility.com/fertility-medications/medications-and-pricing.aspx

I took daily Bravelle 75 (in stomach) for 8 days and 1 Ovidrel (trigger) injection on 9th day, had the IUI procedures on 10th and 11th day.  I went to ultrasound and bloodwork every other day during the process - to measure follicles. I had 3 mature ones when I triggered. I had bloating and twinges here and there during the 8 days and after 2nd IUI procedure (11th day) I felt awful, head hurt, was throwing up, bloated, cramps. I called the nurse who told me it was normal and to take extra strength tylenol only. I felt better the next day, started progesterone suppositories on 13th day at night, inserted one daily (night). I thought I wouldn't get AF during progesterone but it started at 12 days past IUI. I called nurse who said it was normal, I was obviously not pregnant, I went in for required bloodtest at 14 days past IUI and confirmed the BFN. I had no side effects on progesterone.

 My Dr said injects/IUI have higher success rates during the first 2 attempts. Most Drs recommend 3 IUI and then moving to IVF, good luck !

ksgsmu

1. What are you on, and your dosing schedule? I am on IUI#2, I took 150 of gonal F from CD3-CD10, a trigger shot (ovidrel) and now progesterone supps.

2.  Cost? I use Freedom Fertility and pay everything OOP.  The do offer reabtes on some drugs which I take advantage of.  I think I paid about 800 for meds this cycle.  My RE is nice and I bring my used gonal F pens in and they get atleast 75-150 more units out so it saves me money.

3.  Any side effects? Gonal F wasn't bad at all- didn't really have side effects.  Maybe some light bloating if anything. Ovidrel makes my boobs KILL and I am super bitchy.

4.  How many follicles do you usually get? I got 3 mature this cycle and had several not mature ones ( only got 1 with clomid and a 50of gonal f for three days)

5.  At what point to do think you, or your RE, would cancel a cycle? My RE usually cancel with anything over 3 or too poor of sperm sample.

6.  Anything else you think is worth sharing? Injectibles aren't bad at all, and I prefer them over to Clomid which gave me side effects and didn't really do anything for me. The main thing with injectibles is you have to be heavily monitored.  I had 4 sonograms this past cycle.  I also had to be home everynight around the same time to administer them which wasn't difficult.

mollykelley

Thank you, Manada, for posting this question! As usual, I'm in the same boat as you! It's like you read my mind.

I have a question to add to your list:

7. What CDs do you have to be monitored? How many days a month were you in the clinic?

katib77

mollykelley:

Thank you, Manada, for posting this question! As usual, I'm in the same boat as you! It's like you read my mind.

I have a question to add to your list:

7. What CDs do you have to be monitored? How many days a month were you in the clinic?

I had my baseline on cd4, then monitoring on cd7, cd9, and cd11.  Then IUI on cd13, and will do P4 test on 7dpo (cd20) and beta on 14dpo (cd27) so that's seven trips to REs offices.  But it depends on how quickly you stim....if your follies are slower to grow you might be there an additional one to three times.

monkandnut

 We are currently in the 2WW- but I can answer for my last cycle...

1. What are you on, and your dosing schedule? I'm on Follistim. I took 100 for 9 days, last cycle I took 75 for 8 days.

2.  Cost? Mine is covered by insurance besides a $40 co-pay. I do also have a $25 co-pay every time I go in for monitoring as well. Like someone else mentioned- freedomfertility.com is a good source.

3.  Any side effects? On the follistim- not so much. Just really bloated. Maybe a little crank- but that could just be me.

4.  How many follicles do you usually get? First time I got one, this last cycle I had 2 at about 18 and 2 at 15.

5.  At what point to do think you, or your RE, would cancel a cycle? If I had 4 follies at 18 - we would have cancelled.I also started to hyperstimulate a bit (my RE noticed some fluid accumulating) If that had gotten worse, obviously I would have cancelled as well.

6.  Anything else you think is worth sharing? I agree with the above statement on the injections- it really isn't nearly as bad as you think. It's easy once you get the hang of it. Random side note- as I don't know if they will make you take progesterone suppositories- but that is what really gives me side effects. My boobs are huge, painful and I have a lot of cramps.

 

Good luck!!!

meganfauer

I ahve DOR as well and am a VERY poor responder so they pump we with alot of meds to get me to respond.

1. What are you on, and your dosing schedule? 200ius Folllistim for 7 days, Then added Ganerillex and Menopur for 3 days. Ovidrel on Day 10, IUI on day 12

2. Cost? almost $3000 

3. Any side effects? None

4. How many follicles do you usually get? 3-5 on left and 1 on right

5. At what point to do think you, or your RE, would cancel a cycle? due to the my personal situation and previous IUI's and IVF's I know my #'s and chances, there is probably nothing that would of made me or my RE cancel my cycle.

6. Anything else you think is worth sharing? It is an unreal journey, I think knowing your body and educating yourself is the next thing you can do. Best of luck to you!