Starting again after cancelled cycle

[AnnieDR]

Hi there, my first ICSI cycle was cancelled due to low response 10 days ago. The clinic said I could start again as soon as I got my period but I said I would wait a cycle because I was in a lot of pain around my ovaries. The pain has mostly eased now and I still haven't gotten my period so I'm considering going ahead with a new cycle this month instead of waiting. Has anyone been in a similar situation? I'm not sure if I'm just being impatient by pushing ahead or if it's fine to do so. Any advice would be appreciated!

It would depend on the reason for the low response and what is meant by that, have they explained why they think it was and what they would do differently?
Was it a poor response as in not many follicles responded to stimulation, or were there not many follicles to begin with?

My first cycle was also cancelled due to poor response so I did not start again until a baseline scan showed a decent number of follicles to start stimulating.
That was long protocol which they said had been too effective in shutting down my ovaries and further cycles were short protocol.

I had about six follicles on the left and five on the right but the right side didnt really respond to stimulation. I've had endometriosis and cysts removed from both ovaries so they think that may be explained by that. On the other side, three follicles were on track to grow to a decent size but three were still quite small at day 12. They're going to measure my AMH again this time to see if there was a significant drop to explain it but otherwise they would have been hoping for about 8 follicles to grow. They're switching up my medication this time but sticking with a short protocol.

I have done back to back cycles before and it was ok. I'd echo what @JeNeBaguetteRien said though and would perhaps see what they say about baseline scans? On short protocol you don't tend to get scanned until cycle day 5/6 by which point you've probably already done 3 days of stims

I'd definitely ask the clinic what they would do differently? The problem is that every month is difference in terms of follicle numbers and hormone levels. I've had the same protocol before but one month got 2 follicles and next month 7 and this month it was only really 1. But I'm doing natural modified so they don't tend cancel cycles mid way through like other clinics who set a minimum number of follicles to proceed to egg collection

I'd also ask what the policy is in terms of numbers and rather than waste Money if you pay for abandoned cycles and medication is to proceed even if you only get 3 follicles again

I did have a baseline on the second day of my period which showed the 11 follicles plus possibly some smaller that they couldn't see clearly. Then on day 8, the ones on the left were growing but the right weren't. And then on day 12, they recommended cancelling as they think I should respond a bit better for my age/AMH. Ultimately it was my decision and I chose to cancel to see if it would go better next time. I had to pay 1,000 in admin costs. They have said that they plan to change the medication to see if I respond better. If things don't look promising at my baseline, they'll tell me to wait a month. They also said that this next round would give an indication of whether the right ovary is going to respond at all.

Because I've been feeling pretty miserable since taking the trigger shot, I thought it might be better to wait a month but waiting is so difficult and they have said that there is no issue with starting straight away.

Thanks for your responses by the way

@JeNeBaguetteRien

Hi I know this post is old.

But really looking for some advise.
I’ve had an ivf cycle cancelled due to low response. I was on a long protocol.
It’s really confusing as I had good AMH and AFC. Been really upset.

Looking for some positivity

@Bottle86 sooty to hear about your cancelled cycle. What was your AMH?and how many follicles did they see at your scan?

@Mrsmch123

My AMH is 21.8 and had AFC of 16. But after down regulation my ovaries shut down so much they could only see 8 follicles.
Only 1 grew. I was down regulating for 3.5 weeks and they used the lowest dose to stimulate me as they thought I would overstimulate.
I had AFC at a different clinic in July and it was 21. Can it decline so quickly.
So worried that my fertility is declining rapidly xx

Hi @Bottle86. My first cycle was cancelled after 14 days stimming. I was on the lowest medication too for fear of over stimulation due to high AMH. My oestrogen dropped and whilst egg numbers were good they didn’t think it would work so cancelled that cycle. That was short protocol. I was in long protocol next time - still low doses but diff meds and obviously a different regime and it worked. Tbh they couldn’t say why my first cycle didn’t work and found no reason for the oestrogen to drop but a change in protocol worked for me so don’t give up hope. When my cycle was cancelled I was devastated and thought it meant I had no hope - but when I got over the anger I saw it as a trial run. Albeit an expensive trial run! Goodluck

@AutumnHoping

Hi thanks for your messsge.
Hopefully they’ll be able to change things next time and I’ll respond better.

Just feel like a bit of a mess right now.

I will try and see it as a trail run too xx

That’s understandable @Bottle86. I was quite naive at the start thinking it would all go smoothly to test day and it was only then that it wouldn’t work - never thought I wouldn’t even make it to egg collection. Having been through the stimming I was cross and wanted to try anyway - thinking I had nothing to lose. A different protocol at least made me feel a little bit more positive the second time around and showed there were more options and they could try different things. I don’t think I necessarily had to wait between cycles but was a few months as I initially had to wait for a consultation to discuss after the cancelled cycle etc which took time. That annoyed me too so I’d say go for it if they are happy and willing to try something different xx

@AutumnHoping

I actually don’t mind waiting as want to rid my body of all the drugs I’ve been on.
I have a follow up on Thursday so will see what the consultant says.

I’m just confused don’t know what will happen to the one follicle that was developing well. I can still feel some pain in that ovary and wasn’t given a trigger injection.

Been put on progesterone to bring my period on so don’t think I’ll ovulate this month. Worried if the egg doesn’t release it will damage the follicle.

I’ve gone from 21 follicles in July to 8 now so worried about everyone lol.

Going to try and stop overthinking and let my body recover

Thank you for your support