Could anyone give me some basic info about IVF eg how long a cycle lasts and how long you leave inbetween cycles if unsuccessful?

Thank you

TB :wave:

The only thing that I know is what my RE told me. She said that it could be about 35 days for the whole cycle, from beginning stimulations until the positive pregnancy test. I haven't been through the process yet, so I don't know that much about it. I'll let you know my progress though as I will be starting the drugs in a few days, after my final consult. :)

I am not doing IVF, but a close girlfriend is. She was told by her doctor that the whole process is about 1 1/2 months. She said that the whole process starts when they put you on the birth control pill and that is the month prior to when you actually do the retrieval. I am not sure if IVF is always exactly the same...maybe some places do a little different process?? There are some great books out there about IVF, may be worth picking up.
cmarie

I think the cycles are different becasue it depends on your body and how well you are responding to the drugs involved. My "35" day quote was probably an estimate, provided that everything goes well, I assume. Becasue as I'm reading the protocol and the med hot list, it would be alot longer if I went on the longer end of time. This is what I know:

*They said that I would start on BCP too, it says for approximately 2-3 weeks.
*Then, after a follow-up visit, I would get started on Lupron, which also supresses my hormones. It says I could be on it from 1-4 weeks prior to egg retrieval and continuing until the hCG is given to trigger ovulation.
*Then, I'm not sure how much longer between the start of the Lupron and the follow-up visit, but they said if the blood work and sonogram are within normal limits, I would get the FSH injections (Gonal F, Follistim, Repronex, Bravelle), which stimulate follicular development.
*Then, (I'm not sure how much time again), but you get the HCG shot that matures the eggs which happens 34-36 hours before the egg retrieval.
*Then, I read from others going through it, that there is 3-5 days between ER and ET and then a week (or two?) later you can have the BETA, pregnancy test.

I'm sorry I'm not much help. I wish I knew more too! :rolleyes:
There are others that do know on this sight, but I thought that I would at least give you this info.

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Good luck!

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km- it sounds like you know alot about the process :) Thank you for sharing all your info with us. This is such an exhausting process and it seems that it is very overwhelming!!! Every little bit of info helps ;)
cmarie

Thanks everyone for your input. One more question - if I do decide to go down the IVF route, how soon can we get started? Do you have to wait for AF and then start or can you start at any point in your cycle?

Thanks :confused:

TB

As far as I understand, you have to wait till AF visits then you can get the ball rolling.
Cmarie

every clinic has thier own method. i never went on birth control. two days after i started bleeding i started a nasal spray, on day 5 i started gonal-f and did that until retrieval (around day 14) then 3-5 days after ( i had assisted hatching) they retransfered. i did a trigger shot before the retrieval. the day of the retransfer after i did and HCG shot.... that started my 2ww....

like i said it all depends on how your clinic does it.

Everyone has their own protocols which will further vary with your personal situation, but you can count on: a course of medication to shut down your cycle (BCP, Lupron, etc.), a course of stimulation meds to create lots of eggs (follistim, gonalF, etc.), then when you're really close they might give a trigger shot of pregnancy hormone to time your ovulation (the two hormones are very similar so preg hormone works like lutenizing hormone), then an egg retrieval which will cost you a full day of work, then hopefully a transfer which will cost you a half day if it falls on a workday. Then the 2ww and DON'T TEST EARLY because the pregnancy hormone shot can give you a false positive.

Along the way you will have to come in early in the morning for several blood draws and ultrasounds to make sure everything is working correctly. (In my case I was responding too well to the stim and they cut my dosage to avoid hyperstimulation syndrome). These appointments are usually not a burden if you live reasonably near the clinic and don't have an early work schedule. The egg retrieval is the big deal because you'll either be knocked out or giving a twilight sedation. My advice is to go for the general anesth. because I've done it both ways and even with valium and demerol, IT KILLS!!!

The hardest part for some people is giving yourself the shots but I found I got used to this quick. The only bad shot is the progesterone in oil (after the egg retrieval) because you have to stick yourself in the butt and can't see. You will get a lumpy butt because of the oil. Plus, the needle looks really big but trust me, it actually felt no different to me than the little insulin syringes that you use for the other shots.

