I have read that a couple of moms on this Board had IVF success in a lower stim protocol. I know the more follicles/eggs the better but can anyone explain why a lower stim would be possible (other than required when there are very high natural hormone levels in the mom)? I may have the gene for ovarian cancer (and possibly breast cancer also) so it is very important to me to avoid any of the hormones that I can possibly avoid. I would prefer to do an extra cycle or two if it would lessen my possible long-term cancer risk. The cancer in my family and my risk of it is a very real and very painful part of my life. I am still trying to learn which protocols are available in IVF. Thank you for your assistance, Jen B.

I'm not sure if there's a protocol that always involves less stims, but you could probably start out with a lower dose (I did a very low dose of gonal f on the long lupron protocol).  But there's no guarantee that you'd respond well to a low dose. I have read that IVF drugs do not increase cancer risk, with a possible exception of there being a predisposition.  Maybe it would make sense to test for the genes (if possible) before deciding to do IVF?

I agree with Lilian. They also use your Day 3 panel to figure out how much medicine you'll need. I was also on a low dose of stims and I did get 22 mature eggs. I would talk to your doctor about the cancer in your family and see what he says.

Wow!  You were an egg machine!  do you mind if I ask your age?  You know Im lurking in all the question threads on IVF/PDG with/without MS for getting my boy next.....(Did I read that adding MS to the cycle(s) would not really help for a boy, that its better for a girl?)....I will be 34 when we try....and we are STILL researching HOW.   I read that you need to get about 17 to begin, then you'll lose them in stages until you have only enough left for maybe 2 cycles.  It amazed me that out of so many eggs, you lose so many.  (they explained that some were abnormal, some may be damaged during the process, some may not develop properly into embryo).  Im afraid I wont be able to produce enough.....then im terrified I'll get the hyper ovarian stimulation....I read a blog about someone who had it happen AFTER becoming pregnant and had to have an ovary removed at 6 weeks.  TERRIFYING.  She had a miracle baby!   Im reading eveyrone's siggies and some have had so many failed attempts that its heartbreaking.  Im getting cold feet!

I'm 34, too. I did overstim for the first 2 cycles, and ovulated through the lupron on #2, also, that's why they were canceled. There was a rash of overstimming on ingender around that time, it was odd. MS is better for girls with sorts averaging around 90%, for boys, they average 75-80%, so you would still have better than the regular 50-50 shot. Your FSH should give you a good idea of your ovarian reserve. I didn't do PGD, my clinic is not a big proponent. But to give you an idea of follies/eggs...I had about 13 or so on each side, and the RE thought that I'd get about 10 good eggs from those. They ended up getting 23 eggs, 22 mature, 17 fertilize, 12 made it to day 5, put back 1, froze 6.

Good luck, it is stressful, but hopefully worth it in the end.

That sounded so perfect....Were most of your embies girls?  I see it said 92% sort on your siggie...Is that the sperm sort number of X they sorted?  Im still not quite sure how they get that number!!  Did you end up with mostly girl embies?  ALL girl? 

So I should most definately add the Microsort to my IVF/PDG if I can right?  And Ive read that the diet for DH can help with more Y spermies to make more boy embies if I DONT get to do MS.  Ive not heard back yet if the clinic Im planning on trying actually does it or not.  Im looking at using the one that Kate used in Alabama.  I dreamed last night that I did the whole procedure and had NO boy embies.  I woke up so upset.....but I keep seeing a dark haired little boy in an orange t-shirt in my dreams.  My son had dirty blonde hair.  This little boy Im seeing has black hair like my husband.  I KNOW he's out there....his brother probably has him all picked out.....I just dont know what to do to GET him. 

I don't know if they're all girls, or even if this pregnancy is a girl (please oh please!) since I didn't do PGD. MS keeps a little of the sperm and tests it to see the ratio of x vs. y sperm.

As for adding MS, some people think that adding it is too much when you are doing PGD. But some people have also come out of PGD, with only the undesired gender, so it can be a crapshoot. I really hope your little boy finds you

Can I ask why you didn't go the route for MS/IUI vs. MS/IVF?  Odds to conceive too low?

Yes and the travel for IUI with four kids was just too much.

Ah!  I got you mixed with Lilian...she did IVF/PDG without MS, you did IVG/MS.  With that good of a sort, surely you will have your girl!!  IF they only think 7% was girl, you should be good!  That upped your odds SOOO much.  If it does turn out boy, then he sure as heck wanted to be your little boy!.  I'll pray you hear boy for your sono.  All my girl dust headed your way.

Hi there!   There are so many different protocols and ultimately your RE will be able  to pick an IVF protocol that they feel will give you the best odds of having a successful cycle.  However, it is always great to increase your knowledge and info on the protocols so when you have your consultation you can add to the discussion and have a voice in the selection.  I know for me I was very set on the Antagon protocol for a variety of reasons-- take less meds, less eggs, no BCP, etc....  So, that protocol just really fit with my personal thoughts and my goals for the cycle.  However, if you are doing PGD it is helpful to have more eggs that yield more embryos because the PGD process can significantly reduce the number of available embies for transfer and if you do not have enough to work with you may have a NO TRANSFER.  However, that being said I personally follow the quality over quantity line of thinking but for PGD cycles that may not be wise.............   Like you I wanted to take the least amount of meds, hormones etc.. as possible just because I am the type of person who will barely take tylenol for a headache.   So, you can take lower doses or you can do a protocol that involves less medicaiton overall.    I think many clinics do have a standard protocol or "favorite" protocol that is used more than others; however, getting a tailored more individual protocol is possible and doing one on lower doses or less meds is possible too!     I hope some others will respond to that have had all different protocols and can give their perspective and thoughts about the different protocols-- lots of opinions out there.....  TJ

when I called for the info on prices today, the nurse went into a bit of detail like this....I kept asking about the 3 cycle package and she said that its best to get your consult, get all your tests, then you can sit down and see what needs to be done on a "realistic" basis based on your body....she said the doc could recommend just the one cycle for a normally healthy fertile woman  (yet Im too afraid to try that after seeing "healthy fertile" women have a no transfer, lack of embie of the gender they wanted).....Im thinking that I will go with at least 2 cycles, but have NO idea what meds I would need....I didnt even know you could choose them yourself.  I read about soy being used instead of clomid....and Im wondering what If I can have DH do the boy diet to produce more boy spermies for the process.....I was told today that they have great results with boy embies with just IVF/PDG.....but I would be devastated if I had no boy embies...

So does taking all the meds up your chance of getting cancer?  What does it mean to be on a low stim?  Which medication would be different?  I also might have the gene but have not been tested.  For the time being, I don't want to know.

 thanks

hi everyone, I said I would post what I learned to thank everyone who has helped me get started! I had my first phone consult and I was told to be careful of a low stim protocol as it she described it as "'sub-standard" (even if a woman has a hormone issue that requires it, it's not as good of a result). I still have a lot to learn about what my likely outcomes will be -and I am very humbled by seeing fertile women on this Board have no-transfer cycles and repeated BFN cycles in IVF.  Especially if a woman cannot easily manage to cycle more than 2-3 times, then, I think such woman would want to go with the standard protocols. PGD s would really necessitate a large number of eggs. and and whether you are only willing to do single emb transfer only means that you may need to do more cycles.

JenB,

I'm sorry the cancer gene runs in your family... can they do PGD to screen your girl embryos so your future DD will be cancer gene free?  I've heard they can do that now with specialized PGD probes.