stopping Lupron during stims

[Anonymous]

I just went in for my first monitoring after the first 3 days of stims. When I got a call from the nurse at SG, she said to stop the 5 units of Lupron and double amount of Menopur I'm taking (keeping Gonal F the same). Has anyone else been told to stop the Lupron at this stage? I thought we were supposed to stay on it the entire time to prevent early ovulation. Anyone have any idea what stopping lupron for a few days might mean? I'll try to ask my real nurse on Monday, but I thought I'd check here since I'm curious and it's the weekend. BTW, I had 13 follicles at my lupron evaluation appt and 15 today. Thanks!!!

[Anonymous]

What was your estrogen level today? It was probably low (less than 100) so you are over-supressed by the lupron. Hence, they are stopping the lupron and upping your stims. Stopping lupron essentially transitions you from the long-lupron protocol to the "lupron stop protocol" (which is a legitimate protocol that some patients are put on from the beginning---lupron is started at the usual time but stopped all-together when stims are started). It's extremely likely you will not be put back on lupron this cycle. If you start over-resonding they will likely just decrease your stims instead.

I wouldn't worry about this at all---many women are over-supressed by the lupron and the whole purpose of the monitoring (ultrasound and bloodwork) is so they can make changes like this. Most doctors do not want to "get behind" on the cycle from the beginning so if estrogen is slow to rise they will be aggressive out of the gates and make protocol changes asap.

I had the exact same thing happen to me. We stopped the lupron, upped the stims and I went on to have a perfect cycle resulting in twins who are now almost 3. We just did another cycle using the acutal lupron stop protocol and I still ended up needing a few increases in stim doses to get my estrogen level and follicles to respond appropriately. However, I am now 10 weeks pregnant so again tinkering with the doses worked!

good luck!

[Anonymous]

Also, I should add that even though you are no longer on the lupron, you won't ovulate prematurely. The lupron you already took has a lasting effect and will prevent ovulation until make it happen when you trigger.

[Anonymous]

thanks!!!! I did not ask for my estrogen level - but your posts make me feel sooooo much better. Congrats on your pregnancy!!!

[Anonymous]

I stopped "early" too and I got pregnant on my first round of IVF.