Success stories on IVF-Antagon protocol

[Anonymous]

What's a Lupron trigger? I thought HCG was the only trigger mechanism?

[Anonymous]

For Antagon protocol IVFers- what was your typical calender?
1. For those on BCP, when did u start stim? I mean from your last BCP-- did u start after getting your period or started after 4 days of last pill?
2. How long did u stim and what were the doses?
3. How many eggs retrived and fertilized?
4. 3d or 5d blastocyte transfer?

Thanks in advance.

[Anonymous]

@ 14:22

Here is my protocol for my first IVF cycle after my MC:

08/15 - CD1
08/18 - CD4 - BCPs
09/07 - CD24 - Last Day BCPs
09/10 - CD1 - Period
09/11 - CD2 - Start Stims (Gonal-F (225) & Luveris (75))
09/19 - CD10 - Add Cetrotide (prefilled syringe)
09/23 - CD14 - Last Day Stims (Gonal-F & Luveris)
09/24 - CD15 - Last Day Cetrotide
09/26 - CD17 - Egg Retrieval (15 eggs retrieved, 14 fertilized normally)
09/27 - CD18 - Start Estrogen/Endometrium
10/01 - CD 22 - Embryo Transfer Day 5 (2 morala embryos)
10/13 - CD34 - BW = BFN
10/15 - CD1 - Period

Hope this helps. We are not waiting on my period to start again in November. Hoping it does. This time we are NOT doing BCPs. We're going straight to stims (high dosages) once I start my period.

[Anonymous]

I have most of my details in the 10/13/2010 21:45 post, but wanted to add that I did not take BCPs prior to starting stims.

[Anonymous]

Poster 17:02, thank you so much for sharing your protocol. May I ask what clinic you are at and your age? Also, what is the reason for not taking BCPs during your next cycle? I'm at SG and about to start the same protocol but wondering if taking BCPs would cause oversuppresion for me and affect my egg quality (I'm 33). Already had that issue when I was on the long lupron protocol. If you are at SG, do you know if they will allow you to do a cycle without BCPs?

Thanks so much for your help in advance

[Anonymous]

Just bringing this thread back to check if anyone currently on this protocol and any recent success stories? I am on my stim day9. And about the lupron trigger, is it subQ or IM injection. I remember on my previous cycle with lupron protocol, I did subQ lupron, but the lupron for my trigger on RX vial says IM, totally confused about that.
Thanks a lot in advance.

[Anonymous]

I just did this protocol but triggered with an IM HCG shot instead of Lupron. I'm so sorry I can't help you. It was however my best cycle to date. GL!

[Anonymous]

PP, did you already test for beta? Could you provide your experience with the protocol, like how many days did you stim; how many eggs retrieved, and what about ET? I am all anxious in the middle of stim days, just want to hear other stories to make me feel better. TIA

[Anonymous]

Poster 11:41 here...(under 35, with MF issues only) I did this protocol and stimmed for 11 days. I would have stimmed for 10 days however the dr wanted to see if we could get a few more follicles to mature. They retrieved 17 eggs, 16 were mature and 15 fertilized. Tranfered 3 grade AA blasts on Day 5. My beta test is this week. 5 of my eggs made it to freeze. This is my second fresh IVF cycle. The first cycle was a long lupron cycle and I was a little oversuppressed from the lupron. Retrieved 12 eggs, transfered 2 morulas that were slow growing and only 1 made it to freeze. That cycle was a bust and so was the FET I did afterwards. Seems like the Antagon cycle yielded more eggs that were better quality.
I think this protocol is good for patients who are slow responders or whose bodies don't handle lupron suppression so well, like me.
Good luck to you!

[Anonymous]

Hi, just want to suggest that you may want to check out the Resolve message boards at www.inspire.com. The women there were a fantastic resource as I went through my IVF cycle. Most share their stories in detail and there are oodles of specifics regarding protocols.

