Does/did your ivf clinic do multiple scans, blood tests, additional stimming days?

[Matilda128]

Hi! After two completely failed cycles I am wondering if I should change clinics and I'm finding the decision incredibly hard. My current clinic has a very standardised approach with short protocols, maximum of 10 days stimming, one progress scan at day 11 (perhaps an extra one if you are deemed high risk) and one blood test for progesterone. I've been looking at clinics in the UK and abroad to see which monitor progress much more closely but apart from ARGC it is difficult to see which ones adopt such an approach. I would be really grateful if you could let me know your experiences and the name of the clinic you attended. Thanks in advance

I think I had 2 or 3 scans every few days during stims. Blood tests to check progesterone just after transfer and then possibly again that week, can't recall. If they hadn't scanned me until Day 11 I would have been in trouble, as we ended up bringing EC forward by 2 days.

Thank you @Peachesforfree Definitely good they scanned you earlier! What was the name of your clinic?

I'm with Create - they only do short protocol and natural or natural modified IVF

I had scans every 2 days from starting medication (usually start cycle day 2) and at those scans also get blood tests for LH and estrogen levels

Not sure about maximum stimming days but pretty sure they'll only trigger you once largest follicle got to certain size so if that means a couple of extra days so be it

I've never been offered progesterone blood test (I don't think - maybe they've done it with all the others and I've never noticed) but i take extra progesterone suppositories leading up to transfer so maybe its because they don't think I need to have it tested. A friend also at Create though did get her progesterone tested on transfer day

Thank you for your reply @itwasalovelydreamwhileitlasted I have been looking into mild IVF and it definitely makes sense not to overstimulate with too much drugs. I think I will try it as well if the next round fails. My first was round was ok and I got a 5AA (early miscarriage) and 3BB (had an early bleed due to progesterone problems). The next round, 5 months later on the same protocol resulted in 10 eggs but only 1 fertilisation. The clinic can't explain it but doesn't think it is my egg quality. Because they do so little in terms of monitoring I feel that they have nothing to base the next round to ensure a better result (apart from ICSI).
The only blood test you have is on the day of the trigger. They look for a raised progesterone as they say a sudden elevated level should be a freeze all cycle (I think a risk of OHSS).
I really don't have a huge budget but if it leads to better results it is worth paying more. At the same time I do like the nurses and staff at my current clinic and they do really look after you. I would find it hard to leave.
Thanks again for your reply, I really appreciate you taking the time

I think you’re very wise to look at how much clinics tailor the treatment to the patient. I read up about it a lot as we were undecided whether to have treatment where we live (abroad) or back home in the UK. I had never realised how much variation there was between treatment. We decided to have treatment where we live, mainly for logistical reasons, but I did feel really confident in the clinic and that I wasn’t just on a conveyor belt. I was told I would stim for 10-14 days and it ended up being 12. I had both a scan and a blood test on days 1,5,7,9,10,11 and 12. So a lot! I’d then receive a call in the afternoon with my new dosage. It seems crazy that your clinic is so ridged when everyone responds differently. I hope someone can recommend a clinic that would be accessible to you. As great as ours was, we live in a ridiculously expensive country so not one you’d want to travel too.