Gonal f question

Hi Ladies! Our insurance changed and we will be paying out of pocket for all IF costs now. Due to Clomid thinning my lining and not really helping my follies, Dr told me during a consultation today that if I'm not preggo (will find out next week), we are going to change course. He gave us two options: IVF or Gonal F and BD or IUI.

Curious what your experiences are on Gonal F as he warned us of over producing and if there are 4+ follies, they'll make us skip the cycle. I hate the idea of sinking the costs into meds and u/s and then having to skip the cycle. How many follies did 75 of gonal f give you?

Are any of your multiples due to gonal f and BD (no IUI or IVF)? Thanks!! We have a big decision financially ahead of us...

Re: Gonal f question

Nobody used gonal f?? If not preg mid-next week, we have to choose the next course of action. My biggest fear is paying out of pocket for all the meds and u/s and then being told I have too many follies and have to skip the cycle! On Clomid I get one so-so follie and a thinned out uterine lining. TIA!

Re: Gonal f question

I did 3 cycles of clomid and iui and produced 1-2 follies and didn't get pregnant. My first injectable cycle I was on 150 gonal-f, ganirelix (to make sure I didn't ovulate and release the follies before they were ready), and ovidrel to finally ovulate once my follies looked mature.

I produced 3-4 follies and got pregnant with one baby that cycle (I had an unrelated miscarriage at 10 wks). My dx is unexplained. If you are on injectable meds, you are being monitored a lot more than just on clomid and the doctor can adjust your dose based on how you are responding.

Did you ask you RE and explain your concerns? He should be able to guide you one way or another. I know their goal is to try to not cancel cycles if possible and they will try not to overstim you for that reason.

GL!!!

Re: Gonal f question

I used Gonal F but I used it for an IVF cycle.

I know people on the IF boards who are using it for an IUI cycle.

FM nicknmb i know she just had her third IUI with Gonal F. I think she made 3 good sized follies this time around. the two times b4 was 2

Re: Gonal f question

Thanks everyone, I guess gonal f hasn't caused a lot of multiples on here! That's what I was looking to find out. If not preggo, I think that will be our next step before moving on to IVF. Thanks!

Re: Gonal f question

I used gonal and I know several other people who have/had multiples using it, but I had IUI and the others that I know had IVF.

Re: Gonal f question

I was on 150 of Gonal F for four injection days, and then we had an IUI (not B2B bc our IUI was scheduled for a Saturday and the office was closed on Sunday), so we just did it the old fashion way on Sunday. I was very closely monitored and was thought to only have one mature follicle...however here I am 5 months later and couldnt be happier to be pregnant with triplets!! (in the beginning I was carrying Quads--we saw 4 heartbeats at our 6 week sonogram, but then at our 7 week sono, one of the hearts stopped beating. )
My fertility specialist was convinced that the one egg must have split and they were all identical (bc in the monitoring sonograms I only had one follicle) however they are definitely not identical, especially because there is one girl in there!

So who knows...to me, I believe its just a miracle. I feel that I was always meant to carry these three babies....but the Gonal definitely must of produced more than one egg, and now I am pregnant with multiples!! If you have any questions....please FM me.

Re: Gonal f question

I had IUI cycles with gonal-f where I produced anywhere from 4-6 follicles and didn't get pregnant.

It really varies for everyone.. My multiples are from an IVF cycle.

Re: Gonal f question

I had the same exact issues with Clomid, thinning my lining, so my new RE put on Femura/150 Follistim, which is like Gonal F. One the first injection IUI cycle I got pregnant. I had 4 follicles and now pregnant with triplets. Good Luck with whatever you decide.

Re: Gonal f question

Thanks everyone! This is very helpful. My RE said that if there are 4+ follicles, he'd make me skip the cycle so I'm glad to hear that it was mostly 1-4 follies for you ladies.

Tomorrow is my beta, if positive, I won't need to make this decision. If negative, I think we're leaning towards gonal f for at least one cycle before moving on to IVF.

Thanks again!

Re: Gonal f question

i used follistim ( same thing as gonal) and had 2 follies on 75 iu for 10 days. I am prego with a singleton now

Re: Gonal f question

I was on follistim, but I don't even remember how many follies I ended up with. I think it was 3 decent sized. I had IUI done and ended up with twins on my second round.

Good luck!!!

Re: Gonal f question

Beta was negative today. We have to decide between gonal f and IVF - our insurance won't cover either. I think we'll try gonal f, but my DH is ready to move onto IVF. I wish we didn't have to make this decision.