Follicle Question

Hi everyone!

I start my stimulation today. Retrieval on 11/7... so excited!

Question - today I had an ultrasound (have been on lupron for 12 days) and I had 8 follicles on both sides (total of 16).
I have no idea what this means - based on everyone's experience is this good, bad, average? Just curious.

I know overstimulating is bad but I was hoping this was enough.

Also, if there are 16 follicles does that mean 16 eggs?

Sorry for the silly questions but just curious - everyone seems to know so much on these boards!

Thanks

Re: Follicle Question

Wait, you started stimming today and you already have 16 follicles??

Re: Follicle Question

I think I have it right...

Yes, I went in today for an ultrasound. Have been on lupron for 12 days. They said I have 8 follicles on each side and my lining was thin (she said that was a good thing).
I am waiting for a call this afternoon and I take my first injection of my gonel - F (sp?) pen (stimulation I believe) today.
I understand I am on this for a few days and then we have to start mixing the repronex (sp?), etc. and then my retrieval is 11/7.

Does this not make sense?

Re: Follicle Question

What you are doing about stimming makes a lot of sense, I've just never seen follicles before I started stimming. Did they say how big they are??

PS -- 16 follicles means 16 eggs, but depending on how big they are is how many they're going to take out. If you have them already I can't imagine they won't be the right size by the time retrieval comes. You will probably have a TON more than 16 by the time you're ready for retrieval, though.

Lupron doesn't make you stimulate, Lupron actually just supresses ovulation. Were you on BCP when taking the Lupron? And are you staying on the Lupron during stimming?

Message edited 10/22/2007 11:38:36 AM.

Re: Follicle Question

No, they didn't. I think they are fairly small though if I remember past conversations I've had.

Thanks for your questions - it helps me put things in perspective.

All this information is total overload sometimes!

Re: Follicle Question

It is normal to have that...that doesn't mean you will get 16 eggs....you need a mature follicle (to be at least 17mm in size) to contain a mature egg...every woman has many follicles that are usually smaller than 10mm during their cycle but then only 1 egg gets released (sometimes more-multiples)...you probably saw follicles that were under 10mm today....the important thing is that they all grow to a mature size during your stimms....do you have PCOS by any chance??

Your count sounds good so you will make a nice amount of eggs.....just remember it is not quantity in an IVF cycle but quality that counts!

GL!!

Re: Follicle Question

Found this for you...

Antral follicles are small follicles (about 2-8 mm in diameter) that we can see - and measure and count - with ultrasound. Antral follicles are also referred to as resting follicles. Vaginal ultrasound is the best way to accurately assess and count these small structures. In my opinion, the antral follicle counts (in conjunction with female age) are by far the best tool that we currently have for estimating ovarian reserve and/or chances for pregnancy with in vitro fertilization.

Presumably, the number of antral follicles visible on ultrasound is indicative of the relative number of microscopic (and sound asleep) primordial follicles remaining in the ovary. Each primordial follicle contains an immature egg that can potentially develop in the future. In other words, when there are only a few antral follicles visible, there are less eggs remaining as compared to when there are more antral follicles visible. As women age, they have less eggs (primordial follicles) remaining, therefore they have less antral follicles visible on ultrasound.

Antral follicle counts are a good predictor of the number of mature follicles that we will be able to stimulate in the woman's ovaries when we administer the injectable FSH medications that are used for in vitro fertilization. The number of eggs retrieved correlates with IVF success rates.

1. When there are an average (or high) number of antral follicles, we tend to get a "good" response with many mature follicles. We tend to get a good number of eggs at retrieval in these cases. Pregnancy rates are higher than average.

2. When there are few antral follicles, we tend to get a poor response with few mature follicles. Cancellation of the IVF cycle is much more common when there is a low antral count. Pregnancy rates are lower overall in this group. The reduction in success rates is more pronounced in women over 35 years old.

3. When the number of antral follicles is intermediate, the response is not as predictable. In most cases the response is intermediate. However, we could also have either a low or a very good response when the antral counts are intermediate. Pregnancy rates are pretty good overall in this group.

Re: Follicle Question

Thank you for your post.

No, I don't have PCOS. We are both CF carriers so we are doing this to test the embryos so we can have a baby without CF.

I do hope my body responds well though. I am defenetly going for quality - fingers crossed for good quality mature follies!

Thank you!

Re: Follicle Question

Good luck!!!

Re: Follicle Question

Total number of antral follicles Expected response to injectable ovarian stimulating drug (FSH product) and chances for success

Less than 4 Extremely low count, very poor (or no) response to stimulation and a cancelled cycle expected.
Should seriously consider not attempting IVF at all.
Rare pregnancies if IVF attempted.

4-7 Low count, we are concerned about a possible/probable poor response to the stimulation drugs.
Likely to need high doses of FSH product to stimulate ovaries adequately.
Higher than average rate of IVF cycle cancellation.
Lower than average pregnancy rates for those cases that make it to egg retrieval. The reduction in success rates is more pronounced beyond age 35.

8-10 Somewhat reduced count.
Higher than average rate of IVF cycle cancellation.
Slightly reduced chances for pregnancy as a group.

11-14 Normal (but intermediate) count, the response to drug stimulation is sometimes low, but usually good.
Slight increased risk for IVF cycle cancellation.
Pregnancy rates as a group only slightly reduced compared to the "best" group.

15-26 Normal (good) antral count, should have an excellent response to ovarian stimulation.
Likely to respond well to low doses of FSH product.
Very low risk for IVF cycle cancellation. Some risk for ovarian overstimulation.
Best pregnancy rates overall as a group.

Over 26 High count, watch for polycystic ovary type of ovarian response.
Likely to have a high response to low doses of FSH product.
Higher than average risk for overstimulation.
Very good pregnancy rate overall as a group, but some cases in the group have egg quality issues and lower chances for pregnancy.

Re: Follicle Question

Wow... those posts are awesome.

Thank you so much for the information!!

Re: Follicle Question

WOW, that's a lot of great info I didn't know, too!

I'm surprised that the doctors told you abot all those follicles if they don't really mean anything...