Why no BCPs for me?

[Maribelle]

Hey all! I just got back from my education day at the clinic, and I am confused.

The 1st nurse who was giving us the general info said that one of us in the room wasn't going to be taking any BCPs but just going on to the Lupron. She said this is usually done when they are afraid that ovaries won't start back up, usually an occurance in older women. I was surprised when they gave a woman in her mid thirties BCPs, but I was the one who is doing lupron only. When I was doing my one-on-one session with a different nurse, I asked her why I wasn't on BCPs and she said it was because I didn't need them because I relatively young, and that lupron would do it all on its own. So I am very confused, since they were saying opposite things. I responded well on Clomid (50) and my FSH is 4.8. Anyone know why they would skip the BCPs for me? I'm paranoid and worrying that they know some secret about my ovaries that they aren't telling me. Any ideas or similar experiences? Thanks for any advice!

Mari
_________________________________________
TTC #1
Me-29 DH-33
DX: Unexplained
IVF #1-early Sept.?

[BC-KarenS-MI]

Mari,
Some women don't get put on BCP's before a cycle. I may be mistaken, but I believe that for some women, being on BCP's AND Lupron will suppress them too much. I've seen ladies here do successful cycles with Lupron alone!

Good luck!

Karen

[maryP926]

Hi Mari,
I've never been put on BCP's either...don't know why, but it seems to have worked out. My FSH was also around 4, and I had good response to Clomid. They startedme on .20 Lupron and I'm doing Follistim now. My 2nd u/s is today, on Thurs I had 32 follies.
I wouldn't worry about it, I've seen alot of different protocols on this bb. Good Luck!!! Mary

[marya]

There are a couple of reasons to go on BCP. The biggest one I think is to schedule your cycle. Both and large clinics need to do this (big ones because they have so many patients and small ones because they often don't have staffing on weekends and holidays). BCP gives a lot more control over your start date. Also women often need to schedule around things. If you have regular cycles that line up with when you want to start then this isn't a factor.

The second reason to use them/not use them is medical. If you have highly cystic ovaries then they will often want you on BCPs to down relegate you to control the cysts. On the other hand if they think you might become over suppressed then they don't want you to be on them. If you are in the middle of the two extremes, then it's really no beneift one way or another whether you are on them or not.

So really both nurses were correct -- younger women who have no issues really don't need to be on them *and* older women who may have over-supression issues also shouldn't be on them.

Good luck!!!

[wiings]

Hi Mari,
Just wanted to let you know I've never been on BCP for any ivf cycles.
Either way no need to worry. Goodluck with your cycle.

[SomedayMommy]

I've been on them, but that is just because my cycle can be a bit unpredictable...

[MelissaS]

Mari,

I've done one IVF and I didnt use BCP or Lupron. My cycle coincided with the clinics schedule. . .

My only question is if some suppression may have been good for me. on CD3 two of my follicles were noticable larger than the others --i'd say 4x or 5x bigger than the rest . . The two large ones ended up taking over and I had to get canceled because they were ready to pop! I suppose at 39 they didn't expect an follicles to be racing to be first!

Good luck with everything!!
Melissa

[Maribelle]

Thanks for the info, ladies! Your replies have eased my mind a lot. It is so weird that there are so many protocols out there. How do the docs and nurses ever keep them all straight? I will stop worrying now and save some of my anxiety for when I actually begin the cycle...lol.

You guys are the best!

Mari