May 4, 2011

Crap

Still no AF:( Come on body, please cooperate!! For various reasons, it's technically impossible that we conceived this month (I must admit, it was kind of nice to have a break from all of the mind games and false hope). If it weren't impossible, now is right about the time when I would swear I must be pregnant. Since it was a natural cycle and I decided not to chart, I really have no idea when or if I ovulated, though all indications, including a highly positive OPK, suggested it happened on CD 17 or CD 18 and yet still, no spotting, no tiny bit of blood, nada - just bad menstrual cramps for the past five days. Now that the Israeli healthcare system seems to be taking a break from mocking my control freak ways, my body is taking up the slack - awesome!

If still no AF come CD40 next week, I am going to see if I can at least take BCP whenever CD 1 does arrive so I am not relying on my wonky natural cycle anymore. Actually, I have a question about that - will my Lupron period be a real period or will the Lupron actually induce it? In other words, if I continue to just go with my natural cycle and then I start Lupron around CD 21 of this coming cycle, will my next period still be a real period at the whims of my unpredictable body and when I ovulate or will it be induced by Lupron and therefore have nothing to do with when I ovulated during that cycle? I hope that question made sense/is not unspeakably dumb:)

7 comments:

  1. I wish I knew. I have to say I understand natural and IUI cycles perfectly but some of the details around what all the drugs do in IVF are getting a little hazier. I was told to start BCPs when I got a negative HPT and save myself a period. I started the BCPs and got my period anyway. I'm also extremely confused. Do they want me to get my period before I start IVF or not? I don't get it.

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  2. I am sorry..I guess we are both just confused together! That's strange that he said the BCP would save you a period because since you weren't on BCP this past cycle and you ovulated, all the lining that built up still needs to go somewhere so it definitely makes sense to me that you bled. Maybe he meant that it will save you a period this coming cycle and keep you in a holding pattern? I know Lupron is used for suppression so that your body totally stops doing it's own thing, but I still don't know what the deal is with the Lupron period. They told me they generally use long Lupron with younger patients who they think will respond more quickly and the antagonist protocol with older patients or people who they think will be slow responders. The main practical difference is that long lupron takes around 6 weeks and the antagonist protocol takes around 4 weeks. I am unhappy that neither of us got pregnant already, but given that, I am really happy that we will likely be cycling around the same time!

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  3. There were two things that brought on my period when i wanted it: lots of sex and wearing white panties/pants. The Lupron period tents to come either early or at the right time, but it is usually lighter and preceded by more spotting in my experience. Because you are going to be on the OCP it will not be a normal period but a withdrawl period from the OCP's estrogen.If you are not on the OCP at the time, then it is your normal period time because you are only starting the Lupron day 21, hence after your body already ovulated and built the thick endometrial lining that it needs to shed, hence you are the timer for that period, although it does tend to be a bit lighter depending on when you started the lupron.

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  4. Thanks, MrsH - that's helpful! So I guess the short of it is that as long as I am not on bcp, even with lupron, I am still at the mercy of my unpredictable cycle.

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  5. Glad MrsH was able to help - I'm still a little confused as to what all the different drugs do! I hope your body figures itself out and learns to cooperate!

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  6. I have no idea about your lupron question but it looks like you may have gotten an answer already.

    I'm hoping AF cooperates soon and you can get the show on the road.

    BTW, I nominated you recently for a blog award if you want it.

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  7. Sorry I don't know the answer to any of your questions but I m also waiting for AF to arrive. I am doing EPP for the first time and AF was supposed to be here over a week ago. I know how frustrating it can be! Hope the little witch arrives soon and you can get moving!

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