Anonymous wrote:I have severe endo so medicated IVF was not recommended and since I only have one ovary, my response would not be more than a couple eggs at best. We are trying Nat cycle IVF and I have been reading tons of stuff in favor of this approach:
http://fertstert.org/article/abstracts?terms1=natural+cycle+ivf&terms2=&terms3=&terms4=
http://www.100infertilityquestions.blogspot.com/

The 100 questions blog is a big Dominion sales piece. Be careful what you find on the internet about Natural Cycle. most of it can be traced back to Dimattina and Dominion. He's a damn one man marketing show for that natural cycle.

make sure you consider GW for natural cycle, Dominion like sto say they are the only ones in the DC are who do it and they are dead wrong.

Hi, I'm considering natural cycle IVF or minimal stimulation if the fully stimmed IVF shows bad quality eggs. It will certainly be less stressful and will cost the same as a medicated IUI, with probably a greater chance of success.

Still thinking of switching acupuncturists. I'm at retrieval stage now so I'll wait but if there is another cycle I'm considering Keri Westhauer.

Just wanted to address the natural cycle question... I've done both stimulated and natural cycle IVF. My eggs from several stimulated IVFs were bad quality. I believed that the drugs negatively affected them, and it was different protocols. The REs just wanted to keep increasing the doses. After looking at my stats, they suggested donor eggs. I then went to natural cycle IVF, and it was completely different... great quality eggs, and I got pregnant on fourth try (second time to transfer). I was just shy of my 40th birthday at the time. I think you should give it a try!

Hi PP, OP here. I've had three at-home inseminations, 1 clomid IUI, 3 natural cycle IUIs, so I've tried for about 6-7 cycles. Instead of a medicated IUI, I decided to move to IVF. If I'm going to spend thousands of dollars, I want it to be on the procedure with a greater chance of succeeding.

I do feel like this would be easier with a partner and "free" sperm, but what is the point of thinking that?

PP, I understand! I am AMA and single, too. I have had 5 failed iui's, 4 failed ivf's, and cancelled cycles. Trying 1 more time, than strongly considering adoption. ( i am very pro adoption, but wanted to give it my all ttc first. So, what is your story? Good luck!

OP here, thank you PP!

My acupuncturist does work out of her home but not in Bethesda. She is nice, I'm even quite fond of her and I know she cares about me and wants me to be successful, but her insistence on the negative ("it won't work") has caused me more stress than I can handle, since I decided to go the medicated route.

Today I went to another acupuncturist in Georgetown at Tulsi. I'd been crying all morning (she says to honor it and release it), and since she had time, she gave me a Moxa (sp) treatment and rubbed/massaged my feet, and just spent a lot of time with me listening and talking, to make me feel better. She actually was glad I'm moving on to IVF, saying what I was thinking "sometimes when you are having trouble, it's time to pull out the big guns"--and I am. She was SOooooo kind today, that I think she is the one I'll stick with through this. The only thing is if either my egg retrieval or transfer are on a Monday she won't be available.

I was also thinking of trying Keri Westhauer, who gets rave reviews here. I shopped around before deciding on GW for IVF (second choice was Shady Grove), so of course now I'm happy to shop around for the right acupuncturist too. But, acupuncture is not what is going to make this happen, that is the RE, his lab, and my eggs. The acupuncture is supportive and since I like my current practitioner, and she knows me over several cycles, I'm inclined to stick with her.

I don't know what I'd do without the support I find on the internet. Not many people in daily life understand the single mom/AMA/infertility/old eggs roller coaster.

Thanks so much for the input everyone.

I wanted to say that I sincerely hope everything works out for you. I went to an accupuncturist who was "shocked" when I did not get pregnant after my 2 iuis. I was really unhappy with the way she was acting. Don't take the advice of an accupuncturist. Meet with the RE for stimulated and natural IVF and then make your own decision. Accupuncturist did not go to medical school. Again - I really hope this year makes everything work out for you.

Also, if you had a bad response to clomid why do you think injectible drugs will have fewer side effects?

Because the injectible drugs perform a different action in the body. Clomid tricks the brain into thinking that you are going through menopause, so a lot of the side effects are "menopausal" (hot flashes, sleeplessness, etc.) Injectibles like Follistim or Gonal-F don't have the same mode of action.

Which is not to say that injectibles have NO side effects. Everyone is different. But it's possible to have a bad reaction to Clomid and little-to-no bad reaction to injectibles (like me)

I think that if natural cycle is what you want to do, you need to think of it as something you'll do over multiple cycles. It's less likely that one cycle will produce the "golden egg" like a cycle with multiple eggs might.

Medicated IVF will not work for everyone. If you have FSH over a certain number it is an indicator you will be a poor responder to the medications. Do what you think is best. There is a different solution for each and everyone of us. As for conceiving naturally- even at peak fertility you still only have 20% chance each month. Also, if you had a bad response to clomid why do you think injectible drugs will have fewer side effects? Just wondering. Talk to an RE about natural cycle vs medicated IVF. As pp stated, it can be a good option for some. I am planning oin doing NC-IVF bc I am a poor responder to the meds but in my heart of hearts I have always sort of feared medicated IVF- so maybe you just need to get informed then make the decision that is best for you. Good luck!

hmm...I too saw an accupunc. in Bethesda that works out of her home (Chinese lady)...anyways I recommend the medicated cycle...that is what I did and had success. My feelings are: it is best to have *medical control* over every aspect of this you can to take out the "unknown" variables...plus it is more predictable. don't leave this to chance! IMO it is too pricey of a procedure to go natural.

Is this acupuncturist in Bethesda, works out of her home? Sounds like an acupuncturist I left for the same reason.

Acupuncturist is insisting this is the way to go for women in their 40s--any thoughts?

I think this will be my last appointment with her as I need someone who is supportive of the path that I'm taking.

Seems to me that if natural cycle was going to work, then you'd probably have conceived naturally, right? I mean it's possible my old eggs (42) are too hard for the sperm to fertilize, so in this case the ICSI and Assisted Hatching would help--but to put all my hopes on that one little egg? It's still $4500 for the natural cycle. I think I'd prefer minimal stimulation, at least. My GW doctors said if I don't respond well to an aggressive protocol, then we'll go lower dose but doesn't want to start there.

I am going with the medical professionals--I've already failed several times trying the natural way, both at home and IUI (I'm a single mom so all inseminations).

I think I'm going to make this the last session with this acupuncturist. I have another at Tulsi Georgetown who will tell you the facts but understands using medical intervention.

I also think that the injectable drugs cause a lot fewer side effects than the hideous Clomid that I was on.