[Anonymous]

Lupron is not approved by the FDA for IVF. It can actually cause a long list of side effects on not only mom to be but to the unborn child. Several women who use the lupron both short term and long term wind up with children who have full blown osteoperosis by the age of 10. Lupron is more damaging than most doctors want to admit, thanks to the lofty financial kick back by Abbott Labs for each injection given. I would highly suggest doing homework in regards to the horrid side effects of lupron. Lupron is a silent killer. It slower deteriates the body. It also increases the chance of multiple myeloma, can cause Dystonia, intense bone pain, and it can shut down both the pituitary gland and thyroid. Well versed physicians who actually care about the patient instead of the paycheck, will tell the truth about Lupron. If one has even one injection, they should wait 3-5 years before considering having children.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Lupron is not approved by the FDA for IVF. It can actually cause a long list of side effects on not only mom to be but to the unborn child. Several women who use the lupron both short term and long term wind up with children who have full blown osteoperosis by the age of 10. Lupron is more damaging than most doctors want to admit, thanks to the lofty financial kick back by Abbott Labs for each injection given. I would highly suggest doing homework in regards to the horrid side effects of lupron. Lupron is a silent killer. It slower deteriates the body. It also increases the chance of multiple myeloma, can cause Dystonia, intense bone pain, and it can shut down both the pituitary gland and thyroid. Well versed physicians who actually care about the patient instead of the paycheck, will tell the truth about Lupron. If one has even one injection, they should wait 3-5 years before considering having children.

This is scary.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Lupron is not approved by the FDA for IVF. It can actually cause a long list of side effects on not only mom to be but to the unborn child. Several women who use the lupron both short term and long term wind up with children who have full blown osteoperosis by the age of 10. Lupron is more damaging than most doctors want to admit, thanks to the lofty financial kick back by Abbott Labs for each injection given. I would highly suggest doing homework in regards to the horrid side effects of lupron. Lupron is a silent killer. It slower deteriates the body. It also increases the chance of multiple myeloma, can cause Dystonia, intense bone pain, and it can shut down both the pituitary gland and thyroid. Well versed physicians who actually care about the patient instead of the paycheck, will tell the truth about Lupron. If one has even one injection, they should wait 3-5 years before considering having children.

Where did you get this information? Please pass along links to studies, etc.

Thanks

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Lupron is not approved by the FDA for IVF. It can actually cause a long list of side effects on not only mom to be but to the unborn child. Several women who use the lupron both short term and long term wind up with children who have full blown osteoperosis by the age of 10. Lupron is more damaging than most doctors want to admit, thanks to the lofty financial kick back by Abbott Labs for each injection given. I would highly suggest doing homework in regards to the horrid side effects of lupron. Lupron is a silent killer. It slower deteriates the body. It also increases the chance of multiple myeloma, can cause Dystonia, intense bone pain, and it can shut down both the pituitary gland and thyroid. Well versed physicians who actually care about the patient instead of the paycheck, will tell the truth about Lupron. If one has even one injection, they should wait 3-5 years before considering having children.

It is true that Lupron is not approved by FDA for ART, but these adverse effects listed by PP are only in the long term use, very rare though in case of IVF- because it is used only for short term. Osteopenia (bone pain), and osteoporosis only occur after the long term use in other indications, as lupron has several other indication (FDA approved) like endometriosis, various cancer in men-women, and precocious puberty in children and many more. And its use in IVF/ART is limited only before ER in most caese, and Lupron has short half life of couple of hours, so PPs claim about waiting for 3-5 years to TTC after Lupron is outrageous. And which drug does not have a side effect? Name one? You have to assess the benefit vs risk in each case, and in case of Lupron its benefit in the IVF is far more than its risk- that many women has taken and are willing to take. PP seems to lost in her research; that most lupron(brand name, generic- leuprolide) used in IVF process is the generic version which is leuprolide manufactured by different generic manufacturer like Sandoz, TEVA, and Abbott mostly has Lupron-depot which dose not have that much use in IVF. So please, do not scare people who are going through so much in life to have a child, and this is a support forum.

P.S: I am not in any way affiliated to any fertility clinic or pharma company, just happen to be a medical professional TTC.

[Anonymous]

This protocol worked for me on my first IVF cycle. We were also unexplained IF -- my FSH was fine for my age (35) and my husband's numbers were great.

I don't remember exact numbers, but I think we triggered around day 10, retrieved 14 eggs, 13 fertilized, still had several embryos after 5 days, but they were slow developing so we transferred 2 on day 6. There were two others that made it to freeze. I'm now in my 3rd trimester with twins! I agree with PP that the lupron trigger is intended to reduce hyperstimulation. In addition to a successful outcome, I had relatively mild side effects while stimming. Obviously I'm biased, but I'd highly recommend this protocol! Good luck!