I did four cycles at 41+ at two different clinics, and they were variations on antagonist protocols. All started with BCP. The first three cycles were about 10-14 days on BCP, the final was only about six. I had 225 follistim/150 menopur the first three cycles, and stimmed for 10-12 days. I was up to 225/225 of follistim/menopur the fourth round, and stimmed for just seven days. Ganirellix for three, and an HCG trigger on the final round.

I got 12+ eggs the first three cycles, 10 the final one. I had 19 eggs the second cycle.

Each one, in the end, resulted in about four embryos. I only PGS tested the final round (should have done that from the start, big regret) and in that round, I had one normal embryo. (From 10 eggs retrieved.)

No pregnancy, except for a miscarriage in the second cycle.

The PGS testing at age 42 shows that there are still good eggs in there....but I don't think it's worth doing a fifth cycle just to see. Even though I think my doctor thinks I should try, I can't take the disappointment anymore and want to move on with my life.

Debating next steps now...

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Generally speaking, you don't want a protocol that starts with suppression with birth control pills.

Why not?

oversupression.

+1 Oversupression can mean that a higher dose of stims is needed. Higher meds affect egg quality.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Generally speaking, you don't want a protocol that starts with suppression with birth control pills.

Why not?

oversupression.

antagonist with no bcp

Donor egg...

Anonymous wrote:Generally speaking, you don't want a protocol that starts with suppression with birth control pills.

For me: Each cycle attempted w/bcp suppression (3), I had a hormone-releasing cyst which resulted in cycles being postponed. Only got off the ground were ivf cycles that began w/stims on CD 2 - 3, no bcp.

Anonymous wrote:Generally speaking, you don't want a protocol that starts with suppression with birth control pills.

It all depends on your individual numbers. At 41, all my antagonist protocols started with bcps. I had between 10-15 eggs retrieved per cycle. The number of normal embryos was another story.

If everyone could list their dosages, please, that would be helpful. Did you read the article that just came out (the nytimes linked to it earlier this week) that says higher stim doses create lower quality embryos? I'm trying to decide whether to use 450 FSH this cycle rather than 600.

Anonymous wrote:Generally speaking, you don't want a protocol that starts with suppression with birth control pills.

Why not?

Generally speaking, you don't want a protocol that starts with suppression with birth control pills.

Estrogen primed antagonist protocol. Pretty high doses of stims- 450 Follistim and 150 Menopur. I also Omnitrope, a growth hormone, during my successful cycle. I am 40 and will deliver a few months before turning 41.

PP, what clinic are you using?

Age 43. Last antagonist / no bcp protocol yielded 13 eggs, all mature; zero normal at day 5. Dr added hgh to antagonist protocol (no bcp) this cycle to see if that will help quality...we'll see; started with 18 follicles, 14 growing at first monitoring appt.

Antagonist protocol, high on Menopur and low on Gonal F.

For those of you age 40 plus, what was the protocol you used that gave you the best results including quantity as well as quality?