Short protocol vs long protocol

[melissa1215]

Hi all :)

I'm starting my first cycle of ICSI this month, I'm 25, no known fertility issues - consultant says everything's looking good. My partner is 33, has varicocele (apologies for my poor spelling) and has low amount and poor motility (though his quality and motility has improved significantly) we still qualify for treatment as we've been TTC for over 2 years.

They've started me on the short protocol, I'm hopeless with this stuff and I don't know the difference with short and long protocol, it's all quite daunting/confusing

Any help would be greatly appreciated xxx

Are you in the UK? If so there must be a very good reason why they have started you on the short protocol over the longer one. In a alot of European clinics, however, the preference is to opt for shorter protocols as they tend to produce the best quality eggs.

It may be because you have high AMH (which wouldn’t be surprising given that you are young) and are therefore at higher risk of OHSS. Short protocol reduces the risk of OHSS (possibly even removes it? Not sure) so can be used for that reason. I had a fairly high AMH and was told if I did get overstimulated then they may halt my cycle and then retry next time with short protocol.

Don’t be afraid to ask your clinic to explain - I’m sure they have their reasons for it and it isn’t anything to worry about

The long protocol is longer(!) and has two stages whereas the short protocol only has one stage.

In the short protocol, once you have had your period you start taking the fertility medication to develop multiple eggs. Once the clinic is happy with the size/number you receive a trigger dose and the eggs are harvested. The protocol usually lasts a couple of weeks.

I don't know that much on the ins and outs of the long protocol (my clinic is going with the short), but you start a few weeks or so earlier with medication to suppress your reproductive system. The clinic then starts on the second phase to bring on the egg production.

It seems as though more UK clinics use the long protocol and clinics abroad often mention the short protocol. The short protocol is recommended if you are at risk of OHSS and over stimulation (such as if you have PCOS).

The long protocol is beneficially for the clinic as they can control when you have the egg collection/implantation more easily - with the short protocol it is governed by when your cycle starts naturally (which is not as helpful if the clinic doesn't work on the weekend).