My IVF Schedule

In vitro fertilization (IVF) schedules are highly personalized and often adjusted. The length of the ovarian stimulation phase can vary significantly from one patient to another (based on one’s response to medications). The type of medications will differ as well (based on physician’s preference and/or patient’s circumstances). The timing of the transfer too can vary (depending on the development of the embryos and whether genetic/chromosomal testing is performed). All IVF schedules, however, contain seven distinct stages: (1) preparation of the ovaries for stimulation, (2) ovarian stimulation, (3) ovulation trigger, (4) egg retrieval, (5) monitoring of the development of the embryos, (6) embryo transfer, and (7) pregnancy test.

Here is the IVF schedule I followed. Long, isn’t it? That’s because of the elective aneuploidy screening that was performed. (Waiting for the results prolongs the protocol by a month.) Note that if pregnancy is confirmed, the schedule continues for another couple of months, until the placenta starts producing the necessary levels of hormones.

Day	Medications				Comments
1					Period started.
2
3
4
5	BCP
6	BCP
7	BCP
8	BCP
9	BCP
10	BCP
11	BCP
12	BCP
13	BCP
14	BCP
15	BCP
16	BCP
17	BCP
18	BCP
19	BCP				Antral follicle count on ultrasound: 12 in the right ovary and 12 in the left. (Antral follicle count is indicative of the potential number of eggs one can expect during the IVF cycle.)
20	BCP	Lup 0.1ml	Dex 1mg
21	BCP	Lup 0.1ml	Dex 1mg
22	BCP	Lup 0.1ml	Dex 1mg
23	BCP	Lup 0.1ml	Dex 1mg
24	BCP	Lup 0.1ml	Dex 1mg
25	BCP	Lup 0.1ml	Dex 1mg
26		Lup 0.1ml	Dex 1mg
27		Lup 0.1ml	Dex 1mg
1		Lup 0.1ml	Dex 1mg		Period started.
2		Lup 0.1ml	Dex 1mg
3		Lup 0.1ml	Dex 1mg
4	Bravelle 225 + Menopur 225	Lup 0.05ml	Dex 1mg
5	Bravelle 225 + Menopur 225	Lup 0.05ml	Dex 1mg
6	Bravelle 225 + Menopur 225	Lup 0.05ml	Dex 1mg
7	Bravelle 225 + Menopur 225	Lup 0.05ml	Dex 1mg		Ultrasound: 12 follicles in right ovary (6 mm, 6 mm, 6 mm, 7 mm, 7 mm, and small ones); 9 follicles in left ovary (7 mm, 7 mm, 8 mm, and small ones). Estradiol: 156.
8	Bravelle 225 + Menopur 225	Lup 0.05ml	Dex 1mg
9	Bravelle 225 + Menopur 225	Lup 0.05ml	Dex 1mg
10	Bravelle 225 + Menopur 225	Lup 0.05ml	Dex 1mg		Ultrasound: 10 follicles in right ovary (7 mm, 8 mm, 9 mm, 10 mm, 10 mm, 10 mm, 12 mm, 12 mm, 12 mm, 13 mm); 7 follicles in left ovary (7 mm, 9 mm, 9 mm, 10 mm, 11 mm, 12 mm, 12 mm). Estradiol: 730.
11	Bravelle 225 + Menopur 225	Lup 0.05ml	Dex 1mg
12	Bravelle 225 + Menopur 225	Lup 0.05ml	Dex 1mg
13	Bravelle 225 + Menopur 225	Lup 0.05ml	Dex 1mg		Ultrasound: 9 follicles in right ovary (9 mm, 11 mm, 14 mm, 14 mm, 14 mm, 16 mm, 16 mm, 16 mm, 17 mm); 7 follicles in left ovary (13 mm, 15 mm, 15 mm, 16 mm, 16 mm, 17 mm, 17 mm). Estradiol: 2,259.
14
15	hCG 10,000 iu; Bravelle 450			Doxy 100mg twice daily	hCG + Bravelle administered at 1 a.m.
16				Doxy 100mg twice daily	Retrieval at 12 p.m.: 16 eggs retrieved.
17				Doxy 100mg twice daily	ICSI: 15 eggs successfully fertilized.
18				Doxy 100mg twice daily
19				Doxy 100mg twice daily	All 15 fertilized eggs were still doing well.
20				Doxy 100mg twice daily
21				Doxy 100mg twice daily	Trophectoderm biopsy #1 for aneuploidy screening: 6 embryos tested.
22					Trophectoderm biopsy #2: 4 embryos tested.
23
24
25
26
27
28					Biopsy results: Only 2 out of 10 embryos had normal number of chromosomes. Both embryos were female.
1					Period started.
2			Dex 1 mg
3			Dex 1 mg
4	EV 0.2 cc		Dex 1 mg
5			Dex 1 mg
6			Dex 1 mg
7	EV 0.3 cc		Dex 1 mg
8			Dex 1 mg
9			Dex 1 mg
10	EV 0.3 cc		Dex 1 mg
11			Dex 1 mg
12			Dex 1 mg
13	EV 0.3 cc		Dex 1 mg
14			Dex 1 mg		Ultrasound: Endometrial lining thickness was 10 mm.
15	hCG 5,000 iu		Dex 1 mg
16	EV 0.3 cc	P4 1ml	Dex 1 mg
17		P4 1ml twice daily	Dex 1 mg
18		P4 1ml twice daily	Dex 1 mg
19	EV 0.3 cc; hCG 1,000 iu	P4 1ml twice daily	Dex 1 mg
20		P4 1ml twice daily	Dex 1 mg	Doxy 100mg twice daily; Medrol
21		P4 1ml twice daily		Doxy 100mg twice daily; Medrol	Transfer: 1 embryo defrosted and transferred; 1 kept frozen.
22	EV 0.3 cc; hCG 1,000 iu	P4 1ml twice daily		Doxy 100mg twice daily; Medrol
23		P4 1ml twice daily		Doxy 100mg twice daily; Medrol
24		P4 1ml twice daily
25	EV 0.3 cc; hCG 1,000 iu	P4 1ml twice daily
26		P4 1ml twice daily
27		P4 1ml twice daily
28	EV 0.3 cc	P4 1ml twice daily
29		P4 1ml twice daily
30		P4 1ml twice daily
31	EV 0.3 cc	P4 1ml twice daily
32		P4 1ml twice daily
33		P4 1ml twice daily			Pregnancy test.

BCP = Birth Control Pill
Doxy = Doxycycline Hyclate
Dex = Dexamethasone
EV = Estradiol Valerate
Lup = Lupron
P4 = Progesterone

To read more about these medications, please click on “My IVF Medications.”