IF Testing & Treatment w/o 4.4

abjm0325 · April 2022

This is a place for those of us who have already started TTC, but have started infertility testing and/or treatments. You can express your thoughts, feelings, and frustrations on infertility. TTC can be a long journey naturally, then add in the difficulties associated with infertility, and it becomes a whole new ballgame. The road to infertility can be lonely, frustrating, and complicated, so let's make this a place where we can vent, ask questions, and support one another. Feel free to resurrect this thread at any point in the week if you have something to say. Treat this as an ongoing conversation.

Diagnosis (if you've been):

Status (WTO/TWW/TTA):

What are you doing this cycle? (Testing? Treatment?):

How are things going?:

Any questions?:

GTKY: In honor of the after dark thread, what is the weirdest/ most interesting place you have had sex?

thankfullyamama · April 2022

Diagnosis (if you've been): Anovulatory PCOS

Status (WTO/TWW/TTA): WTO

What are you doing this cycle? (Testing? Treatment?): BCP, clomid, timed intercourse

How are things going?: I’m feel a little defeated because my grandfather passed away on Thursday and so I’ve been emotional, not eating well or sleeping well and now I feel like I’m not giving it “my all” this cycle if you know what I mean. Like I want to nourish my body so it’s a “hospitable” place for a little one to grow but I just don’t have the capacity for that right now and I’ve also already taken the clomid. So I guess we will just continue with the timed intercourse and hope for the best

Any questions?: anyone have their OPK be like stark white at the beginning of your cycle and still have a surge? I’m on CD12 and there is like no second line I thought it would be starting to rise by now.

GTKY: In honor of the after dark thread, what is the weirdest/ most interesting place you have had sex?

Definitely snowshoeing! We went up a mountain and did it right at the lookout! Very romantic (also could tell if people were coming from where we were lmao) but my husband laid his jack down then laid me down it was wonderful hahah

acleverusername · April 2022

@tryingktogku I know how you feel. My grandmother passed away last year, during FW and it was a total mindf*ck to try and carry on with this process we'd been on for 13 months, while grieving her. Hang in there, and don't forget to give yourself space and grace.

Diagnosis (if you've been): AMA, Hashimoto's, Immunity Issues, wandering sperm

Status (WTO/TWW/TTA): TWW FO-EVA!

What are you doing this cycle? (Testing? Treatment?): super ovulation + timed intercourse "hail Mary" cycle.

How are things going?: Pretty good. ICYMI in the dailies, I had my very first ever migraine Fri > Sat night. It was awful. I vomited violently. Was speculating that it was fertility-treatment related, and then @optimistgardener popped in to offer that hormonal shifts is what can cause that. I was just at a loss that I've been doing fertility treatments since Aug 2020, and this hadn't happened before. I was actually slightly terrified to go to sleep on Saturday night for fear it will happen again, but it didn't.

In other news, I've decided to conduct my progesterone scientific study again this cycle. This is where I get my E2/P4 tested at 6, 8, 10 DPO to see what the levels are. Except this time I'll do it 5, 7, 9 DPO since 10DPO would fall on the weekend and there aren't any labs open here on the weekend. I pay out of pocket for it, but it's FOR THE SCIENCE!

Any questions?: I have one, but it's a better fit for Q/CS thread so I'll post it there (and now I'm remembering that I forgot to create it for April).

GTKY: In honor of the after dark thread, what is the weirdest/ most interesting place you have had sex? I had to think about it, but I'm pretty sure it was on a hike, in the forest. (We wondered off the path, of course). Otherwise, I did freaky things in college with my boyfriend at the time, in his dorm room, but that's not necessarily a location/place thing. I also asked MH this question (and he wondered why, then proceeded to call all of us a bunch of deviants... lol) and for him it was in a camping chair, while at camping. Now I have all kinds of ideas with a couple of camping trips coming up. :horny devil:

kiki047 · April 2022

@tryingktogku I'm so sorry for your loss. It is a weird dichotomy of knowing you have to go on with your life but also not feeling ready to move on while you honour your loved one and the feelings that come along with grieving their loss.

