Since I am not down for Fertility Treatment this month, I took the opportunity to do some reading first. There are some blogs that I am currently following closely. Very nice reads they have there. I think I might have mentioned before that me and needles are never good friends. The thought of having to do blood tests and self injection makes me cringe. Starting the IVF cycle next month makes me want to find out more about the daily injections coz some have said that it can be quite painful at certain stages.
Ovarian Stimulation
Under normal circumstances, most women produce only one egg each month. The chances of pregnancy are increased if more than one egg is fertilised and replaced. To increase the number of eggs, hormone injections (hormones to cause “down-regulation”, eg Buserilin, Lucrin; then FSH hormone to increase numbers of eggs developed, eg Gonal F) are administered daily. The most commonly used regime involves daily injections of Buserelin or Lucrin, usually commencing 21 days after your period starts (called the “down-regulation” regime). This hormone is first given to control your cycle by preventing your own hormones from disturbing egg production during the programme.
Women may come to the Clinic every day for their injections, but as the needles used are very small, most women find it easier to learn how to give the injections themselves at home, or get their husbands to do it. This has the advantage that it saves you from coming to the hospital every day. After two weeks of these injections, your response is monitored by a blood test and ultrasound scan. If these show you have responded to the Buserelin or Lucrin injections and the scan shows no abnormalities, a second hormone FSH is added, called Gonal F. This is designed to stimulate the ovaries to produce many eggs. The exact dose of the Gonal F injections may be varied according to your response, but the nurse and doctors will decide and let you know of any changes.
Ovarian Stimulation
Under normal circumstances, most women produce only one egg each month. The chances of pregnancy are increased if more than one egg is fertilised and replaced. To increase the number of eggs, hormone injections (hormones to cause “down-regulation”, eg Buserilin, Lucrin; then FSH hormone to increase numbers of eggs developed, eg Gonal F) are administered daily. The most commonly used regime involves daily injections of Buserelin or Lucrin, usually commencing 21 days after your period starts (called the “down-regulation” regime). This hormone is first given to control your cycle by preventing your own hormones from disturbing egg production during the programme.
Women may come to the Clinic every day for their injections, but as the needles used are very small, most women find it easier to learn how to give the injections themselves at home, or get their husbands to do it. This has the advantage that it saves you from coming to the hospital every day. After two weeks of these injections, your response is monitored by a blood test and ultrasound scan. If these show you have responded to the Buserelin or Lucrin injections and the scan shows no abnormalities, a second hormone FSH is added, called Gonal F. This is designed to stimulate the ovaries to produce many eggs. The exact dose of the Gonal F injections may be varied according to your response, but the nurse and doctors will decide and let you know of any changes.
That's not my picture by the way. Borrowed from the net. Can't show my stomach. Hubby will kill me for doing that.
Next stage once, my period arrive is the injection of puregon. I believe this is something similar to what I have injected during my IUI cycle.
Yes I hate needles but if this is the only way for me to get pregnant. So be it. I will put my fears all aside and be strong for my future (not sure when in the future) babies.
2 comments:
the lucrin needles are very very slim, so is the puregon needles. it doesnt hurt much. you can ice the area with ice cube right before the injection to numb it further. promise you no pain. :)
btw, i cannot promise you no pain for the trigger hcg shot on the buttocks. That one hurts a bit. You can ice it a bit longer to numb it. But consolation is, its only 1 HCG trigger shot for the entire process. :)
I want to send you lots of babydust for your upcoming IVF.
Oh thank you very much for the baby dusts. Appreciate it. Really wish I can join all those who have graduated.
As for your suggestions of icing the area, thanks I will note it. I am actually pretty excited on starting the cycle. Cant wait actually. At least I know something is happening in there.
This month, as per usual I will just be praying and hoping.
Post a Comment