Hormone Suppression? Is this the same as Down Reg?

[Dot457]

Hey all.

So after our 2nd round of IVF and 3rd failed transfer in November, we finally had our follow up consultation last week. It was a good chat and everything I hoped for, because they want to conduct further testing rather than just saying "lets try again" so ultimately I am happy with that.

However long story short, the consultant advised that we move forward with "Hormone Suppression" which is similar to going through the change, he put it simply which is good for me, he said it's basically taking all the hormones away for 3 months before us starting another round of IVF. I will also have other tests in between this before we do start with IVF again.

Is this the same of Down Reg? I see lots of you guys talking about Down Reg and never really understood what it is? He said I'd have one injection every month, however I thought down reg was still an injection everyday.

I'm just trying to get my head around what to expect, I'm also very worried at how this may affect my mental health. Hormones cannot be controlled and he did say this would be worse than IVF! To be fair, in my opinion I wasn't actually a stroppy mess in IVF, but I'm worried that my thoughts will not be my usual thinking if that makes sense!

Thanks for any advice x

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Sorry about your failed transfers, hope that a change works for you 🤞
I can't help with any advice as still waiting to start my first cycle. Hopefully someone will have experience will see this.

This sounds similar but more prolonged than a traditional down reg. Downreg Ive had and seen others having are generally shorter and given from CD21 (although some clinics start on different dates in cycle) and then continued until you have a withdrawl bleed. I’ve usually bled around the 12 day mark. Then they do a scan to check everything is in effect turned off (so like a mini menopause). At which point they start stims or prep for transfer depending on whether you’re doing a fresh or frozen cycle. Some clinics use buserelin for this which is given once a day but others use propstap which is usually a single injection (so longer acting). Ive come across people being given prostap once a month for a few months before IVF to dampen down their endometriosis. Anyway I’m not a fertility expert so it’s best to ask for clarity from you clinic if you are unsure about anything 😁

@pixelflower - thanks so much! Good luck on your first cycle! Do you know what day you start?

@Lemongrass1 - thanks so much for the above. By the sounds of it I definitely need to ask my clinic for clarity. Like I said I’ve heard of down reg and long protcol, but never hormone suppression so naturally a bit concerned at what will be happening. Thank you for trying! I’ve seen your name on a few threads I’ve been on so I know you’ve been on this journey for a while now yourself. How far are you in? And at what point in your cycle are you? Hope you don’t mind me asking xx