Trouble TTC

Follie Growth on Femara/Letrozole

Had my CD11 ultrasound today (first time) and the nurse felt it was slow progress. I don't really feel worried yet, but there are a few things that are new to me (first medicated cycle and IUI#1) that I would love to ask about. Thank you in advance!
  • Are follies always measured as an average of their length and width?
  • Is it normal to have around 10-15 follies at around 7-9, and then a lead follicle at 10.5 (she measured it was 14x7 and called it 10.5)?
  • Should I expect only one mature follicle then?
  • Next ultrasound is in 3 days. Does that sound about right with these sizes on Femara?
Thank you for helping me put some of these annoying recurring wonderings out of my mind! Also, I'm kind of proud of my scrawny elongated oval-y left ovary for producing that lead follicle and quite a few others. :)
January 3T Siggy Challenge - New Year's Resolutions
image
imageimage

Me (29), DH (30) TTC actively 54 55+ cycles | All BFNs
MFI (low everything) | Endo Stage 1 & Stenotic Cervix (treated) | PCO
Married - July 2008 | Started TTC - Jan 2009RE Visit #1 - Mar 2014 
IUI #1 ICI #1 - June | IUI #1.1 Laparoscopy - Aug
IUIs #1.2, 2, 3 - Sept, Oct, Nov (Letrozole) - BFNs 
IUI #4 - Dec (Bravelle) | IUI #5 - Dec/Jan (Bravelle) - 5 follies + TI - BFNs
IUI #5.1 - Jan (Bravelle) Cancelled 
Planning to start IVF in March!
***All Welcome***

Re: Follie Growth on Femara/Letrozole

  • Do you have PCOS? I have poly cystic ovaries so for me that was fairly normal and then a few take the lead so those would be the only ones they'd measure.

    Three days sounds normal. On one of my cycles I had an 11 by that time and they had me go back four days later for another scan.

    I think it's possible there could be just one mature follie this time but you never know! Since this is your first medicated cycle it's hard to tell what the pattern will be like. GL!!

    Me: 32  DH: 33  Married: March 2004

    July 2006: started TTC
    2008: HSG (normal), couple rounds of clomid through gyno
    2008 - 2010: dragging my feet out of fear and procrastination
    October 2010: first consultation with RE, dx PCOS and fibroids (DH slightly low count/motility)
    Oct. 2010 - Dec. 2012:  In DENIAL! avoided the issue because I was scared of surgery
    January 2013: returned to RE, fibroids grew significantly
    February 2013: second HSG, fibroids pushed on tubes which blocked them somewhat
    March 2013: MRI to determine what type of surgery may be necessary

    July 29, 2013: fibroids (5) removed via robotic laparascopy
    August 2013 - Nov 2013 : benched due to recent surgery

    IUI #1, Dec. 24, 2013, BFN 
    IUI #2, Jan. 25, 2014, BFN
    IUI #3, Feb. 25, 2014  BFN
    IUI #4 canceled due to lack of response to letrozole
    IUI #4.1 April 28, 2014, BFN

    May 16, 2014: wtf consult, start prepping for IVF in June and add injects for one last IUI in the meantime
    IUI #5 started letrozole and bravelle but canceled after HSG led to new diagnosis

    May 21, 2014: third HSG, tubes blocked, one at the beginning, one hydrosalpinx??
    June 11, 2014: consult, approved to move on to IVF because the hydro is not completely blocked therefore allowing fluid to move through slowly rather than backwards
    IVF #1 August 8, 2014 - 3dt of 2 embryos, BFN
    September 17, 2014 - 4th HSG, the right tube is very patent (open!!) dye went straight through this time. Weird!
    October 2, 2014 - started metformin treatment
    November 14, 2014 - blood work, brought A1C down from 5.8 to 5.5

    November 26, 2014 - RE finally back from vaca and reviewed my chart, no more IVFs for rest of calendar year
    December 1, 2014 - Right after Thanksgiving, I called a new clinic and got in right away! Plan for IVF
    December 17, 2014 - ER! 29 retrieved (!!), 16 mature, all 16 fertilized (ICSI)

    IVF #2 December 20, 2014 - 3dt of 3 embryos, BFN

    We are done with treatment unsuccessfully. :(


    PAIF/SAIF/All Welcome!

    image    image
  • Loading the player...
  • I don't have any advice since I haven't started my first IUI yet. Just wanted to say good luck and my fingers are crossed for you!

    Me-36
    DH -35
    Married in 2008
    Started TTC in 2011
    Began testing May 2014
    Test Results
    HSG- clear
    Hysteroscopy- clear
    SA- 11 mil count
    45% motility
    Diagnosis: MFI
    July 2014: Femera 5mg CD 4-8, Trigger, IUI = BFN
    August 2015: Femera 5mg CD 4-8, Trigger, IUI = BFN
    September 2015: Femera 5mg CD 4-8, Trigger, IUI = BFN
    May 2018 after long period of not trying, starting adoption process with family friend's newborn
    November 2018 Adoption complete!


