Expert: Sarah Conlon - 8/18/2008

Question
QUESTION: Hi there, I am doing a FET early September. I have 2 blastocyst frozen (one early blast one hatched bl). My Doctor said i should do it in a natural cycle. when I asked him what if i don't ovulate on my own, he said I think you will. i am confused because the reason that I am going through this is I have low egg reserve (i am 36). why would he think I will ovulate on my own?? Can any one help? Also I am planning to transfer just one, the early blastocyst (pray it will survive the thaw). Last cycle i was scheduled to do day 5 fresh transfer but got cancelled by my doctor as my two eggs retrieved did not develop into blastocyst (they surpassed morula on day 5 and on day 6 they did not see blastocyst and they discarded them). I was so mad at the doctor as I told him that if on day 6 they did not develop into blastocyst I would do transfer anyway. So day 6 i called and anxiously wait for a call back. later in the afternoon nobody called me back. I finally got a hold of a nurse and was only told that they discarded them - I was furious...can someone share your thoughts? I feel like i can't deal with this any more.

ANSWER: Hello,

I'm sorry to hear of your situation.  It's always frustrating when doing IVF and you can't get ahold of the actual doctors.  I'm not sure why the doctor thinks you would ovulate on your own if you have a low reserve.  I would recommend calling them and demanding to speak to the doctor instead of the nurses.  It's been my experience that the nurses don't always know how to answer the questions, but will say something just to appease you, even if it's no the correct answer, to avoid sending the question to the busy doctors.  Are they monitoring you via ultrasound?  If that is the case, you will know whether you ovulate.  It's hard to predict whether this will happen, but with monitoring with ultrasound and bloodwork, they'll be able to know.  There are two reproductive endocrinologists on here that answer questions, so you might also want to consult them as they might have more experience in this area than myself.  They are both great.  Good luck.

Sarah

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi Sarah,

Thank you so much for your answer.  They are monitoring me via ultrasound and bloodwork  - today is my day 3 and I was told my FSH is 26 and E2 70.  I asked the doctor to call me back but he hasn't.  My question is also what kind of protocol would be used if they knew for sure that I am not gonna ovulate on my own.  would I need to start medications now?  I really wanted to do transfer this cycle as I may be moving out of the country soon.  From my past experience, they could easily cancel my transfer if they think my body is not perfect for the transfer.

Answer
Hello,

I'm not sure of the protocol if you're not going to ovulate since it varies with each doctor and fertility center.  I would think they could easily cancel the cycle if things are not as they should be.  I'm surprised that the doctor isn't calling you back.  I might look into another center after this one, so that you can get the care you deserve.  Good luck.