Success stories on IVF-Antagon protocol

[Anonymous]

We will be starting our IVF next month after 2 failed IUI cycles. My RE decided to put me on antagonist protocol- FSH+ Menopur+ Ganirelix, then trigger with lupron. On my IUI cycle, I only produced one egg with Gonal-F with 150IU max dose for about 7 days. On my consultation day, I asked him, if he would consider me as a poor responder, he said no. I have good FSH, and DH has great SA analysis, so its basically unexplained IF. I researched, and came to know that antagonist protocol is highly successful on poor responders, since my RE doesnot consider me as a poor responder, I wonder why he decided to put me on this protocol, instead of long lupron protocol. And whats with this triggering with lupron instead of ovidrel? I know lupron on short term use is same as LH, but have not heard before its use as a trigger.
Anyone had success with this protocol, please share your stories.

[Anonymous]

I have borderline high fsh and did two antagon protocol cycles. Both were successful on the first try and my two sweet boys are sound asleep as I type.

Don't worry ..... it's a great protocol and you'll do great....especially because you have a good fsh reading.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have borderline high fsh and did two antagon protocol cycles. Both were successful on the first try and my two sweet boys are sound asleep as I type.

Don't worry ..... it's a great protocol and you'll do great....especially because you have a good fsh reading.

Thanks PP, you made my day!!

[Anonymous]

after 3 failed cycles with other protocols, we finally found success with a very similar antagon protocol. a regular hcg trigger shot though - not lupron (never heard of that actually). we are also unexplained and I had a decent response to other protocols.

good luck - hope this cycle works for you!

[Anonymous]

I am currently pregnant from that same protocol. I had PCOS so I had many eggs, but of poor quality. I did get the lupron trigger as well. Evidently there is new research coming out that showing that the lupron trigger drastically decreases (I believe my dr said "almost completely eliminates") the risk of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome. Everything went very smoothly with it.

Good luck OP!

[Anonymous]

I'm about to start the same protocol for my 2nd IVF cycle and I would love to hear success stories as well. My first IVF cycle ended in a BFN...I was slightly oversuppressed from the Long Lupron protocol, which I think affected my egg quality a little (I'm 33 with male factor issues). Worried about my response to this new protocol but recent posts make it seem promising!

[Anonymous]

I just went through my first IVF cycles with pretty much the same protocol w/the Lupron trigger. I had a great response to the protocol, but I guess my embies didn't implant because I took a blood test Sunday and it came back zero. Best of luck to you.

[Anonymous]

Op here.. To the PP, sorry that this protocol did not work for you, how many eggs did they retrieve, and was it a day3 or blastocyte transfer? Good luck to you for another cycle, if you are planning for.

[Anonymous]

I'm going to start the exact same protocol as OP, with lupron trigger. Would love to hear about the recent experiences from others.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Op here.. To the PP, sorry that this protocol did not work for you, how many eggs did they retrieve, and was it a day3 or blastocyte transfer? Good luck to you for another cycle, if you are planning for.

@ OP - They retrieved 15 eggs. 14 fertilized right away. Then 11 were normal, 3 abnormal. We didn't quite make it to Blast stage. We were at the stage called "Cavitating", which is between Morula and Blast. They transfered two embryos on Day 5. Nothing made it to freeze after that. We are planning to move on right away if we can. We'll know more tomorrow. I wish you the best of luck.

[Anonymous]

For those on the Antagon protocol...how many days were you on Menopur, stims/FSH and Ganirelix before you did your HCG or Lupron trigger? How many eggs were collected?

[Anonymous]

I don't remember exact numbers, but I triggered on day 8 for the successful cycle, and maybe day 10 on the unsucessful cycle.
First cycle - retrieved 26, 19 mature, 11 fertilized, single embryo transfer day 5 (negative)
Second cycle - retrieved 31, 14 mature, 12 fertilized, two embryos transfered day 5 (positive, singleton pregnancy)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For those on the Antagon protocol...how many days were you on Menopur, stims/FSH and Ganirelix before you did your HCG or Lupron trigger? How many eggs were collected?

on our cycle that was finally successful (first attempt with antagonist protocol)...

started stims on CD2
9 days of Menopur (150)
5 days of Follistim (150 for 3 days, 75 for 2 days)
hCG trigger on CD11 when most follicles were at 17-18mm (didn't write down follicle count)
13 retrieved
12 mature
11 fertilized via ICSI
9 doing well on day-3
transfer 3 beauties on day-3 (previously all embryos were fugly - these were textbook 8-cells)
4 survived to blasts & were frozen (miracle since this RE's office has very strict freezing criteria)
BFP with singleton

so my ovaries loved this protocol, but YMMV

[Anonymous]

Thank you so much PPs! This information is so helpful to me.

[Anonymous]

Sorry to post something a little silly but this is the same protocol that Guiliana Rancic (from E! News) used when she did her first IVF cycle. I just watched a new episode from her show last night (Guliana & Bill) and her RE retrieved 8 eggs, 5 fertilized and they transfered 2 on day 5. She got a BFP on her first cycle but sadly ended up miscarrying at 10 weeks. But at least we know this protocol does work for some!