  • AnnaClaire256AnnaClaire256 member
    edited June 2014
    I've had the same questions about the follicle measurements. My dr will call my follicles 18x12 or 16x11 but always seems to focus on the larger number. He has never mentioned averaging.

    I have PCOS so there are always several small and then one or two will take the lead and the rest won't grow

    They say follies grow 2-3mm a day so a repeat u/s in 3 days sounds good.

    Good luck!

    Me (29) DH (37)

    Married 7/11

    Actively TTC 3/12

    DX: PCOS

    Current treatment: Break from IUIs until after the holidays

    -----All Welcome----

    image


    ~~~January 3T Siggy Challenge: New Year's Resolutions~~~

    (I don't do resolutions...so I stole T-Rex's)

    image



      


  • We are MFI. So I always have 20 measurable follicles. I've always ended up with more than 1 at the time of the IUI. The most I've had over 10mm has been about 8. The rest never got that size. I'm on follistim though. The growth can be 2-3mm a day. However, this cycle, they only grew 1mm per day. Good luck!
    Me: 38     DH: 36
    Married: July 21, 2013
    TTC#1 (between us): June/July 2013

    DX: MFI (low count and motility)
    Charting/OPK/CBFM July 2013-present
    1st RE Visit: January 2014
    Cycling: 
    March 2014- 75iu follistim + trigger + progesterone + IUI = BFN and OHSS
    (8 million post wash 47% motility, 18mm/17mm/16mm/16mm/14mm follies)
    April/May 2014- Benched due to cysts/enlarged ovaries
    June 2014- 50iu follistim + trigger + progesterone + IUI = BFP!!
    (10 million post wash 60% motility, 20mm/19mm follies)
    Beta 1- 85 Beta 2- 2,752 - EDD 2/27/2015


    Everyone welcome. Strength in numbers!


  • jkrempjkremp member
    My follicles are always measured as an average of length and width. I have PCOS and always have 20+ follicles under 10mm while 1-3 follicles tend to take the lead. There is still time to have other dominant follicles.

    I tend to go to monitoring every 2 days, but I don't think there is anything wrong with 3 days at this point.
    6/2014: IUI #3 - Menopur + trigger = BFP!!
    Betas: 9dpiui=15.3, 14dpiui=385, 16dpiui=1162
    7/10/2014: 1st ultrasound - 1 beautiful little heartbeat (121bpm)

    DD born 12/2012:
    Image and video hosting by TinyPic
  • @awiley10 Thanks for the well wishes! Our MFI #s look really similar. Good luck with your first IUI!

    @mommalawyer Thanks for sharing. Yeah, I thought those kinds of numbers were more typical for inject cycles like yours (Follistim is an inject, right? Sorry, no personal experience!) so I wasn't expecting them at my appt this morning. Good luck as you wait for beta!!

    @viola27 Thanks for sharing. Wow, I didn't realize they grow that fast! This morning I think I heard the nurse say to expect 1.5mm/day but it was all a little new and scary so can't be sure. Looking at your signature...are you still waiting on beta from May IUI? If so, good luck!!

    January 3T Siggy Challenge - New Year's Resolutions
    image
    imageimage

    Me (29), DH (30) TTC actively 54 55+ cycles | All BFNs
    MFI (low everything) | Endo Stage 1 & Stenotic Cervix (treated) | PCO
    Married - July 2008 | Started TTC - Jan 2009RE Visit #1 - Mar 2014 
    IUI #1 ICI #1 - June | IUI #1.1 Laparoscopy - Aug
    IUIs #1.2, 2, 3 - Sept, Oct, Nov (Letrozole) - BFNs 
    IUI #4 - Dec (Bravelle) | IUI #5 - Dec/Jan (Bravelle) - 5 follies + TI - BFNs
    IUI #5.1 - Jan (Bravelle) Cancelled 
    Planning to start IVF in March!
    ***All Welcome***
  • So strange, although RE will not diagnose me with PCOS (I guess because I ovulate and have periods regularly for whatever reason) but this is about the 3rd or 4th thing that shows my body behaving just like one with PCOS! Oh well, at least taking Letrozole is the regular treatment anyways so hopefully it will overcome any problems?

    @jencity9 I'm glad to know that your RE had to come back 4 days later with an 11. When the nurse even told me not to bother with OPKs yet it made me a bit nervous, but she said on Letrozole the size for Oing is more like 20-25 or even 20-30. Good luck at your IVF seminar this week. I hope AF and all the timing work out perfectly so the process goes really smoothly for you!

    @annaclaire256 Thanks for explaining how your doctor does the follie measurements. I will definitely ask the nurse next time how their method compared with the information I see online. Enjoy your vacation, sounds like an awesome reason to have a natural cycle!!

