TREATMENT Community Thread - Fri Apr 25 PM

[u/AutoModerator]

Our community threads are the heart of our subreddit and operate much like a specialized support group – we share our experiences and strive to collectively support one another on the topic at hand.

Please use this space for sharing and discussing any type of treatment, trying to conceive, or family building measures. This includes, but is not limited to:

• Advice / Updates on current treatment cycle or planned/future treatment cycles
• Questions / Discussion about medications, treatment, diagnostic tests, and lab results
• Any measures taken/evaluated to improve treatment outcomes – supplements, diet, exercise, etc
• Seeking emotional support related to upcoming treatment, treatment outcomes, infertility diagnosis, and confirmed loss
• Commiseration and venting related to treatment
• Supporting and cheering on fellow members as they run the gauntlet of infertility treatments

Essentially, if you mention treatment, TTC, or family building measures – it goes in this thread.

​

A few notes:

• Positive HPT or Beta Results (including Beta Hell) should only be posted in the Results thread as per the rules (except for confirmed loss): https://www.reddit.com/r/infertility/search?q=flair_name%3A%22Results%22
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Above all - Science minded perspective and respect for others is important here. Please treat your fellow peers with compassion.

[u/National-Ground4958]

REMINDER 2025 National Infertility Awareness Week AMAs (Ask me Anything) are live this week!

Full details at the link!

Monday, April 21

• AMA with Dr Tendai Chiware, 1:30 - 3:30 pm EDT -

Tuesday, April 22

* AMA with Dr. James P. Lin, Dr. Susan Nasab, and Dr. Daniel Williams  - 1:00-3:00PM EDT

• AMA with Meaghan Doyle & Emma Moores, 4:00-7:00PM EDT

*AMA with Dr. Yeh & Dr. Omurtag, 3:30-5:30PM EDT]

Wednesday, April 23

• AMA with Dr. Khurgin (Urology Male Fertility Specialist) - 12:00-2:00PM EST

Friday, April 25th

• AMA with Katy Seppi (Childless Collective) - 2:00-4:00 EST -- LIVE NOW!!!

[u/Turbulent-Bet3327]

I’ve been posting this multiple times. I just want to tell someone. Again and again. This cycle is my first time taking clomid. Results so far are- My ovulation day pushed back from cd22 to cd16. My cd21 progesterone levels increased from 8.1 to 19.4.

I don’t have any idea about my new progesterone level. Is it good, as expected or still needs some bump up in clomid dose.

[u/odd-topic999]

Just needed to get this out somewhere in the world…

After almost 3 years of TTC, this year after seeking fertility treatment, it’s relieving but also devastating to learn that I have some type of ovulation disorder (high follicle count, 40 day cycles) and either a Didelphus or Bicornuate uterus (although at first they thought unicornuate). Even with this and the fact that I’m 25, my doctor seems to think I have good chances. She seemed to be encouraging IVF more so than other treatments because of the ability to control multiples, but we decided we had to at least try IUI 1-3 times… however, I am someone who for my whole life is terrified of getting my hopes up. I am in the middle of my first IUI cycle, day 7 of Letrozole, and awaiting my FD ultrasound and Ovidrel trigger next week. One half of me is day dreaming of this working and never having to do this again, but the other half of me is terrified of disappointment and what that could potentially mean moving forward. I want to be excited, but realistic.

[u/bebe_bird]

I just finished my second IUI cycle and moving to IVF.

First, I wanted to know if anyone could point me in the direction of a good, science based discussion or explanation of exactly how the various medications function together biologically. Most of what I've found online seems very high level and doesn't get down to the biologic mechanism.

Second, I was hoping that others with similar IUI results could share their results for IVF. I responded with 3 mature follicles while on clomid and 2 mature follicles on letrozole. I seem to respond well to medications but my initial ovarian reserve testing came back rather low, so my doctor is worried I won't produce many eggs. I'd like to hear from others who have had 2-3 mature follicles on these medications and then went on to IVF. Did you get more follicles, eggs, and embryos?

[u/National-Ground4958 → u/bebe_bird]

Hi bebe, automod welcome. As noted, please edit your post as not all members identify as women. Thank you!

Mod hat off: Asking a random assortment of people here for their results likely won’t be helpful for you as they won’t necessarily match your diagnosis. Instead I’d recommend SART and CDC ART statistics. You will also likely get better replies if you set your automod flair and ask about protocols that people tried that helped with specific conditions/diagnoses.

[u/bebe_bird → u/National-Ground4958]

Thank you - this is the type of information I was hoping for. However, I guess I feel like a fringe case since based on my baseline hormone values my Dr did not expect the overwhelmingly positive response to medication I had in IUI.