Diagnosis (if you've been): PCOS, RPL/RIF, mild MFI

Status (WTO/TWW/TTA): WTO - CD5, day 2 of stims

What are you doing this cycle? (Testing? Treatment?): IVF # 4

How are things going?: So far so good. Had some major stress/drama last week when AF showed up way early (like I hadn't even finished the provera yet) and I was in a complete panic because 1. I was hosting that bridal shower on Saturday and absolutely could not get to the clinic that day or the day before because I had a million things to do, and 2. I found out Thursday morning that my Mom tested positive for Covid and I had seen her the day before, though only briefly and we weren't very close together for the most part. I had a meltdown Thursday, but talked it through with my cousin (the bride) and decided that she was still comfortable with proceeding with me hosting the shower and I'll self-monitor for symptoms and do a rapid test accordingly. So far so good, so I think I'm out of the woods. But then of course there's the risk that someone at the shower could've been a vector, and round and round this goes. The shower itself was absolutely lovely, my cousin had a wonderful time, I managed to enjoy myself a little, and now I need to sleep for a week.

Any questions?: This is completely unrelated to me but someone asked this question (anonymously, via one of the Mods) in my clinic's patient group on FB and I'm now curious why it would even matter? According to google, HCG is present in menopur and is the main contributor of the LH activity. They asked if someone who was using menopur this cycle could POAS and someone did and there was a vvvfl. So like, ok that's good to know but why would it matter? I've heard of micro-dosing HCG for FET prep but that's not what this was. Thoughts?

GTKY: In honor of the after dark thread, what is the weirdest/ most interesting place you have had sex? So in order to answer this GTKY I first have to admit that I had a years long affair 12+ years ago with a very good friend who had a gf at the time, and I deluded myself into believing that I was in love with him and that he felt the same way but just needed to figure out how to let the gf down nicely. I eventually came to my senses but not before we had all the sex in the world and he broke my heart a million times over. Anyway, since we were sneaking around, we had to be pretty creative sometimes so we had a lot of sex in cars in various places. The worst was probably the Costco parking lot in the middle of the afternoon because it was halfway between my place and his and we both had places to be later but I still wonder how many people saw us/how many security cameras there probably were all around us lol. You wouldn't have been able to see much because I had my shirt on and that was all that would've been exposed but like, we were in the front seat lol, only one thing we could've been doing there.

More backstory on this guy in case he doesn't sound like enough of an asshole:

Here's the kicker, he never did break up with the gf, she left him when his OTHER fling mailed him a thank you card for taking her on an all-expenses paid Caribbean vacation and the gf happened to find it at his house. This is the same girl that I had seen pop up in photos on FB at family events that I would've otherwise been invited to (but that his gf was never invited to because he told her she was white and they only spoke Japanese... even tho he didn't speak it either...). That made me suspicious and was the reason I ended things. Aaaaand get this - he also knocked that other girl up on said vacation and now they're married and have 2 kids together. They got married on my birthday at the golf course behind my parents' house where I grew up. He still texts me sometimes to wish me a happy birthday and on holidays. We run in some of the same circles so I haven't completely cut him out but I also haven't had to have a face to face interaction with him in over 10 years, I dodge him at events by hiding in bathrooms or closets if I see him coming. Fucker. The sex was goooood tho, ha.

acleverusername · April 2022

@kiki047 we cross-posted, but I'm glad I got to read your delightful romp story, so I can give you a BIG THUMBS UP. LOL. Who cares who saw you, right? It's not like you're gonna see those ppl again. As long as you didn't get reported to the police for indecent behavior.

As for your question, are you asking why would someone POAS while cycling?

thankfullyamama · April 2022

@acleverusername I’m having such good vibes from you during this Hail Mary cycle!

@kiki047 omg your GTKY is a WILD story!