    @jkremp It's nice to know that at this point, more dominant follies could catch up. I would really like more than one mature follicle to feel like this IUI was really a good attempt (good for convincing DH to move onto IVF if needed)! Wow, every 2 days sounds really expensive, LOL...my insurance said they cover "3 ultrasounds" but I couldn't get a straight answer if that is ever, yearly, per cycle, per reasons...so just wanting to find out if this month costs us a few hundred or $1000+. Are you still waiting to hear the results of May's IUI? Good luck!

    January 3T Siggy Challenge - New Year's Resolutions
    image
    imageimage

    Me (29), DH (30) TTC actively 54 55+ cycles | All BFNs
    MFI (low everything) | Endo Stage 1 & Stenotic Cervix (treated) | PCO
    Married - July 2008 | Started TTC - Jan 2009RE Visit #1 - Mar 2014 
    IUI #1 ICI #1 - June | IUI #1.1 Laparoscopy - Aug
    IUIs #1.2, 2, 3 - Sept, Oct, Nov (Letrozole) - BFNs 
    IUI #4 - Dec (Bravelle) | IUI #5 - Dec/Jan (Bravelle) - 5 follies + TI - BFNs
    IUI #5.1 - Jan (Bravelle) Cancelled 
    Planning to start IVF in March!
    ***All Welcome***
  • jkrempjkremp member
    @BunnyBerry Best of luck! There is definitely time for more follicles. Yikes - good luck with figuring out the insurance. That is so tough. This cycle I had monitoring on CD 3, 7, 9, and 11. Luckily my insurance is really good. Otherwise, there's no chance we could afford IF!! 

    Oops - I needed to update my siggy. May was a BFN. I have my next IUI tomorrow! 
    6/2014: IUI #3 - Menopur + trigger = BFP!!
    Betas: 9dpiui=15.3, 14dpiui=385, 16dpiui=1162
    7/10/2014: 1st ultrasound - 1 beautiful little heartbeat (121bpm)

    DD born 12/2012:
    Image and video hosting by TinyPic
  • Yep! Follistim is an inject. :)
    Me: 38     DH: 36
    Married: July 21, 2013
    TTC#1 (between us): June/July 2013

    DX: MFI (low count and motility)
    Charting/OPK/CBFM July 2013-present
    1st RE Visit: January 2014
    Cycling: 
    March 2014- 75iu follistim + trigger + progesterone + IUI = BFN and OHSS
    (8 million post wash 47% motility, 18mm/17mm/16mm/16mm/14mm follies)
    April/May 2014- Benched due to cysts/enlarged ovaries
    June 2014- 50iu follistim + trigger + progesterone + IUI = BFP!!
    (10 million post wash 60% motility, 20mm/19mm follies)
    Beta 1- 85 Beta 2- 2,752 - EDD 2/27/2015


    Everyone welcome. Strength in numbers!


  • @jkremp Good luck tomorrow! Glad you have good coverage, makes such a difference :)
    January 3T Siggy Challenge - New Year's Resolutions
    image
    imageimage

    Me (29), DH (30) TTC actively 54 55+ cycles | All BFNs
    MFI (low everything) | Endo Stage 1 & Stenotic Cervix (treated) | PCO
    Married - July 2008 | Started TTC - Jan 2009RE Visit #1 - Mar 2014 
    IUI #1 ICI #1 - June | IUI #1.1 Laparoscopy - Aug
    IUIs #1.2, 2, 3 - Sept, Oct, Nov (Letrozole) - BFNs 
    IUI #4 - Dec (Bravelle) | IUI #5 - Dec/Jan (Bravelle) - 5 follies + TI - BFNs
    IUI #5.1 - Jan (Bravelle) Cancelled 
    Planning to start IVF in March!
    ***All Welcome***
  • rubysirubysi member
    This was my first cycle with Femara. On cd12 I had 3 mature(ish) follicles and 19, 16.9, 15.8. I have pcos and have a pretty regular cycle too. There were 13+that measured under 9, the RE was not concerned with them. Good luck this cycle.

    image
                ***TTCAL January siggy challenge ***
  • @rubysi Thanks for sharing your experience. How exciting, 3 mature! Good luck, I hope your 2WW goes by quick. :)
    January 3T Siggy Challenge - New Year's Resolutions
    image
    imageimage

    Me (29), DH (30) TTC actively 54 55+ cycles | All BFNs
    MFI (low everything) | Endo Stage 1 & Stenotic Cervix (treated) | PCO
    Married - July 2008 | Started TTC - Jan 2009RE Visit #1 - Mar 2014 
    IUI #1 ICI #1 - June | IUI #1.1 Laparoscopy - Aug
    IUIs #1.2, 2, 3 - Sept, Oct, Nov (Letrozole) - BFNs 
    IUI #4 - Dec (Bravelle) | IUI #5 - Dec/Jan (Bravelle) - 5 follies + TI - BFNs
    IUI #5.1 - Jan (Bravelle) Cancelled 
    Planning to start IVF in March!
    ***All Welcome***
This discussion has been closed.
Choose Another Board
Search Boards
"
"