Anyone done cycles (banking) back to back without a break?

[Sara279]

Hi everyone,

I’m doing a three cycle package and I had to take a one month break between my first and second in Dec. I’ve just done my second and my consultant told me I have two options:

1. have a month off after this recent egg collection, so one bleed and then start my final cycle on my next period, which would be end of March beginning April... then I would need to wait another whole month after that EC if I’m doing medicated FET. So that would mean transfer in May. He said that many women’s ovaries are tired after a cycle and they sometimes have a lower AFC, so he recommends waiting a month.

2. I could start stimming again on this bleed in 2 weeks time post EC. They will do a day 2 US and if my AFC is rubbish we can cancel and just pay for the scan £200 and go ahead the following month.

I know it’s only a month, but I’m 42 in Sept and the first transfer might not work... I’m just keen to get started.

Does anyone have any advice? What did you do? Xx thanks

It wasn't convenient for me due to flights and being off work for longer but my clinic in Spain (before the pandemic) pretty often did back to back egg collection, so you had egg collection, and started stims 2 or 3 days later and had another egg collection so it can be done.
It seems a bit cheeky to charge £200 extra for an ultrasound when you're on a 3 cycle package but I know that becomes a drop in the ocean.
I'd get the ultrasound and take it from there.

@Sara279

I did a 3 cycle package of natural modified IVF and did the first 2 cycles back to back with great results but the 3rd my body was knackered and didn't respond and I had finish the £200 abandonment fee - ended up taking a 3 month break due to lockdown 1 in March but did the final collection and transfer in June and it worked (I had twins!) so I do think a little break can be beneficial so I would do option 2 if you can afford the £200 cancellation fee

Yeh 1 month break and straight back in is what I did and resulted in my daughter :)

Hello @Sara279 not sure if it was coincidence but my 3rd cycle resulted in 7 eggs collected. First two cycles I got 11 eggs each time, so I’m wondering if my body was tired by the third and I did your option A. I took buserelin as a trigger though, the non hcg one, so my bleed post EC comes after only 5-6 days. Clinic wouldn’t let me start another round so soon on that bleed as the said the empty follicles need to heal. They never suggested I try it and pay a cancellation fee if things didn’t look good enough. If I had that option, I probably would have taken it, as I’m very time conscious too...providing you’re taking the ovitrelle trigger. My cycle has gone from 26 days before IVF to 32 days now so that’s another frustration!

Hi everyone, thanks so much for your replies. It’s a tough one. I’m just keen to finish the cycles as soon as possible because as you know it just takes over your life and I just feel like the months are slipping away... and I know transfer may not work first time and then who knows how soon I could transfer again. I took the oviltrelle triggers x 2 and usually my cycle is around a week late after, which further delays things. My friend said to me that I had a good AFC this time after a month rest and I got 9 mature eggs collected and at 41.5 that seems good, so she said have a month’s break and take the consultants advice. I see where she’s coming from... I just feel really impatient... 🙄 xxx