Anyone done FET without BCP????

[joy2b]

So I am one of those weird people that doesn't do well on BCP. I took BCP x8 weeks prior to FET in May and my cycle ended up canceled after about 7 days of Lupron due to high blood pressure. So now things are back to normal and we're considering trying another FET. However, we are thinking of doing either totally unmedicated (which I know doesn't have great outcomes) or trying Lupron on a natural cycle with estrogen, progesterone, etc. Just going with my normal ovulation pattern instead of using BCP. I'm waiting to here if my RE is willing to try this.

Anyone out their try this? If so was it successful or unsuccessful?

Our issues are MF so far I haven't had any problems with ovulating, etc.

Joy2b
Thanks in advance

[JenNeedsABaby]

I was successful without Lupron and BC pills. But, that was after a cycle with both in which needed to be canceled (long story...had nothing to do with Lupron or BC pills), so by the time we were on our 4th FET, the RE felt confident enough without Lupron and BC pills to prevent ovulation.

[slfranci]

Hi Joy2b,

The clinic I went to routinely does medicated FET cycles without BCP or Lupron. I took estrogen and progesterone (and the other usuals like antibiotic and medrol), but did not take anything for suppression. There are some research studies you can find online that showed that estrogen is sufficient in preventing ovulation in most FET cycles. It doesn't work for everyone, but my RE said it works for most women. The only risk was that if I ovulated, we would have had to start over with the supression meds.
Good luck!

[cautioushope]

I had lupron but no BCP's. Now in the 2WW for Beta. Lupon, Medrol, Doxy, Estrace and POI were my meds.

[treemama]

Joy2b -- I am 8 weeks along with a totally unmedicated cycle, except HCG for the trigger. I highly recommend it. Not dealing with the estrace and shots and lupron was so wonderful. And we only put in one embryo too.

[kat75]

Treemama,

I'm not familiar with doing an unmedicated protocol with HCG as a trigger. I do miserably on estrace (okay with bcp) and wonder if this might be an option for me. Would you tell me more about it? When do they start monitoring you? Any progesterone supplementation?

Thanks!

[treemama]

kat75 -- They started to monitor me on day 9 of my cycle with blood work and ultrasound. For me day 11 was the day they decided to trigger, just like you would do for an IUI. I still had to do blood work after that, and I did get a bit more HCG to bump my estrogen. A week after the trigger we did the transfer and I took no more drugs, no estrace or progesterone. My doctor had never done a natural before so I had to convince him to try it, but the fact that estrace is a category X drug made me want to avoid it. Good luck!

[kat75]

Originally Posted by treemama

kat75 -- They started to monitor me on day 9 of my cycle with blood work and ultrasound. For me day 11 was the day they decided to trigger, just like you would do for an IUI. I still had to do blood work after that, and I did get a bit more HCG to bump my estrogen. A week after the trigger we did the transfer and I took no more drugs, no estrace or progesterone. My doctor had never done a natural before so I had to convince him to try it, but the fact that estrace is a category X drug made me want to avoid it. Good luck!

Thanks! That's really good information. I'm stuck doing a medicated cycle this time (I'm in the middle of the BCP portion) but my doctor says he'd be willing to try an unmedicated cycle if this one doesn't work and I have a lot of trouble with the estrace. It's a relief to know there are options available. Take care!

[Han1216]

Originally Posted by slfranci

Hi Joy2b,

The clinic I went to routinely does medicated FET cycles without BCP or Lupron. I took estrogen and progesterone (and the other usuals like antibiotic and medrol), but did not take anything for suppression. There are some research studies you can find online that showed that estrogen is sufficient in preventing ovulation in most FET cycles. It doesn't work for everyone, but my RE said it works for most women. The only risk was that if I ovulated, we would have had to start over with the supression meds.
Good luck!

This is pretty much exactly what my clinic uses as a protocol for FET, except it does not use any antibiotics or medroll--just the estrogen and progesterone. 29 weeks pregnant after using this protocol. My estrogen was through twice weekly injections as my lining did not respond to estrace pills during the first attempted cycle.

[ErinJean]

My clinic does medicated cycles without lupron or BC, as well. I am currently on BC only because I was going to be out of town and they didn't want AF to come while I was gone so I would miss my CD3 labs. But if not, I would just be waiting for AF naturally, then starting estrogen and progesterone before the transfer. We do use the antibiotic, etc., as well.