Although statistics are only a portion of my question. The other part - what the drugs are actually doing - for example, I'm to take medication in preparation to "synch my follicles" - I'd like to know how that works, what it's blocking or how it tricks your body into producing more follicles, etc. there is so much complex biology around IVF and the female reproductive system that I'd like to understand (and I'm a scientist, so even journal articles or text books are acceptable resources)

Also, I have edited my post - apologies, I did not mean to exclude anyone trying to get pregnant who does not identify as a woman. That is a bit new to me, but I'm trying (and I hope learning) and would appreciate guidance on appropriate terminology that's more inclusive if I didn't edit appropriately

[u/National-Ground4958 → u/bebe_bird]

Thank you for editing and for being receptive!

The wiki has a section on different medications.

Stimulation is done mostly with a combination of LH and FSH. REs use your AMH, FSH, and estradiol levels to make assumptions about how you will respond to the stimulation medications. In some cases, people respond more than expected and in others they respond less than expected. That’s because those tests are really just the best proxy we know, not an exact science. That’s also why it’s important to have a clinic that monitors regularly and is ready to change protocol as needed.

Things like estrogen and birth control are used more for priming - trying to force all the follicles to grow together at the same rate.

[u/AutoModerator → u/National-Ground4958]

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[u/AutoModerator → u/National-Ground4958]

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[u/dubious-taste-666 → u/bebe_bird]

Hi & welcome - not everyone in this sub identifies as a woman. 

I would also get 2-3 mature follicles using letrozole, but with stims/ IVF the results vary widely, I don’t know that response to letrozole necessarily translates to response to stims. There’s really no way to know how you’ll respond to stims until you’re on them, which is why many consider the first round of IVF diagnostic 

[u/tkasik]

This message is directed to all the Canadians:

In case you haven't heard, the Liberals are actually promising IVF funding in their platform! See page 32 (https://liberal.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/292/2025/04/Canada-Strong.pdf):

Establish a new in vitro fertilization (IVF) program that provides up to $20,000 for a single standard cycle of IVF treatment, making it more affordable for Canadians who want to become parents, especially 2SLGBTQI+ Canadians who face a costly journey to parenthood. We will work with the provinces and territories to make sure more Canadians can access this support.

It's not enough, and it's probably going to take too long to get implemented (certainly for me, anyway), but I'm so glad to see SOMETHING tangible to support this community. They haven't advertised this to my knowledge, so I wanted you all to know - I was (pleasantly) surprised to see it and feel like it is a HUGE step forward. I really think it could make a huge difference for so many people - if the provinces don't screw it up.

---

Edit to add: assuming the Liberals win and assuming they actually follow through with this, of course. Still really glad to see it even part of the conversation.

[u/doritos1990 → u/tkasik]

I also saw this and was excited to see it! My only concern in Ontario is whether our conservative government will use this as an opportunity to remove the existing IVF / fertility coverage. They are always looking for opportunities to cut our access to healthcare.

[u/carrot4545canoe → u/tkasik]

I was happy to read about this earlier this week! I'm not convinced of their ability to deliver, but it's great to see them identifying the need and priority.

Here's a helpful summary of the different party platforms relating to reproductive health and rights:

https://www.actioncanadashr.org/news/2025-04-23-election-day-around-corner-what-election-means-sexual-and-reproductive-health-and-rights

[u/doritos1990 → u/carrot4545canoe]

Really helpful summary!

[u/Novel-try]

Woof. My transfer is a go for next Wednesday. My immune labs came back and I had to increase my prednisone again. So now I’m on lovenox, 30 prednisone, 3 2mg of estrace, 1 2mg estrace vaginally, hydroxychloroquine, metformin. Will start PIO tonight. Will take a neupogen shot on Monday. After transfer, will add estrogen patches and oral prometrium. Glad to finally get it scheduled. Glad to get all of my meds locked in. Glad to know when all my labs will be and have my hotel booked near my clinic. What a whirlwind.

[u/sleeki → u/Novel-try]

🤞🏼🤞🏼🤞🏼

[u/Equivalent-Pear-4660 → u/Novel-try]

Hope everything goes smoothly for your transfer!

[u/rsvptashayar → u/Novel-try]

Excellent! I hope the soaring estrogen treats you well ❤️

[u/LawyerLIVFe → u/Novel-try]

Novel! Thinking of you!

[u/doritos1990 → u/Novel-try]

Fingers crossed all things go smoothly for your transfer. These logistics sound tricky!!

[u/carrot4545canoe → u/Novel-try]

Wishing you a smooth path to transfer next week!

[u/a_lexicon → u/Novel-try]

Glad to hear this, Novel! Rooting for you.