New to IVF, please help - questions on meds.

[AnnieStar12]

I am getting ready to start IVF on my next cycle in two weeks and have been sent the medication list and invoice. I am quite confused as I always thought there would be stimulation injections daily. But I've been prescribed only 2 x Recovelle 72mcg pens and then 7 x Ganirelix (which I understand is the one to prevent the LH surge, rather than stimulation).

Has anyone else done a round of IVF with only 2 shots of stims?

I realise what I've been prescribed are very high doses so maybe that's just one way of doing it instead of a low dose daily?!

For context, I have low ovarian reserve (between 4 - 6 the two times it's been checked) and low AMH of 4.8.

Any thoughts appreciated as I am new to this and find it quite overwhelming, and makes me anxious when things aren't as I thought they would be.

Hi @AnnieStar12 - what is the daily dose you need to take of Recovelle? I don’t have experience with this particular one but they can come in pre loaded pens and you don’t use the whole pen everyday so could it be this?

Hi, not familiar with rekovelle but I was curious and did a google and it states (I obviously didn't read the whole PDF!):

"The individual daily dose is to be maintained throughout the stimulation period. For women with AMH <15 pmol/L the daily dose is 12 micrograms, irrespective of body weight. For women with AMH ≥15 pmol/L the daily dose decreases from 0.19 to 0.10 micrograms/kg by increasing AMH concentration (Table 1)" - https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/documents/product-information/rekovelle-epar-product-information_en.pdf

I can only assume each pen has 6 doses (so 12 days of stims), best check with your clinic. They should guide you throughout the journey, especially if this is your first. It will get more familiar (with the injections) so try and not overthink it :)

Ganirelix is used from day 7 onwards (in my experience) and all depends on your scans.

Good luck with your journey.

Hey, sorry I don’t know your meds specifically. However I’ve done 2 rounds of IUI and 1 round of IVF and each time the stims have been different. I’ve done alternate days, every day and larger/smaller doses! I would defo recommend calling your clinic to discuss as it will put your mind at ease and they’re usually super helpful!

Thanks everyone, that's really helpful - it hadn't occurred to me that it might be a split dose thing with multiple doses in one pen. I can see it's a really high dose in each pen so that would make sense.

I will message the clinic, I just don't want them to think I'm second guessing everything and a "difficult patient" but it would help if the doctor just talked through it all with me rather than just send a list of the medications for me to google and get anxious and confused by!

Each pen contains multiple doses which you will be using for a few days and the dosage will be adjusted at the start of your treatment.
Good luck!

your clinic will teach you how to use each medication and explain the dosages. they wanted u to receive your meds first before the consult probably. i was freaking out as well when i first received a giant box of meds. it will all make sense soon :)

I used Menopur and it comes in 2 pens which are then used to mix the solution from which you draw injections - so each box will do several days of injections - it could be this? https://www.google.com/search?q=menopur+1200&sca_esv=60df094e8c3a7fc5&rlz=1C1GCEB_enGB1054GB1058&biw=1536&bih=770&tbm=vid&ei=LDLOZeT9BPWmhbIPpJCWwAQ&ved=0ahUKEwjkw8To2K2EAxV1U0EAHSSIBUgQ4dUDCA4&uact=5&oq=menopur+1200&gs_lp=Eg1nd3Mtd2l6LXZpZGVvIgxtZW5vcHVyIDEyMDAyBRAAGIAEMgUQABiABDIFEAAYgAQyBRAAGIAEMgUQABiABDIFEAAYgAQyCxAAGIAEGIoFGIYDMgsQABiABBiKBRiGA0jFDVDaA1j2C3AAeACQAQCYAUKgAdwCqgEBNrgBA8gBAPgBAcICChAAGIAEGIoFGEPCAgsQABiABBixAxiDAYgGAQ&sclient=gws-wiz-video#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:e4486732,vid:4DGCAcrH6xs,st:0

Hi @AnnieStar12 Seems like everyone else already answered on meds doing multidose (I was on 375 Gonal, but my pens came in 900 which means had to inject twice when it came to end of dose to get the right amount), but just wanted to add it could be that they may adjust your medication depending on your scans inbetween. If you respond overly well, they may reduce your dose so some places may give you less medication in the beginning, as once you've paid for it can't be returned, so if you don't need it will get wasted and meds aren't cheap. Good luck with your cycle :)

Thank you all so much, all your answers have really put my mind at ease!