Poor Responders and Egg Donation

August 29, 2006 - Tuesday
3:56 PM to (EST)
Guest Speakers: Dr. Daniel Potter
Huntington Reproductive Center

Categories
Acupuncture • Complementary Medicine • Egg Donation • Fertility • IVF • PGD • Pregnancy Loss

	joannvan joined.
	redsy joined.
	deb_capone joined.
	Luly joined.
deb_capone	Good evening, everyone. We will be starting tonight's session in just a few minutes at 8pm Eastern.
deb_capone	Welcome to The American Fertility Association's Online Education Session, sponsored by Fertility Lifelines.
deb_capone	I am Deb Capone and I am your moderator tonight. If you need to 'chat' with me privately just double click on my name in the left hand column.
	ahchealth7800 joined.
	Ellen joined.
	maddie1702 joined.
deb_capone	Tonight we will be welcoming Dr. Daniel Potter, from Huntington Reproductive Center. Dr. Potter is board certified in Reproductive Endocrinology and Ob/Gyn. Dr. Potter is also author of the book: What to Do When You Can't Get Pregnant: The Complete Guide to All the Technologies for Couples Facing Fertility Problems (Marlow and Company, New York, New York 2005.)
deb_capone	The broad topic for tonight's session is "poor responders and egg donation".
deb_capone	We will start as soon as Dr. Potter logs in. I apologize for the delay.
	taylorgauna joined.
	sandy joined.
deb_capone	I am trying to locate Dr. Potter as we speak. Again, I apologize for the delay.
	sk joined.
	Queens_College joined.
	taylorgauna left.
	deedee joined.
deedee	Has the session started?
deb_capone	Ok, Ladies and Gentlemen, it seems that Dr. Potter is not available. We have two choices, we can chat amongst ourselves sharing 'war stories' and supporting each other and wait and see if he frees up...or we can try again next week?
Luly	I would personally like to see this session rescheduled as I am interested.
Queens_College	Awaiting some opening remarks for tonight's topic...
deedee	Well, I can come back next week.
Ellen	I would also like to see this rescheduled.
Queens_College	Next week works for me
Queens_College	however it will be a holiday weekend.
deb_capone	To recap, we were supposed to have Dr. Potter , from Huntington Reproductive Center talking about poor responders and egg donation. It seems that dr. potter is not available. We can reschedule pending his schedule.....but if this is a good topic, we can see if we can get another RE to do it next week.
deb_capone	is there anything specifically that you would like to see covered?
	dom joined.
sandy	best protocols for poor responders
deb_capone	ok, got it.
deedee	Am interested in the egg donation info
Luly	I concur with deedee
deb_capone	while i have you all, what are some other topics that might be interesting....i would love your feedback
joannvan	i'm intersted in egg donation too
Ellen	Was a poor responder....now about to go through egg donation and have numerous questions.
redsy	best protocols for poor responders with normal FSH and past Clomid challenge
deb_capone	what types of things regarding egg donation would be the most interesting.
Ellen	Specifically, questions regarding endo lining and TSH level. Things that need to be in order for a positive outcome.
deedee	Interested in knowing if the progestrone has to be given by injection or if it can be as a suppository
sandy	if the is anything that can be done to avoid having a lead follie develope for a poor responder during ivf
	katie joined.
deb_capone	Are any 'soft' topics i.e. psychological issues, alternative/complimentary/integrative medicine stuff?
deb_capone	interesting, i should add?
sk	I also will like this to be re-schedule... need to learn more a it egg donnor and poor respond.
	ahchealth7800 left.
katie	what's meant by poor responder? i need clarification. sorry if this was answered before.
sk	my respond was poor and the fertilization took place abnormal.
deb_capone	How about the format? is this format ok, or would you l ike to see a bit more of a formal 'presentation' to set the stage and then a question and answer?
deb_capone	Katie, we are literally talking amongst ourselves as Dr. Potter, tonight
deb_capone	's RE guest hasn't been able to join us.
sk	*
maddie1702	iI am not a poor responder, but fustrated after ivf 8wk misscarriage, two more attempts with pgd, great embies, normal 5 day blasts,not sticking. Great progesterone levels at 75. I am 39.