And thank you both for your condolences

abjm0325 · April 2022

@tryingktogku I’m so sorry to hear about your grandfather. It is so hard sometimes to deal with TTC while the real world keeps happening around us. I hope you’re able to give yourself grace and just do what feels comfortable this cycle.

@acleverusername Yay for science! I will look forward to seeing your progesterone study results. Also, tell your H that we are all awesome and he wishes he could be our friends.

@kiki047 Oh I hate that AF showed up to stress you out like that! Does the early arrival mess up any of your plans for this cycle? Also, wow to that asshole guy story! It makes me a little sick that he still runs in your same circle of acquaintances. Thank goodness you were able to get out of that unhealthy situation.

Diagnosis (if you've been): TBD (includes some combination of age and losses possibly among other things)

Status (WTO/TWW/TTA): TWW, but basically WFAF

What are you doing this cycle? (Testing? Treatment?): We’ll have one more complete cycle with letrozole before the RE appointment.

How are things going?: Meh. Better now than the end of last week, but a failed cycle is never fun. I do not enjoy having all of the possible pregnancy symptoms only to know you can’t rely on them because of the meds. But I know I’m preaching to the choir with y’all. I do find myself doing this strange yo-yo where I’m falling into bad habits during WTO because after all, I’m not pregnant, and then trying to pretend almost like I am pregnant for the TWW. It’s a very strange way to live and I should probably find a more balanced approach.

Any questions?: I think @acleverusername answered my question in the TWW thread, but happy to entertain other thoughts if people have them.

GTKY: In honor of the after dark thread, what is the weirdest/ most interesting place you have had sex? Haha, I’m loving reading all of your stories! I’m not super exciting here, but I did have sex in a clearing by a cabin once. It was pitch black except for the thousands of stars and was breathtakingly beautiful. Sex wasn’t too bad either. 😉

gingermama29 · April 2022

@tryingktogku so sorry for your loss. I also lost grandparents while TTC in the last 2 years and it definitely made it more difficult. Sending hugs.

@acleverusername hahaha I love your FOR THE SCIENCE plan! Crossing everything that this hail Mary cycle is the magic one!

@kiki047 so sorry your mom tested positive. I hope she’s asymptomatic or experiencing mild symptoms. Glad the bridal shower went well!

@abjm0325 I have definitely done the same thing in my WTO and TWW. To an extent, you have to be able to live your life too.

Diagnosis (if you've been): PCOS

Status (WTO/TWW/TTA): WTO

What are you doing this cycle? (Testing? Treatment?): Letrozole, metformin, myo-inositol, baby aspirin, PNV, trigger and TI

How are things going? Things are good. My period finally showed up on Saturday evening. My RE’s office called earlier in the day with my beta results and gave me the go ahead to reorder my trigger shot and Letrozole. I’ll be scheduling my US for next week and here goes another cycle. This last one was my first 28 day cycle ever (aside from birth control ones).

For my Italy trip, since my period came and the trip is now a possibility, I officially requested the days today and my principal already approved them! Just have to get the yes from my superintendent and we’ll officially be traveling to Italy in October!!

Any questions?: nada

GTKY: In honor of the after dark thread, what is the weirdest/ most interesting place you have had sex? I feel so vanilla. I don’t really have any interesting stories in this department. We got it on while camping and you might say it was……. f*cking in tents…… I’ll see myself out now 😂😂😂

thankfullyamama · April 2022

Q: for anyone else that has used clomid did it make you crampy and emotional and nauseated lol I cannot for the life of me remember how I felt on it when I first took it but man I’m definitely not feeling myself right now

abjm0325 · April 2022

@gingermama29 Hahaha! I'm here for the terrible jokes. And yay for the trip being almost approved!

acleverusername · April 2022

@gingermama29 I'm with @abjm0325 on "here for the terrible jokes" hehehe. And yours is... *chef's kiss.* I'm really happy that you get to go to Italy. It sounds like being their for your brother's big event is important.

