Ahhh - IVFers help!

beth0874 · January 2011

So I just received a phone call from my RE. Long story short, he spoke with other REs and they decided to change my protocol and they want me to start BC today! And then FSH in 2 weeks. They are switching to an antagonist protocol. What does this mean? Does anyone have a calendar they can share? My head is swirling. I didn't expect to start for another few weeks with Lupron and then 2 weeks later start FSH. I know, I know I can google this but I feel overwhelmed right now.

Maddie753 · January 2011

Hey Beth,

I dont know much about the antagonist protocol but I wanted to wish you luck. I am glad you are doing BC because I think it lets our ovaries calm down for a bit and then once we stim it gives both ovaries an equal chance. That is how my RE explained it to me.

Best of luck lady! Im glad those biotches called you back

beth0874 · January 2011

Maddie753:

Hey Beth,

I dont know much about the antagonist protocol but I wanted to wish you luck. I am glad you are doing BC because I think it lets our ovaries calm down for a bit and then once we stim it gives both ovaries an equal chance. That is how my RE explained it to me.

Best of luck lady! Im glad those biotches called you back

Thanks! It was actually my doctor that called. Now I still need to wait for the darn coordinator to call I have no idea what to be thinking. At first he thought it would be too late this cycle (CD5) but now he is going forward. I am so confused.

Glowconsin · January 2011

Hi Beth-

Here is a sample calendar my RE uses:

https://www.advancedfertility.com/sampleivfcalendar.htm

Best of luck, dear!

magnolia_femme · January 2011

Deep breaths, baby!

I do antagonist. My calendar was three weeks on BCPs, in for a baseline the day after I finished all the active pills, then start stims about four days later (Gonal-F and Menopur). They may tell you to start Ganirelix at some point too. My first round, I did 8 days of stimming (just Gonal-F) and 3 days of Gonal F + Ganirelix for 11 total days. I triggered with Ovidrel 36 hours before ER.

Good luck! Maybe antagonist is the protocol you need for your BFP

Glowconsin · January 2011

Here's another article for you too:

https://www.advancedfertility.com/ivf-stimulation-antagonist.htm

MegannJay · January 2011

magnolia_femme:
Deep breaths, baby!
I do antagonist. My calendar was three weeks on BCPs, in for a baseline the day after I finished all the active pills, then start stims about four days later (Gonal-F and Menopur). They may tell you to start Ganirelix at some point too. My first round, I did 8 days of stimming (just Gonal-F) and 3 days of Gonal F + Ganirelix for 11 total days. I triggered with Ovidrel 36 hours before ER.
Good luck! Maybe antagonist is the protocol you need for your BFP

I haven't started mine yet, still on BCP's but this is exactly my schedule (except doing Bravelle instead of Gonal F). You'll be ok!! I was told you don't have to do a full 3 weeks of pills either, they just want everything starting on equal grounds. Good luck!!

rebelina1 · January 2011

I did the antagonist protocol. I can't remember my exact calendar but I did 3 weeks of BCPs and then started stims. I think I stimmed for 10 (maybe it was 12) days with Follistim and low dose hcg and they added in Ganirelix for the last two days before I triggered.

Good luck!

STL34 · January 2011

Hi Beth! I did a version of the antagonist protocol, but there are several versions. On mine they had me start Ganirelix 2 days before I started FSH. I stimmed for 8 days and did either 1/2 dose or a full dose of Ganirelix each day. It was really easy and I didn't get the headaches I got on lupron.

It is more typical to stim for several days and then start Ganirelix when a follicle reaches the size set by your clinic.

While I don't respond with a lot of follies, I get a few that like to grow really quickly. Consequently, they started me on the Ganirelix early to help try to keep the follies growing at a similar rate. Additionally, they had me do estrogen priming with estrogen suppositories starting the night before stims. This is again an optional element.

I hope this protocol works for you! If you have any questions, feel free to ask me. But, since you have done LL, I don't think you will have any problems with this. It is a much simpler and quicker protocol! Best of luck, hon!!

Suebee8 · January 2011

Hey Beth!

My RE switched me to the antagonist protocol this time around too.I am doing BCP from 12/22-1/17. I asked to do an extra week of BCPs because timing with work and ER/ET didn't work out so well. I am going in this Friday for U/S, take the last BCP on Monday and start stims (Gonal-f and Menopur) after 4 BCP-free days on Friday 1/22. I go in for monitoring starting 4-5 days after stims begin. Ganirelix is used in place of Lupron but you don't have to start it until follies begin to mature.

Hope it helps and this is exactly what we both need!

beth0874 · January 2011

Thanks everyone. You are the best. I trying to relax now. I guess if I had a better idea of what I was exactly doing, it would help. Especially with my schedule and DH. My RE never mentioned Ganirelix. He only mentioned BCP and Gonal F. If my office is opened tomorrow (not sure with the snow storm) then my RE is going to have me set up an appointment so we can go over everything. Hopefully it will be on Friday. Thank you again!

STL34 · January 2011

beth0874:
Thanks everyone. You are the best. I trying to relax now. I guess if I had a better idea of what I was exactly doing, it would help. Especially with my schedule and DH. My RE never mentioned Ganirelix. He only mentioned BCP and Gonal F. If my office is opened tomorrow (not sure with the snow storm) then my RE is going to have me set up an appointment so we can go over everything. Hopefully it will be on Friday. Thank you again!

It's me again. I know there is quite a bit of variation on the antagonist protocol. However, you have to use an FSH and an atagonist. There are other things that can be used, but those remain consistent. Ganirelix is one brand of antagonist (it is the one I used). I know there is at lease one other, Cetrotide.

If all your RE mentioned was BCPs and FSH, you are probably on the more standard version where you take BCPs, you stop, you have your baseline, you start FSH, you go for montioring and at some point, when your follies progress to a certain size they have you start the antagonist (probably Ganirelix or Cetrotide).

I definitely understand being anxious! I wasn't happy until I had my full calendar and all my meds in hand!

beth0874 · January 2011

STL34:

beth0874:
Thanks everyone. You are the best. I trying to relax now. I guess if I had a better idea of what I was exactly doing, it would help. Especially with my schedule and DH. My RE never mentioned Ganirelix. He only mentioned BCP and Gonal F. If my office is opened tomorrow (not sure with the snow storm) then my RE is going to have me set up an appointment so we can go over everything. Hopefully it will be on Friday. Thank you again!

It's me again. I know there is quite a bit of variation on the antagonist protocol. However, you have to use an FSH and an atagonist. There are other things that can be used, but those remain consistent. Ganirelix is one brand of antagonist (it is the one I used). I know there is at lease one other, Cetrotide.

If all your RE mentioned was BCPs and FSH, you are probably on the more standard version where you take BCPs, you stop, you have your baseline, you start FSH, you go for montioring and at some point, when your follies progress to a certain size they have you start the antagonist (probably Ganirelix or Cetrotide).

I definitely understand being anxious! I wasn't happy until I had my full calendar and all my meds in hand!

Okay. It is making more sense now. I feel like a newbie again. We are also doing PIO instead of crinone this time and he wants to put make 4 embryos. Yes 4! Since there seems to be a gene problem he is not too concerned about multiples. I am happy to be changing things up this time. Thank you for all your help!

STL34 · January 2011

I really hope this is it for you! I'm glad your RE is changing somethings up for you! Wishing you the very best of luck!

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