Does everyone who does IVF have to take BCP beforehand?

My RE never mentioned this to me...

I was under the impression all I had to do was call the office the first day of my period and we are ready to start?

Re: Does everyone who does IVF have to take BCP beforehand?

maybe not birth control, but starting a cycle begins with some sort of suppression

Re: Does everyone who does IVF have to take BCP beforehand?

I am so confused! But thanks for helping!

My doctor said I start with Lupron? Do I have to arrange for anything beforehand or do I just call the day I get AF and I am ready to start?

Re: Does everyone who does IVF have to take BCP beforehand?

lupron is for suppression.
I believe Melijane didn't do BCPs before her cycle either... you could do a search and look at her IVF post from a few months ago. HTH!

Re: Does everyone who does IVF have to take BCP beforehand?

That is funny because I wasn't aware of taking BCP's either when I started. Most protocols start with BCP. I also am not doing BCP's, but in the cycle prior I start estrogen patches around CD21. It all depends on your RE and what your personal situation is.

You should have your IVF schedule before you are ready to start. Are they having you take an IVF class? I would call and find out, you don't want to get AF and be disappointed because its not happening as fast as you thought.

Good luck. Its not as hard as it sounds, seriously. They should walk you through the whole way. And you need to order your meds so they are waiting when you are ready to begin. not to mention the consent forms have to be signed. Insurance or financing needs to be finalized too.

Message edited 8/10/2008 10:19:50 PM.

Re: Does everyone who does IVF have to take BCP beforehand?

I won't be using BCPs. I will start with Estrogen. Maybe it's due to my age.

Re: Does everyone who does IVF have to take BCP beforehand?

I did but that's bc I have PCOS and they needed to suppress/ directly control my cycle.

Re: Does everyone who does IVF have to take BCP beforehand?

Thank you so much everyone. I will call and get everything in order before hand.

I feel like I was not well informed; I am so confused. No one said anything about an IVF class.

I called the IVF coordinator a few weeks ago and said "So, I just call when I get my period and I can start?" She said yes. I am going to call again and be more aggressive with my questions.

Thank for you all your help.

Re: Does everyone who does IVF have to take BCP beforehand?

what dr/practice are you seeing? I go to LI-IVF and DH and I had to take an IVF Orientation class (about 2 hours) before we started IVF. HTH!

Re: Does everyone who does IVF have to take BCP beforehand?

I was forced to take a month off between my last Clomid IUI cycle and my IVF cycle. Because I have PCOS, I was given the choice by my nurse to either go on BCPs or use Provera to bring on a period prior to starting my cycle. I chose to go on the BCPs because I hated the side effects I had from Provera the one time I had to take it.

Re: Does everyone who does IVF have to take BCP beforehand?

Posted by MrsMessina

what dr/practice are you seeing? I go to LI-IVF and DH and I had to take an IVF Orientation class (about 2 hours) before we started IVF. HTH!

Re: Does everyone who does IVF have to take BCP beforehand?

Nope....Just waited for CD 3 and off we went!

Re: Does everyone who does IVF have to take BCP beforehand?

Every RE is different. Some have classes, some sit down with you and some will have a nurse explain everything to you right beforehand.

If you have questions, you should call your RE and ask how the whole process is going to be explained.

As far as BCP's, again dependent on the RE, everyone's protocol is different.

The basic schedule goes something like this.
You get AF.
You go in for CD2/3 testing.
You start either BCP or Lupron to suppress your system for a few weeks.
You go back in for blood and sono to make sure nothing is going on.
You start your stims.
Stim for 8-14 days.
Retrieval
Transfer
Wait two weeks for beta.

HTH

Re: Does everyone who does IVF have to take BCP beforehand?

I think all RE's/clinics are different as are all patient circumstances. I wouldn't worry if your RE hasn't decided to put you on them.

I'll actually be on them for 6 weeks by the time I start stimming. This is bc I committed to the Sept cycle and got AF in late July. I suppose the RE wants complete control of my cycle and he also batches all of his patience so they are cycling at the same time.

Re: Does everyone who does IVF have to take BCP beforehand?

My practice is small so there is no "orientation" class, but there is a 2-3 hour consultation with the nurse who runs the IVF program, where she explains EVERYTHING.

My practice requires that all patients take a month off between a stimulated cycle and the IVF cycle, to let your body rest and recuperate. Then, I believe, I start Lupron. I find out more about this whole process at my first consultation next week so I should have a better idea then.

Re: Does everyone who does IVF have to take BCP beforehand?

I wasn't on BCPs for my IVF cycle

Re: Does everyone who does IVF have to take BCP beforehand?

I was on BCP for 20 days and I think that's pretty typical.

Re: Does everyone who does IVF have to take BCP beforehand?

I was not on BCP's. My Dr told me the majority of the reason for BCP's is to get all patients on the same cycle so they are doing retirevals, transfers, stims, etc at the same time. I did not go on BCP because it so happened that my period came 3 days before their next cycle(which I knew as i was always very regular) My issues were tubal and high fsh-I always ovulated regularly. I was never on suppression either. My protocol was Gonal and Menopur with Ganirelix at the end. I am now PG with twins from a 7 and 9 cell 3 day transfer.

My clinic gave me a sheet that explained the process-did you get that in a folder maybe?

Re: Does everyone who does IVF have to take BCP beforehand?

I didn't. I was started on Lupron...never BC.