@tryingktogku so I've never reacted to Clomid, but it's highly YMMV (your mileage may vary) type of situation. TEW (the Egg Whisperer) says that Clomid turns you into Clo-monster and suggests calling the local priest and arranging exorcism after your 5-day course. We've certainly had previous members who suffered terribly while on it.

AFM, I just got my ERA results back and I'm RECEPTIVE. That means that we can do exactly the same protocol as my mock! Woooo. But I'm sure it won't be needed because I'll get KU'ed this cycle.

mambo5-2 · April 2022

@tryingktogku I'm so sorry for your loss, my grandfather passed the first week of February right as we planned to meet with the RE the first time it was rough. Regarding Clomid I felt totally normal on Clomid, my H may disagree however.

@acleverusername FOR SCIENCE! Also I get horrific hormone migraines at times and I have for most of my life. It's awful.

@kiki047 your story made me giggle, I've done similar things but it was high school so sex wasn't involved but other things were.

@abjm0325 I really hope time flies to get to the RE appointment.

@gingermama29 if I fold myself really small and squeeze into a suitcase can I come to Italy too?

Diagnosis (if you've been): RPL, MFI post Vasectomy, Protein C and S deficiency

Status (WTO/TWW/TTA): in theory TWW of waiting for nothing

What are you doing this cycle? (Testing? Treatment?): Hematology this week. Perks of weird blood they see you quickly. I'm guessing more blood work.

How are things going?: I got a least so version of an answer.

Any questions?: I'm a little nervous about what having a clotting disorder means, I'm also anxious about being on birth control before my IVF cycle because blood clots

GTKY: In honor of the after dark thread, what is the weirdest/ most interesting place you have had sex? I'm so boring, granted I got married at 19 I literally cannot think of anything.

acleverusername · April 2022

@mambo5-2 share some of those high school sex stories! I'm SOOOO happy you're going to see a hematologist this week already! Keep us posted. Hopefully all of your questions will be answered.

In case anyone is interested, here's the data from my progesterone SCIENCE EXPERIMENT so far:

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5020794/uploads/editor/to/px7vbht3z2q8.png

thankfullyamama · April 2022

@acleverusername clo-monster has me rolling!

mambo5-2 · April 2022

@acleverusername I used to have sex in my cheer uniform before basketball games because it was "good luck". Did I date the captain of the basketball team? Clearly

optimistgardener · April 2022

@tryingktogku i'm so sorry to hear about your grandfather. i think under the circumstances just giving it the best shot you can with the TI, but not worrying about putting in effort in other respects, is fine. after all, most of the other stuff we do (diet, supplements, etc.) is pretty marginal in the bigger picture of what gets us pregnant or not.

@kiki047 !!!!! that's quite the gtky reply. but like Clever said, who cares if anyone saw you, since you'll never see any of them again. I feel like I can sympathize with the perhaps ill-advised relationship that the nevertheless good for the sex. there are a couple of relationships that i look back at like, what was i thinking? but also i do not regret them because they had their perks.
sorry about the bad timing for AF and also the possible covid exposure. so stressful!
@abjm0325 i feel you on the balancing WTO/TWW behavior. spoilering because i wrote an essay:

i'm less bothered about it now (because my behavioral swings are more like "i'm headed into a retrieval/transfer so i'm going to be very very good" or "fu*k everything i'm not pregnant, nor will i be, and therefore i'm going drinking," but i spent years doing extreme forms of behavior shift between WTO and the TWW, and in the end all that self-monitoring of my behavior didn't get me anywhere. so from that I have i guess taken the lesson that it wasn't the occasional drink that was keeping me from getting pregnant? As for how to find a balance, i'm really not probably the best person to weigh in on this but really it is literally just that, a balance. Most of my behavior modification revolves around whether I choose to have a drink or not, but I know many women moderate their exercise regime in the TWW, and some may also change their dietary habits, etc.
I really think this is up to each and every person to decide individually, but like you I also came to a point where I just couldn't do the yo-yo thing any more. It felt like i was actually making less healthy choices just because the pent-up desire to have a drink during the TWW would result in drinking more during my period and while WTO than i otherwise would. I feel a bit differently about my alcohol choices around IVF (I think the stakes are just too high) but for anything less than IVF, I would feel ok having a drink (but probably not two) a couple of times during the TWW; I tend to think that those TWW drinks are useful in balancing out my interest in booze during WTO. From a data standpoint, FWIW, I have read up on all the studies I can looking at things like exercise during the TWW, alcohol use during the TWW, sleep, diet, you name it. Unless you go batsh** crazy during the TWW and make some wild choices, I suspect there is very little you could do within reason that would make much difference to your chances.

