SG Patients - Do you always take BCPs before your IVF cycle?

[Anonymous]

I am a SG patient and I wanted to know if SG requires all of their IVF patients to take BCPs before they start their Lupron or stimulation drugs for their IVF cycle? My first IVF cycle was a bust because I was over suppressed from the BCPs and Lupron and had to play catch up at the end before ER, which I think ended up frying my eggs (they retrieved 12 eggs but I was on the shots for 13 days before ER and all of my eggs were very slow growing).

Just curious to see if I could ask my Dr not to put me on BCPs for my next cycle. Has anyone done that and has it helped your cycle?

[Anonymous]

I was not on BCPs for one of my cycles at SG. If you're not on BCPs, I think they typically have you use an OPK and let them now when you detect ovulation.

[Anonymous]

For IVF cycles, BCPs are a standard part of the protocols at SG. In fact, your doctor has to give the ok for you not to use BCPs!!! To be honest, your issue may have been the lupron more so than the BCPs, as lupron is very suppressive for many women. Have you had your follow-up with your doc to see what he/she recommends for the next protocol? SG uses a step approach to protocols and moves you up the steps to stronger protocols depending on how your respond. The next step on the list for you may be one that provides a better response and likely will not include lupron.

[Anonymous]

OP here...my RE wants to put me on BCPs and Ganirelix instead of Lupron for my next cycle. Does this sound right? Will Ganirelix help prevent oversupression?

[Anonymous]

Ganirelix can help if Lupron supressed you too much. But I'd push back a bit on the BCPs. They make it easy to schedule IVF cycles, but they may not be benefiting you. I'd ask if there is a medical reason for your RE to be using them. SG does not require BCPs, but they do seem to use them for a lot of patients. I'd push to make sure your RE has really thought it through -- esp. if you are using one of the younger REs at SG. I think the younger REs are sometimes less willing to deviate from the norm.

Also, just to warn you -- if you are self-pay ganirelex is more expensive than Lupron.

[Anonymous]

Ganirelix is used to prevent ovulation and is given later in your cycle (when your lead follicle reaches 14mm). I have never noticed much of a difference in follicle growth once it has been added in my cycle, but they do up the Menopur by 75iu when you start ganirelix to make sure things keep moving along. Lupron prevents ovulation, too, but it works in a different fashion since it is given throughout your cycle and has a tendency to really suppress people. My RE said it would be like cycling with a parking brake on for me.

I did this ganirelix protocol for my first cycle at SG and got pregnant, though it ended up ectopic. It is a standard protocol and should be less suppressive than your prior protocol - even with the bcps! The bcps do help with scheduling, however they are also used to quiet your ovaries before you cycle and can help prevent dominant follicles. Most clinics that do this protocol (antagonist is the common name) include bcps as part of it. I would really not worry too much about using bcps, though you can always ask your RE if you can skip them.

[Anonymous]

I'm glad you asked this question. I just went for my follow-up after my ectopic preg. We will be doing our first IVF cycle starting in Aug. My doc RE at SG is putting us on a protocol of BCPs or 21 days, then Gonal-F or Menopur for two weeks with Ganirelix, and then Lupron to trigger, then Endometirum. I'm ok with everything but that Lupron injection since it's sub-muscular. Ouch. Good luck to you.

[Anonymous]

SG puts patients on BCPs for scheduling purposes, too. they can put you on on bcps for a shorter time or longer than 3 weeks.

it's the lupron which usually causes over supression.

[Sarah123]

I don't react well to BCPs so they used a "lupron stop protocol" with me - used an OPK to figure out ovulation time. And it worked - I'm 17 weeks along! (it was on my 3rd IVF cycle but on the 2nd nothing grew, never made it to retrieval on that so it became an IUI). Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Yup - though sometimes they let me get away with barely 2 weeks worth of BCP's before we started to cycle.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here...my RE wants to put me on BCPs and Ganirelix instead of Lupron for my next cycle. Does this sound right? Will Ganirelix help prevent oversupression?

I just found out I am going to be on this protocol as well.. with a Lupron trigger.. to reduce OHSS.. I didnt want BCPs either, but I was told, that they can help prevent one lead follicle from racing out ahead of the rest...that has been my problem in the past.. hope that helps..

[Anonymous]

I also did the lupron stop protocol with SG with NO bcps. It was a success.