Ovulation during IVF process

[Anonymous]

How would the dr's know if you already ovulated on your own during an IVF cycle? Does anyone know what kind of signs indicate you already ovulated or about to ovulate on your own? Does your cycle get cancelled if this happens?

[Anonymous]

If you're in the middle of monitoring this would be caught at any one of the ultrasounds. If you're worried about ovulating between the trigger shot and retrieval, you could have them do an ultrasound just prior to retrieval (before you are sent to the OR or given anesthesia).

During my recent IVF I was REALLY worried that I had ovulated or was in the process of ovulating during the time period between the trigger and 36 hours later when I was to go for retrieval. I had all the signs that I normally have when I ovulate and immediately afterwards---a decrease in the copious egg white cervical fluid I get prior to ovulation, a ton of ovulatory cramps, and sore breasts that I usually only get after ovulation.
I was so worried that I was ovulating (or had ovulated) that I actually called the SG doctor on call. He assured me that since I had been on lupron (and I was on the Lupron stop protocol which stops lupron prior to stims) that my body was likely not going to ovulate naturally. He said that it was not impossible for me to ovulate but in his years with the practice that he had never seen it happen on any of the lupron protocols.
Sure enough, I hadn't ovulated and had a successful retrieval.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for your input. Say if you had ovulated....how would they know at retrieval time? Couldn't they retreive the other follies even if you ovulated 1 of your follies? This may be a dumb question so sorry in advance for sounding stupid.

[Anonymous]

They will also catch it from your LH levels measured during your regular blood tests.

I was worried about this during my last cycle because of my cervical fluid, but my doc told me that the rising estrogen levels (due to the extra follicles) would cause the extra cervical fluid.

[Anonymous]

09:44 here again
They would generally be able to tell by ultrasound if you have ovulated. The RE I talked to about my fears of premature ovulation suggested I ask for an ultrasound just prior to retrieval to confirm that the follicles were still full and the eggs hadn't ovulated. I imagine that once ovulation occurs the follicles either disappear entirely or if they remain (I have no idea) they have a different, empty apearance on ultrasound.
Also, the doctor I talked with at SG said that once one egg ovulates, the rest follow. You can't stop the process mid-ovulation to try and save some follicles from ovulating.

[Anonymous]

I have heard of this happening occasionally, especially at one particular clinic (in NJ). But I do think it's rare on a Lupron protocol. In a few cases, the women ovulated some of their eggs immediately before retrieval, but there were still some left at retrieval. What is your protocol?

[Anonymous]

I was on 20 units of Lupron for a week which was lowered to 5 units for 3 days and then I was told to come off of Lupron all together due to a slow response to my stims. I triggered last night and also had crazy EWCM yesterday. I'm hoping I don't ovulate before retrieval tomorrow morning.

[Anonymous]

I was on 20 units of Lupron for a week which was lowered to 5 units for 3 days and then I was told to come off of Lupron all together due to a slow response to my stims. I triggered last night and also had crazy EWCM yesterday. I'm hoping I don't ovulate before retrieval tomorrow morning.

You should be just fine. The EWCM is just indicative of your high estrogen level.
When they stopped the lupron they essentially transitioned you from a "long lupron" protocol to the "lupron stop" protocol. Many women (myself included) have been on the lupron stop protocol from the beginning. Although the lupron is stopped, it's effect stays around and ovulation is prevented. My SG doctor assured me that he has never had anyone prematurely ovulate on this protocol.

[Anonymous]

I ovluated on a combined protocol of lupron and the birth control pill (I was a patient at SG). Both are meant to suppress you, but about 5% of women will ovulate through it. Leave it to me not to be able to get pregnant for the life of me but to ovulate through both meds. In any event, they were able to tell based on my blood work (every time you will come in for monitoring they will draw blood and do a sono). If it happens, they will continue you on the Lupron and wait for your levels to go down. They didn't cancel my cycle, but it cost me an extra week before I could start my stims, which was excruciating!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I ovluated on a combined protocol of lupron and the birth control pill (I was a patient at SG). Both are meant to suppress you, but about 5% of women will ovulate through it. Leave it to me not to be able to get pregnant for the life of me but to ovulate through both meds. In any event, they were able to tell based on my blood work (every time you will come in for monitoring they will draw blood and do a sono). If it happens, they will continue you on the Lupron and wait for your levels to go down. They didn't cancel my cycle, but it cost me an extra week before I could start my stims, which was excruciating!

I think it's a little different if you ovulate during stim, rather than suppression. I believe OP was concerned because it was right before her retrieval. Hopefully, all has turned out well, and OP has gone on to a successful retrieval by now.

[Anonymous]

OP here! Thank you everyone for all the info. I did go on to have a succesful retrieval.

I am scheduled for a day 5 transfer on Wednesday. Wish me tons of luck ladies.