@gingermama29 i would totally turn up for your comedy show!

Diagnosis (if you've been): old and one-ovaried

Status (WTO/TWW/TTA): i actually think i am ovulating like literally as i type this, but, sigh, it doesn't matter.

What are you doing this cycle? (Testing? Treatment?): benched till May

How are things going?: fine. i hope you guys don't mind if i hang out around here while i wait.

Any questions?: nada for now.

GTKY: In honor of the after dark thread, what is the weirdest/ most interesting place you have had sex? uh, i think i all of my more "interesting" sex locales have been outdoors, which in the grand scheme of things is way less risque than, say, a supermarket parking lot, ahem @kiki047. I have had sex under ostensibly the oldest redwood tree surviving in the east bay (it's on a very steep hill in a not very remarkable parkland area above oakland); in the middle of the day in an open field not far from a popular state park outside of red bluff, ca.; and in the more distant past, in a variety of campsites across oregon and washington. Probably the most controversial locale was mostly so because it was how I lost my virginity: unceremoniously in a city park at 2am in the middle of a soccer field with a dude who was also a first-timer. A cop drove by about 5 minutes after we finished and flashed his spotlight in our direction. Fortunately we had put our clothes back on by then.

anniemarie887 · April 2022

I’ll be back for tags once I get to the office…

Diagnosis (if you've been): uncooperative uterus… aka RPL and TBD

Status (WTO/TWW/TTA): never fucking ending purgatory that makes me want to cry

What are you doing this cycle? (Testing? Treatment?): **TW CP**

did another HCG draw yesterday, stalling out maybe? Last week was 57 and yesterday was 43. Curious to see what my OB says… I’m to the point where I want to *do* something about it, not sure what that looks like. It’s been 3 weeks, which google tells me is not abnormal.

How are things going?: see above as indicator of mood. Irritable. MH also started a new job and we are adjusting to new routines and this feels accurate:

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5020794/uploads/editor/0t/zywtzhsa8chu.jpeg

Any questions?: anybody got a crystal ball they’d like to lend out?

GTKY: In honor of the after dark thread, what is the weirdest/ most interesting place you have had sex? Ok, this is more fun… a Bloomingdale’s dressing room… when the store was open.

eta: put things in spoilers bc that wasn't easy on my phone

mambo5-2 · April 2022

@anniemarie887
That track to ZERO blows. The freaking worst, I hated it.

anniemarie887 · April 2022

@tryingktogku i'm really sorry about your grandfather, take care of yourself the best you can and don't beat yourself up. it's not helpful
@acleverusername i hope the migraines are staying away! and tell your husband he is just 100% jealous of this convo, and to zip it as he may benefit from some ideas lol

(edited bc wrong smiley)
@kiki047 ugh i'm sorry about AF showing up, but i'm so glad the shower went well! how are you feeling? and i am dying laughing at the costco parking lot, get it girrrrrrrrllllllll
@abjm0325 the balance is hard, and just try and be easy on yourself about it. you don't need to be perfect. - i follow a RE in NYC who is with RMA and she did a post about losses yesterday and was emphatic that we do not cause losses to happen by our behaviours.
@gingermama29 i'm so glad you got the time off! yay!! also, love love love a good pun
@mambo5-2 so glad you are getting a quick hematology appt! keep us posted about it!
@optimistgardener i hope you stay around, i am also in a weird limbo. oh man virginity stories, they're always kind of the strangest looking back on them at this stage of life.

acleverusername · April 2022

@anniemarie887 OK I need to know more about the Bloomingdale's dressing room. LOL. What was the lead up? Did you get caught? As for your track to 0... that effing sucks. I hope your dear OB can offer some advice there, although I have a suspicion that it might be "give it time". Sending you hugs.