Sounds like so much fun :eek: but I am a vet nurse (vet tech) so it is probably revenge for all those poor cats and dogs I have injected over the years :p

Anyhow, one final question, do you recommend stopping work/taking time off or carrying on with the odd day off here and there for egg retrieval etc? Some books say go to bed for 3 days after the embryo transfer, others say just take it easy and don't do any horseback riding (??!!) or hoovering (hoooray!)

What is your experience?

Thanks again for the info - vvvvvv helpful

TB :wave:

I wouldn't stop work, I'd just take the odd day. My clinic doesn't have any such instructions after the transfer. Just lie there for 30 minutes and take it easy the rest of the day.

When you think of taking formal time off, consider that you may be doing this several times.

I just told my manager that I would need a couple of days, that I wouldn't know the exact date ahead of time because it was a "female" thing. That stops all questioning with a male boss! But if pressed for details I'd probably say I was being tested for endometriosis or something.

Well for a bit more info that I learned....at my clinic they wait for AF b/c they say its the best time of the cycle, and its easier to see the levels of hormones change.
I just found out too that I will be on the BCP for 10 days, then start Lupron for 10 and then follistism (sp?) for 10, with, of course, blood and sonogram between each time to make sure everything is going well. At my clinic, on the follistism, they check me EVERY day until the HCG shot, and then the retrieval. And I was wrong about the 35 day thing. It's actually about 35 days from the start until the retrieval, and the BETA pg test is 2 weeks after that.

What have you decided? Are you going to take the plunge for IVF? Keep us posted! :)

I am! We (DH and I) had a long chat today on the sofa with a cup of tea about what we wanted to do and we both want to go straight for IVF so I will speak to my doc tomorrow and ask him to refer us.

I am very scared and quite emotional but it feels good to be doing something constructive. I am also looking into acupuncture as well.

How long roughly do you think it will take to get things started?

Thanks for the info, we must keep each other informed of how it's going!

TB :wave:

Yeah! We will be probably going through this together! I am so excited to have an IVF buddy! :bouncing:

As far as the time, my first appointment was Feb 7th, which was just about mid cycle for me. Since they wanted to wait until a new cycle started, I had to wait until now to actually start. So, that gave me enough time to read up on info, give blood, do my consult, look into my insurance coverage, & do the seminars...so the time hasn't been all that bad waiting. It's like I know that something big is going to be happening soon, so I am looking forward to it. I guess it's all going to depend on your cycle as of now, getting your appointment, and what your clinic is going to need you to do and want you to do. Good luck! :D

Cool, an IVF buddy! :bouncing: So are you on the BCP now? It seems a bit weird to take that when we are trying to get preggo! I will let you know when I hear about my first appointment.

Are you thinking about doing acupuncture too? I hear it can make the whole process more successful but I am looking into that at the moment.

Keep me posted

TB xx

Actually, I have my first sono and blood test tomorrow, so I will start BCP then hopefully.(They say that we need to take it b/c they want to suppress our natural hormones. I know it is weird though! :p )
I'm kind of nervous about tomorrow though because AF is sneaking out and hardly there, and I hope that they can still get good numbers and I don't have to wait until next month! :rolleyes:
Needles make me really nervous, so I don't know about acupuncture. But, maybe if we are unsuccessful the first time, we will try it.
Today, after telling my one freind at work about my situation, she introduced me to her daughter who has had 7 IVFs! And there she was outside of my classroom, with her newborn twin girls, just for some inspiration! I thought that was pretty cool.
Anyway, good luck!
:angel:

Good luck - hope all goes well!

TB x :wave:

Hi Buddies,

I was told my b/c cycle will run for 5 weeks then Lupon after withdraw bleeding from b/c then stim. inject. I can't wait this is a long process for my nerves.m LOL

Know what you mean - I am STILL waiting for my first appointment. Wish they would hurry up and get me an appointment - the waiting is so hard :confused:

TB :wave: