Medicine Notes

Although Dr. C didn't think much change in the protocol was needed from last cycle, he has done a few things differently:

• Stimulant dosages increased over the nine days to deal with slow stimulation which he didn't think we saw last time
• No trental: began taking after second medicated IUI to help blood flow and thicken the lining, but figured it wasn't really making a difference, so didn't want to add it to the mix
• Steroids post retrieval: last time he gave me a choice of a low dose steroid for several days up until retrieval or a high does steroid for a few days after retrieval. I opted for 0.5 mg dexamethasone during stimulation. This time I did the dexamethasone dose during the stimulation and he initially prescribed Medrol (steroid) for after transfer, but when he learned how much extra dexamethasone I had, he just upped the dose of dexamethasone to 3mg rather than changing to Medrol. (For me, steroid side effects I see are increased appetite, of course.)
• Progesterone: last cycle I used progesterone in oil, post transfer. I had intramuscular injections with a large needle in the rump each evening. This cycle I'll be using Crinone gel (8%) once a day. I've used the gel before, and actually think I'd rather the shot than the vaginal gel. The worst application for the progesterone that I've tried to date is the suppositories, twice a day.

So now, in the luteal phase (post ovulation) I will begin taking baby aspirin (same as previous cycle as well as IUIs) in an attempt to decrease potential clotting and increase blood flow to the uterus. I'm also taking antibiotics for a few days. I'll start up the estrogen patches, two patches every other day, just like last time in a day or so.

Today, still recovering from transfer and waiting, patiently waiting, for the fertilization report.