Also, want to confirm what that RE at RMA says with what TEW says. She always makes an emphasis to say that "the pregnancy miscarried" not "I/you miscarried" or "You/I had a miscarriage." The truth is, as @optimistgardener says, you have to do some pretty wild a$$ stuff to cause a miscarriage.

anniemarie887 · April 2022

@acleverusername i am also inclined to think she is going to say to just keep riding it out... the CP back in sept i was back to 0 within 10 days... i just feel like my body is retaliating against me. dr google says avg hcg back to 0 is 6 weeks... that's like a fucking eternity.

on a lighter note, bloomingdales... so this was in college... so we are talking '06 or '07. he tagged along to go shopping and we found ourselves in one of the large dressing rooms, and well in the course of trying things on and being basically naked one thing lead to another... and no we did not get caught, thankfully. MH is like a teenager, and i am often batting him away. we did get caught by my mom, in my own bedroom well before we were married. oops. that was awk.

kiki047 · April 2022

@acleverusername funny you should say that because he is a cop, ha! // My Q has more to do with why it should matter that there's HCG in menopur because yes, like you said why would you POAS while you're stimming when there shouldn't be any shadow of a doubt that you're in any way possibly KU while doing IVF. // Also, I feel the need to slow clap YH and his camping chair coitus because I can't think of a single camping chair that I'd trust to hold the weight of one, nevermind two people bumpin' and grindin'.

@abjm0325 thankfully my RE seemed nonplussed about the fact that I wasn't starting stims until CD4 or 5 (depending on whether you count spotting after 7pm as CD1). I hadn't developed any major lead follies by that point so that means my retrieval should fall over Easter weekend, which is what I was hoping would happen anyway. As for my ex, yup, he's a dinkus and I hate that I still have pangs of missing the good parts of him when there were so many negative qualities. At the end of the day, I don't think he's a bad person but he sure has some bad karma following him around for all the shitty things he's done and I'm glad to be rid of him in that way. // Ooh your GTKY sounds so romantic. Sex in a field under the stars? Dang, I didn't know I wanted that but maybe I do LOL.
@gingermama29 I'm snickering at your joke, I think we're all fans of bad jokes 'round here. And YAY for getting the green light for your Italy trip! I'm so glad you'll be able to be there for your brother's wedding after all.
@optimistgardener If I ever visit that very tall tree, I shall think of you

and you're always welcome to hang out here while you wait. The in-betweens are as much a part of the journey as when we're actively cycling.
@anniemarie887 oh sweet friend, that track down to 0 is pure heartbreak as it drags on. I hope you get some closure on that soon. and thank you for asking, I'm feeling much better now that the shower is done and over with. I had a lot of help putting the house back in order and now I'm lecturing MH on keeping it clean. Honestly, where does all the junk come from?! // Oh and I need to acknowledge how relatable that rooster tweet is.
@mambo5-2 glad you are able to see the hematologist right away so you can figure out a plan of action. Also, as the least cool kid in high school, bow chika wow wow cheerleader and capt of the basketball team.

mambo5-2 · April 2022

@kiki047 I went to a really small school where I was a cheerleader and a jazz soloist and a governors scholar. It's not that impressive

abjm0325 · April 2022

@mambo5-2 Yay for your appointment coming up soon! I hope they can put some of your concerns at ease and help you come up with a good plan moving forward.

