Before I started the IVF process but when I knew it was a possibility, I scoured the Internet searching for different IVF protocols. I am a planner by nature, so I wanted to see what other women were doing so I might know what would be in store for me.
For that reason, and to preserve my memory, I am documenting my full protocol here. I hope it will help someone else if they ever come searching.
IVF protocols vary greatly by person and RE, but most will fall into one of three groups: Long Lupron, Antagonist or Microflare. The most common is the Long Lupron protocol which is what I will be doing.
03.05 - CD1
03.07 - Start BCP, prenatal vitamin and 1 mg folic acid
03.19 - Begin Lupron 10 units SQ and Dexamethasone 0.75 mg (steroid)
03.23 - Last BCP
03.24 - Reduce Lupron to 5 units SQ, continue Dexamethasone
03.27 - Baseline bloodwork and ultrasound
03.28 - CD1
03.31 - Continue Lupron 5 units and Dexamethasone (am), begin Follistim 300 iu SQ (pm) and 2x daily antibiotic through embryo transfer
04.02 - Reduce Follistim to 150 iu and add Menopur 75
04.06 - Ultrasound (14 follicles) and Bloodwork (E2 = 2300), decrease Follistim to 75
04.08 - Ultrasound (21 follicles) and Bloodwork (E2 = 4000), stop Follistim and Menopur
04.09 - Ultrasound (18 follicles) and Bloodwork (E2 = 5900), coasting, continue Lupron
04.10 - Bloodwork (E2 = 5100), 1/2 dose of Novarel HCG IM injection
04.12 - Egg retrieval (23 eggs!), begin Progesterone In Oil (PIO) IM injections and continue through 11th week of pregnancy
04.13 - Fert report = 23R, 20M, 17F
04.15 - Lab report - 13 embryos still growing
04.17 - 8 embryos made it to blastocyst - 5 day transfer of the best two, begin low dose (81 mg) aspirin
04.18 - Lab report - 2 made it to freeze. Begin Estrogen/Progesterone suppository daily through the 11th week of pregnancy
04.22 - HTP at 5dp5dt - BFN
04.23 - HPT at 6dp5dt= BFP!!!
04.24 - Beta #1at 7dp5dt = 58
04.26 - Beta #2 at 9dp5dt = 114
04.27 - Beta #3 at 10dp5dt = 187
05.03 - 5 Week ultrasound - one gestational sac
05.17 - 7 Week ultrasound - TWINS!
I will update this as I go along for accuracy.
If you found this post because you were searching for information on IVF protocols, please leave me a comment. I would like to know if you found this information to be helpful/useful.
Hello! I am gearing up for my first IVF cycle and it looks like I will be following a very similar protocol. It excites me that you were successful in your first IVF cycle. Good luck for the duration of your pregnancy!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for this, I found it very helpful!
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