IVF Drug Query

[Rememberallball]

Hi all,

I am very lucky that our IVF was successful and I am now 8 weeks pregnant with twins!!

Quick query for those who have had success following IVF. One of my medications (Estradiol tablets) is listed to be taken till 8 weeks gestation. Does that mean stop now I am 8 weeks or continue to the end of week 8 of the pregnancy?

Unfortunately, when I queried something with my clinic abroad previously, I was told that now everything should be directed to my GP/midwife. I am out of the country for the next 3 weeks and unable to contact either GP or midwife so hoping knowledgeable mumsnetters will have some helpful replies!!

[Cosmogirl86]

Congrats on the twins! I'm 12 weeks with identical twins, also concieved through ivf.

With ivf the dates begin from your egg retrieval. So I reckon they mean 8 weeks from that date. However it really is worth checking. I didn't have hormone support after the two weeks wait myself, so I can't advise further. Congratulations and best of luck with twins!

[KatnissMellark]

Was your transfer a FET or fresh? I believe that does make a difference. Also make sure you wean off slowly. I'm on 4x2mg a day (I'm chatting to you on the other thread too) so when I wean will go to 3/day for 3 days, then 2/day for 3 days etc.

[Rememberallball]

Hi @Cosmogirl86, thanks for the congratulations. I didn’t know that about using retrieval date for dating the pregnancy; my GP surgery used dpt for bloods but I’m yet to see midwife due to being away. When we had our viability scan they asked for retrieval date but my measurements are based on lmp. We used an egg donor and egg retrieval date was day 14 of my cycle with ET on day 19.

Congratulations on your twins too - when are you due? My edd is 03/10/19 but, because it’s twins, I’ve been advised to expect them no later than 12/09/19 which is 37 weeks.

Hi @KatnissMellark, my ET was a fresh one of 5 day blasts (a 5BA and a 4AB) on CD19. Thanks for the advice to wean off them slowly. I’ve enough tablets with me to do 3 days at x3 tabs etc as you are doing. Which would take me past the question of whether to stop at start or end of week 8!!

I’ll add a photo of the post transfer medication list they gave me as everything says ‘till xx weeks of pregnancy’ and, if I need to add more weeks, I’ll have to get extras of the Estradiol, Crinone gel and Proluton injections once I’m home but have enough of everything else as I take them anyway.

[Rememberallball]

Just to add. I contacted the ivf clinic and, despite them previously saying they don’t get involved, they were happy to advise that I reduce to 3x tablets a day for one week then reduce to 2x tablets for a week before stopping them!! Injections and progesterone gel I stop at 12 weeks as per the letter!!

[Cosmogirl86]

I am glad you got the info you needed! I'm due officially 29th Aug, but it's likely to around the 8th August! By some miracle, I ended up with identical twins from one embryo.

I wish you a happy and healthy pregnancy and I hope everything goes well for all three of you!