@optimistgardener I think I probably speak for many of us when I say we would miss you if you stopped participating, so please stick around! Thank you for sharing about my quandry. I think I kind of gradually slipped into the dichotomous behavior and I am just now realizing how out of sync my two “waits” feel. You are of course absolutely right that there is very little (for better or worse) that we can really do in terms of habits to affect our chances. Probably is just time for my to recalibrate my life in general and stop waiting to do things on the possible chance of being pregnant.

@anniemarie887 I’m so sorry you’re stuck waiting. Just seems like an extra kick when you’re down to be kept in limbo for longer.

@kiki047 I’m glad your schedule wasn’t affected! And you totally want to have sex under the stars, haha. So romantic!

anniemarie887 · April 2022

Aaaaaand OB confirms to just keep watching even tho it is “still torturing” me. I told her it feels like purgatory.

optimistgardener · April 2022

thanks @abjm0325 and @kiki047. it always feels a bit weird for me when i'm between cycles, mostly because i'm so definitively benched during those times. like, no hope for me that i'll get KUed during an "off cycle"!

@anniemarie887 i'm so so sorry you're still waiting for your HCGs to drop to zero. *hugs*

mambo5-2 · April 2022

And Hematology Follow Up.

I have Protein C and S Deficiency, he is going to run labs just to make sure there isn't anything else funky but he is pretty certain that is what it is.

Regarding pregnancy and IVF, Lovenox while pregnant and doing stims.

The big question is BCP which are typically part of an IVF protocol, he absolutely does not want me on BCP but if we still do the BCP protocol I will have to be on eliquis. I called my RE as instructed after the appointment and relayed the information (the doctor will also fax his notes). They said it is possible to do IVF without the BCP cycle but it may affect the number of eggs but we may do that.

Now we wait, again...

kiki047 · April 2022

@mambo5-2 it is entirely possible to do IVF without BCP. The use of the pill in an IVF protocol can serve multiple purposes - for those with irregular cycles or super busy clinics it serves as a way for you/them to micro-manage your cycle to either make sure your CD1 falls within a certain window (in my case, because my cycles are so irregular due to PCOS, sometimes I can go months without a period) or so that it fits within their schedule to ensure they don't have a million patients cycling at the same time. It can also be used to prevent any lead follicle(s) from developing to try to quiet your ovaries. That said, it can also backfire for people with DOR or AMA if they don't have a lot of follies to begin with. So it's definitely something to talk to your clinic about. Glad you're getting some answers!
@optimistgardener I'd still argue that you're no less IF when you're benched, and the wonderful thing about this community is that it doesn't preclude you from participating. That said, I understand how you might feel like you're kind of on the outside looking in. You don't always have to do a check-in if that feels pointless but please do stick around if it isn't too triggering for you to do so!

@anniemarie887 ugh, are they having you come back weekly or when do you go back again for betas? I'm so sorry

AFM, stims are going well, AFC was 17 at baseline but according to my chart I have at least 20+ measurable follicles between 6mm-11mm as of yesterday (CD7). Only have 1.5 days left of my antibiotics which I'm so happy about. They didn't make me feel nearly as sick as last time but I did have some other gastro symptoms which was not fun. I also convinced my RE to do my repeat biopsy while I'm knocked out for my ER because I'm still traumatized from that really awful biopsy we did a few months ago. Still no word on when my actual ER might be. I think it's wishful thinking to hope it might fall over the long weekend next week so I'm assuming it'll be somewhere around Thursday? I'm happy I don't have any runaway follies at this point. Next appt is Saturday.

Current protocol:
- 262.5iu Gonal-F
- 150iu Menopur
- 0.25mg Cetrotide
- baby aspirin, metformin, and alllll my supplements.

