If you did 4+ rounds of IVF

[Anonymous]

If you did at least 4 rounds of IVF, how long was it between starting the first round and starting the fourth round? (Assuming you were attempting to go right from one to the next)?

Context: We’re about to start IVF with Shady Grove and we’re planning to do Shared Risk. But I’d age out in 1 year and I’m trying to determine if it makes more sense to just pay out of pocket per round. If I’m going to age out after 3, prob makes sense to pay per round and take the risk, but if I can potentially squeeze in a fourth if needed, it prob makes more sense to do Shared Risk financially.

[Anonymous]

If you're doing this you're gonna want to do it back to back to back because the meds from the prior cycles carry over. The eggs start maturing several months before the cycle they come into play

[Anonymous]

If you do shared risk you’ll have to transfer all the embryos from one cycle before starting the next one, right? Unless they’ve changed the rules. That will affect how quickly you can begin a fresh cycle, assuming the first one doesn’t work.

[Anonymous]

I did 3 rounds at Shady Grove before switching clinics to CCRM, and managed to do my first two rounds at CCRM within a year of starting at Shady Grove, so it's definitely possible to do 4 rounds in a year.

I started priming for my first cycle at Shady Grove in late July, retrieval in August, second retrieval in November, third in January. First cycle at CCRM was in April, second one there was in June. That year was brutal in so many ways, so I'd really encourage you to have all kinds of support lined up.

Things really need to line up, you need to really advocate for yourself, and don't expect anyone at SFG to care about how many cycles you'd like to do. This will feel like a legit part time job.

Good luck!

[Anonymous]

I had 4-5 months between my first and second cycle because I didn't agree with the protocol my doctor was choosing and decided to switch clinics. It's definitely possible to do protocols back-to-back. But keep in mind that your period will be delayed because of the meds.

[Anonymous]

If you are approaching 43 I wouldn't waste time with Shady Grove. Go to CNY.

[Anonymous]

I did my cycles back to back each time just because I was anxious to get pregnant. Each of my three SG cycles failed and so I was very happy to get my money back and go to Cornell (where I got pregnant with twins on my first cycle there). Good luck to you!!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I did my cycles back to back each time just because I was anxious to get pregnant. Each of my three SG cycles failed and so I was very happy to get my money back and go to Cornell (where I got pregnant with twins on my first cycle there). Good luck to you!!!

what did they do differently? did you embryo bank or when you say back to back did you transfer after each retrieval

[Anonymous]

So in reality, SGF will likely not let you get to 4+ rounds in shared risk. They will probably terminate before that (and give you your money back). I don’t think there is any risk here… worst case you’d get your money back right? Or if you age out do they keep the money? That’d be nuts.

[Anonymous]

I can’t speak to SG because I was at another clinic, but I did four retrieval rounds between January and August. It was a LOT.
One month delay was because of insurance, two months were medical delays (cysts), another cycle was started but canceled a few days in.
It was also mentally exhausting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I did my cycles back to back each time just because I was anxious to get pregnant. Each of my three SG cycles failed and so I was very happy to get my money back and go to Cornell (where I got pregnant with twins on my first cycle there). Good luck to you!!!

what did they do differently? did you embryo bank or when you say back to back did you transfer after each retrieval

PP who went to Cornell here. I never had any embryos left to bank (this was back in 2009). I did a transfer after each retrieval but it is a two month process because your cycle ends with you getting your period and then you don't start the next injections for several weeks after that (I have blocked out the details).

There was a night and day different in Cornell. Dr Davis said he thought I was just one of those patients where the amounts of the drugs had to be very carefully calibrated each day. I also had the co-culture but who knows if that helped. I did not have any embryos left to freeze at Cornell either. I had a 3-4 strong embryo candidates on day 3, transferred 2 of them and had twins.

[Anonymous]

When we did it, shared risk cost less than even 2 rounds of IVF. So it would still make sense for what you're describing.

Timing of how long cycles take depends a lot on whether you do PGS, and also if you have multiple embryos to transfer (one at a time, usually).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I did 3 rounds at Shady Grove before switching clinics to CCRM, and managed to do my first two rounds at CCRM within a year of starting at Shady Grove, so it's definitely possible to do 4 rounds in a year.

I started priming for my first cycle at Shady Grove in late July, retrieval in August, second retrieval in November, third in January. First cycle at CCRM was in April, second one there was in June. That year was brutal in so many ways, so I'd really encourage you to have all kinds of support lined up.

Things really need to line up, you need to really advocate for yourself, and don't expect anyone at SFG to care about how many cycles you'd like to do. This will feel like a legit part time job.

Good luck!

How did you find the difference between Shady Grove and CCRM? We are in your same position, considering switching from Shady Grove to CCRM after three unsuccessful cycles. Unfortunately, Dr. Paysom is not available until July and he comes most highly recommended.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I did 3 rounds at Shady Grove before switching clinics to CCRM, and managed to do my first two rounds at CCRM within a year of starting at Shady Grove, so it's definitely possible to do 4 rounds in a year.

I started priming for my first cycle at Shady Grove in late July, retrieval in August, second retrieval in November, third in January. First cycle at CCRM was in April, second one there was in June. That year was brutal in so many ways, so I'd really encourage you to have all kinds of support lined up.

Things really need to line up, you need to really advocate for yourself, and don't expect anyone at SFG to care about how many cycles you'd like to do. This will feel like a legit part time job.

Good luck!

How did you find the difference between Shady Grove and CCRM? We are in your same position, considering switching from Shady Grove to CCRM after three unsuccessful cycles. Unfortunately, Dr. Paysom is not available until July and he comes most highly recommended.

I *love* Dr Owen, so don't wait on Payson. She was incredible throughout our entire (very long) journey. I would recommend CCRM every time over SGF, and we had our first child with SGF (so success isn't influencing that recommendation). SGF felt like a true assembly line, they're always late, hard to get appointments, and just generally, I encountered more grumpy staff than at CCRM. It made an unpleasant situation that much worse.

My doc at SGF (Osborne) was no help and not interested in trying anything other than their standard protocols. Dr. Owen and I discussed several options and tried different protocols (mini stim, fresh transfers). I felt supported and like my questions/concerns/wonderings were considered and I got some kind of response.

If you're looking to continue, do a consult with Owen. You'll have some of the same frustrations that come with fertility treatments, but for me, it was night and day after I switched.

[Anonymous]

Has anyone used Dr Martini?