Thanks, folks, for your suggestions -- I have taken names and followed links. Tash, you know bourbon is always welcome :-) If only that's all it took...
Okay, new question: My understanding is that Follis.tim and Go.nal F are exactly the same thing. But their generic names are slightly different (follotro.pin alpha vs beta). Is that just because they're different brands?
Also, my clinic has suggested possibly using Br.ave.lle, which while cheaper than both F and GF, appears to be slightly different. While I do have ins, I only get $10,000 per lifetime, and only 50% of meds and treatment/appointment costs are covered. I may pay out of pocket for these, if only to same $ for treatment.
I'm feeling kind of neurotic, and wanting to use the exact same stuff I did last time (in which I got pg 2 out of 3 cycles, the 3rd with the boys) so I can have a similar outcome, at least as far as getting pg successfully. Though, GF is cheaper than F, and B is cheaper than both. Though maybe I would respond even better to GF or B?
Augh. This is what makes C nuts.
Tell me your thoughts? How much does this matter? I generally stim pretty well (got O.HSS with Cl.omid, 50 mg, but the ovulation is stronger and luteal phase is more productive with injectables). But I've only used one kind of injectable stim.
Of course, it's been 2 years. My day 3 labs came out fine -- good, even -- last April.
Also, this is way easier to obsess over than how stressed I am at the prospect of trying again. At least, I would think so.
Thoughts? About any of this?
9 comments:
I think it is easy to obsess about this but don't. They really are used interchangeably even by the same RE. I did my first IVF at 39 and my RE recommended Bravelle + Menopur and I took that combination throughout my 7 cycles (and got pg 3/7 times but that has less to do with WHAT we used and more to do with my age).
Your stim history is really more important for dosing purposes than the brand.
Thanks, Victoria. That makes sense. The whole *not* obsessing? a bit of a challenge. I think I need something to obsess about until my cycle begins. Which, since I think I am just about to or just ovulated will be coming in about 2 weeks.
Anyway, thanks for this, and for your response on my other post.
Kym (of I'm A Smart One had a post on her RE's thoughts on the interchangability of F and GF. She probably has reams of other information in there!
(This is kinda exciting in a freakishly scary kinda way, no?)
GF has worked for me but I havent used the others so I dont know... Do you need prog suppositories or Ganirelex? Email me if you do...
Dude. I am cheering you on! I've got no advice, but yeah, this is terrifyingly exciting!
Found this reference for you here re puregon/gonal F
http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=_ldpcClfnrgC&pg=PA50&lpg=PA50&dq=follitropin+alpha+beta+difference+gonal+F+puregon&source=bl&ots=Fma4K4fCgf&sig=-VSivGptVLjvqCs06_7sq-ykKkU&hl=en&ei=jr-NSraVEuHTjAf8nNDwDQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=4#v=onepage&q=&f=false
The link is long enough that it'll probably get a bit messed up,so I'll summarise and say they are biologically 99% identical and have been shown to have the same profile in IVF cycles.
I've always used puregon, would not be bothered if doc wanted to switch.
Thanks, everyone, for the reassurance. I don't know why I got stuck on this, but your response really helps.
(Michele, I'll be in touch!)
Now to place the order...
I have no advice on any of this but wanted to drop in and let you know I'm reading and hoping the best for you.
I'm so sorry to butt in - I just came across your blog, and my story is very similar (my baby girl was stillborn seven weeks ago tomorrow - we conceived her via IVF).
I did Repronex and Follistim. The Follistim is very easy to take - it's a pen, and it's very easy to inject. The Repronex (which it doesn't sound like you'd use) was more difficult - you had to mix it, etc.
I got severe OHSS after my egg retrieval - if you have a history of it, I would suggest asking your doctor about Ganirelix (I think it's spelled that way). From what I understand, it helps the eggs to grow bigger without overstimulating.
Best of luck, and God bless.
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