@acleverusername since you were asking, my E2 was at 1983pmol/ml yesterday, LH was 3. This is up from 154 E2 / 5 LH on Sunday.

anniemarie887 · April 2022

@kiki047 yup, weekly at this point. i'm gonna be bff with the lab people. i do have acupuncture tomorrow and i'll be sure to let her know to jab some needles in the right spots to help move things along. i'm glad the antibiotics didn't bother you as much as before. and hopefully you'll get that timing so you can have some restful days.

acleverusername · April 2022

@mambo5-2 +1 to what @kiki047 said about BCP use in IVF cycles. I didn't use BCP in any of my cycle. Let me take a step back and give you a quick biology lesson how BCP and other "suppressant" meds work in IVF cycles (there are 3 types, listing them least to most aggressive):

- Estrace (estrogen): it suppresses estrogen production in the ovaries and therefore keeps your follicles small (FSH still sends a signal to your ovaries to produce estrogen, but it's blocked locally)
- Aygestin (progesterone): it keeps your progesterone elevated, and stops your brain from producing FSH, which in turn stops production of estrogen by the ovaries).
- BCP (estrogen + progesterone): combination of the above.

BCP use in IVF cycles in older women has actually been known to induce early menopause. Therefore, it's like a blunt instrument when it comes to controlling your IVF cycle. (What @kiki047 said.)

There is also a natural way to do all of this, which means starting stims in your luteal phase (shortly after ovulation). Why? Because when progesterone is naturally elevated, it blocks FSH signal from brain > ovaries, and stops estrogen production.

I've done 4 IVF cycles in total in my lifetime (1 was cancelled). In one of them, I used estrace. My ovaries were oversuppressed which caused uneven follicle growth and I ended up getting fewer eggs than I could have. In one of the cycles, I used Aygestin, and it too cause a very uneven follicle growth and that's actually the cycle I opted to cancel. My last 2 cycles were luteal-phase start, and they were "successful". What we've learned from that is that my body is very responsive to exogenous hormones, and therefore I cannot use them in my IVF cycles.

So, you should ask your doctor about all of the options above. WARNING! The nurses will not have this information. You're really gonna wanna ask the doctors.

Okay, well, my job here is done.

Image: https://media4.giphy.com/media/t8nYhrddS2tgFASkUx/giphy.gif

acleverusername · April 2022

@kiki047 sounds like your cycles is progressing really well! Fingers crossed! I had to convert those E2 levels to ng/mL to better understand them and sounds bang on! I hope you have a bountiful crop!

mambo5-2 · April 2022

@kiki047 and @acleverusername thank you for the information! I called right after my appointment and left a message. Hopefully the doctor is able to call today. I may call and just see if they have gotten the hematologists notes.

acleverusername · April 2022

AFM, check out how my Estrodial and Progesterone dive from 5DPO to 7DPO:

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5020794/uploads/editor/wp/l6iciw7lrbm5.png

It's like my corpus luteum crumbles and dies instantly.

mambo5-2 · April 2022

No @acleverusername I do not like that science graph. Bad graph, you aren't following the rules.

I'm sorry love

acleverusername · April 2022

Lol. What's wrong with my graph, dude?

anniemarie887 · April 2022

Teeheehee

https://youtu.be/sIlNIVXpIns

acleverusername · April 2022

@anniemarie887 lololololololol. I thought for sure someone wrote more lyrics to it. The "look at this graph" was both oddly satisfying yet not quite.

@mambo5-2 is this better? I removed the trendline.

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5020794/uploads/editor/i7/9gu3e8snkth7.png

mambo5-2 · April 2022

@acleverusername I meant I don't like the downward trend but I do actually like the second graph better. I'm just being weird.

acleverusername · April 2022

Lol lol lol @mambo5-2 and here I was getting all sledding-conscious about my graph making!

ETA: erm, should read “subconscious” not sledding-conscious

mambo5-2 · April 2022

@acleverusername I love your charts and your data and you. You are a beautiful human with a shitty experience but you provide amazing knowledge, data, and support for others.

abjm0325 · April 2022

@acleverusername I have got to know what sledding-conscious is and why it felt the need to autocorrect to that. I'm imagining a very concerned adult on a kid's sled going down a snowy hill.

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