Poor first response to IVF stims?

I am 29. My first round of IVF, My RE retrieved only 6 eggs, 2 of which fertilized. The cycle ultimately ended in a chemical pregnancy/ early MC (my RE referred to it as a miscarriage, but I'm not sure I understand the difference between the two).

So now I am starting my second cycle bcp in the bext few weeks when AF comes. My question is... Did any of you not respond well to stims during your first IVF and do better in a second attempt? Will increasing FSH increase the number of follies or just how fast they grow?

I have started acupuncture in preparation for this cycle and plan to ask my doctor if we can increase the amount of stims. Also, before my last cycle, I was on bcp for almost 5 weeks due to timing. Is it possible I was oversuppressed?

Any insight would be appreciated. All of my bloodwork was in the normal range. Just trying to get myself back to a positive place before starting again.

Re: Poor first response to IVF stims?

Unfortunately for alot of people the first cycle is basically trial and error. Unless you have done a few injectable cycles you dont really know how your body is going to react to the stimming drugs. Doctors usually can change your protocol for the second one since they have a more clear picture of how your body responds. I have had a few cycles and with each I had more eggs produced with the changing protocols.
Since your hormones are normal (I don't think you said you have a high fsh) and you are young hopefully your new protocol will do the trick. I am not sure what issues you have, male factor or unexplained, but you should speak to the doctor and see what changes he will make and if he thinks you will make a difference. I don't think you would be oversuppressed by the bcp since your hormones are in the normal range.
Good luck to you!

Re: Poor first response to IVF stims?

Thank you! I am hoping this round goes differently too!

Re: Poor first response to IVF stims?

i also heard that low stimming protocols work better. when i did injectable IUI, i was on low stims and it gave me what we wanted: 2 follies. GL!

Re: Poor first response to IVF stims?

did u skip to IVF without doing injectables first? like the PP said injectable IUI/TI cycles def provide the doctor with info that will help decide the stim for an IVF cycle.

regardless, i doubt BCP oversuppress you to that extent. i historically oversuppress from BCP but it usually just takes an extra day or two to produce follies. generally oversuppression from BCP goes away when you are off BCP for a few extra days. from my experience it doesnt effect the amount of follies produced, just the time it takes to produce them.

a lot of how you stim will depend on your DX, so the next step to increase egg quantity really depends on that. good luck!

Re: Poor first response to IVF stims?

Our issue is male IF so we did skip straight to IVF with ICSI. I think I am just concerned that this cycle is an indication that something is wrong with me. We didn't anticipate any problems with me. My "next steps" meeting is next week, so I guess I will get more info then just seems far when my mind keeps racing....

Re: Poor first response to IVF stims?

I forgot to thank you all for your responses

Re: Poor first response to IVF stims?

I felt that every IVF cycle was a learning experience for my doctor. I did 3 in a half with my current doctor and 1 before then with a different doctor. I say 3 in a half since we stopped one of the cycles in the middle since it was my 3rd in a row, right by the holidays and I could see my DH getting stressed out. I knew my doctor would get me pregnant but he had to see how my body would respond to all the meds and what worked and didn't work. We have unexplained IF, I had poor quality eggs and my husband had morphology issues. I did a bunch of IUI's with clomid at the first doctor I saw before moving on to IVF. Im now pregnant but it took time. I had 12 eggs my last IVF, 9 fertilized, we put in 3 and we have 1 frozen. I had a whole new protocol which gave me hope and it worked.

Re: Poor first response to IVF stims?

I did my 1st IVF cycle and my dr made my protocol (menopur and other stuff). My 2nd IVF I demanded we change my meds (my body LOVES gonal-f). He said no so I said I wouldn't cycle w/ him. He changed my meds to gonal and something else... and my eggs almost tripled. Some meds work better than others w/ our body--- I have PCOS. I knew from trying iuis that my body responded great to gonal-f. Might be something to ask your RE before trying again. HTH!