follicle development in ivf

hi all,
After 4 days of IVF meds, they measured 8 follicles so far - 4 on each side measuring 10 - 12.5 today. There was some other small ones that they didn't measure.

Is that normal? Is it good by everyday IVF standards? Dr. Halpern said it's "ok", not offering any reassurance at all. He was like a blank wall when I tried to get some assurance or indication that I was on track. I asked could there be more by the end of the 10 days, he said "maybe, maybe not".

My plan with Dr. Stelling is to retrieve 10 to 15.....do I still have a chance to do that?

They called re: bloodwork and the meds are to stay the same: 300 follistim and 1mg menapur. Go back on Monday with the ganirelex.

Thanks for any insight!

follicle development in ivf

At 4 days, I typically had no measurable follicles, but in the end I always had about 20. I think you are off to a good start. Good luck!

Re: follicle development in ivf

I think that's fine! Many more will pop up along the way. The key is to have them grow gradually and around the same rate. I think at day 4, I only had a total of 4 follicles and one was already huge.
There is still hope. Hang in there :)

Re: follicle development in ivf

You are off to a great start! RSofNY only measures follicles which are 10 and above so the smaller ones are right behind the ones they saw today! Plus, the # they retrieve is not the best # to go by- you want to see how many are mature meaning you want most of your follicles to be in the same size range not very space out. If you had a few follicles that later measure really high #s and then have a bunch of ones not measuring, then that wouldn't be as great. You are exactly where I was on day 4. They ended up retrieving 11, 9 of which were mature. None made it to freeze but the 2 I transferred took and I'm 5weeks 3 days pregnant with twins!

Good luck!!! Dr. Stelling is great!! Dr. Lydic did my transfer

follicle development in ivf

That's reassuring to hear! Thanks so much!

follicle development in ivf

Wow Kristen - thanks for the info. I clearly don't know this side of the follicle development stuff. Was too focused on the meds to ask! Congratulations to you on your pregnancy :) I pray I am right behind you in luck and fortune!

follicle development in ivf

Kristen, what day did he do the transfer? He told me his plan is a day 5 transfer.

follicle development in ivf

I think you are doing well at this point. I think by day 4 I was starting to have some measurable follicles. I stimmed for 12 days. GL

Re: follicle development in ivf

Dr. Stelling seems to like to start people off with a 5 day transfer- it wasn't even a talk with us just him saying "ok, so we will do a 5 day transfer" and moving onto the next box.

I know there is research that supports 3 days over 5 days (it's better for the eggs to be in their natural environment quicker than sitting in a petri dish) but there is just enough research that supports 5 days over 3 (if the eggs arrest before day 5, the dr. will have the eggs to do the tests on and to find out why)- among other things. I read more that it is Dr's preference which one they prefer.

The only thing we asked about and changed in the protocol was asking that half our eggs be fertilized naturally and the other half through ICSI. What they normally do (according to Dr. Stelling) is watch the eggs for the first how many hours to see if they fertilize naturally and if they need help, then they will start the ICSI process (only if you signed the consents allowing for ICSI)- we just felt more comfortable knowing half would have the sperm injected right off the bat. With us, the result was better with ICSI- we had 5 done naturally and 3 fertilized and with the ICSI, all 4 of them fertilized. In the end 1 natural and 1 ICSI turned to balstocysts (1 was early so it could not be rated and 1 was a BA) and the rest they let grow to day 6 to see if they would reach the blastocyst stage but they had stopped growing.

Sorry it's long!! I found out most of my info from girls on this forum and it was so helpful understanding the process!

follicle development in ivf

He did the same with us "we are doing a 5 day". I did sign consent for ICSI but more of a "if they have to do it" thing versus just doing it. It is certainly something to think about. Thank you so much for all the info - it is quite an education this process and I agree, I am learning so much from the boards.

follicle development in ivf

I think thats awesome......to have 4 on each side already is Great. I am sure you have smaller ones also & a person stims an average about 10-12 days........ I think you are really progressing nicely.

follicle development in ivf

You are off to a very similar start as me, and I am now 18 weeks pregnant. Fingers crossed!!!!