sandy	I would like to see the Doc, respond , discuss the topic and then Q andA
deb_capone	sorry, guys, I am a bit trigger happy tonight. Too much rain here in the East!
katie	if he circulates some info via the website ahead of time, then that would save time on the presentation at the 8-9 hour and we can skip to the questions.
deedee	Interested in the process of how a couple can choose an egg donor. Am interested in hearing from parents that succeeded with egg donation. Saw Andriene Barboe (sp?) indicate she used egg donation but highly reccomended concieving younger as she was 51yr. It would be interesting to hear her story a little more detail.
sk	hope the rains not to much deb.-
katie	also would be nice to hear how people deal with disappointment! I think I'm really terrible at it, and I'm sure it affects my relationship(s)/ work/ etc.
deedee	No rain here in California
deb_capone	that is a good question for us tonight, Katie, if anyone has any suggestions...
sk	well my 2 invitro was very disappointed as is was poor and the 1 and only fertiliza abnormal
deb_capone	Seems selfish to be complaining about the weather on the anniversary of Katrina! Sorry for being a jerk!
joannvan	i go to yoga and cry alot
katie	sk: how did you handle getting that call from the nurse or dr.? did the pain get better over time?
deb_capone	Joannvan-what do you get from the yoga and have you tried any other 'altenative stuff' like accupunture?
maddie1702	Katie , it is good to have a therapist that deals with fertility issues. I see my every week.
	sandy left.
sk	very hard as it was my husband who anwer the call.. we cry and just went back home
Luly	I also do yoga and acupuncture and I find that it relaxes me to no end.
Ellen	do you feel that acupuncture is really beneficial?
sk	accupunture did help and now yoga is healing
katie	great to hear about yoga. I am about to find out if I'm pregnant, first time IVF, on the 8th. I'm so anxious, and, well, my body (euphemism here) is in pain.
Queens_College	Please future discussion to include donor egg and donor sperm in the same attempt at pregnancy.
joannvan	i did try accupunture but i liked the calming effect yoga had. i did it before my 1st ivf it was succesful but misscarried @ 8wks 2nd ivf didn't work
Luly	I do - it has changed my life incredibly
deb_capone	Gotcha, Queens College...its on the list!
Ellen	good luck Katie!
maddie1702	I dont let the Dr. call with the news. The morning of my pregnancy test, I then go back with my husband for the results at the end of the day and sit with the doc.
sk	my firts didnt hold and my 2 invitro was abnormal, in the 2 i did accup and it help alot
katie	how do you manage the fact that this process is, to some extent, kind of out of our control? I tend to get frustrated because of that. that the professionals don't have all the answers.
sk	well, over here in Jamaica, the head nurse call you, not the doc. which i didnt like that much in the 2 time....
	taylorg joined.
katie	thanks maddie. just saw that. how did you find such a therapist? i live in KY and all the ones listed at the sites I visit are, well, in other states.
deedee	A side question ... does the recent change in stem cell reserach, which does not destroy embroys, have any effect to the egg donation process?
deb_capone	Taylorg-we are having a 'come as you are' session tonight. Our guest RE was not available. So if you have anything that you want/need perhaps our other participants can help you..
	katie left.
deb_capone	Katie, if you call The AFA support line in the morning, Lisa Van Ness can help you with a referral to a person near you. You can also take advantage of lots of the telephone support groups that run free for "No Barriers" members.
	katie joined.
maddie1702	Katie, I live in Ct ,close to New york city, The therapist comes to westport ct, She was referred to me by my Doc. I am sure your Doc must know someone. Ins does cover mental health. Sometimes I just cry for the entire hour.
deb_capone	Glad you came back, Katie, I just wanted you to know that there is lots of support available through the AFA...just ask! We are here for you.
sk	I think here in Jamaica as laking of therapir to help couping with fertiliy issues. and it makes me feel sad not only for me for the other couple in the fertility issues.
deb_capone	sk, you too, can join in the telephone support groups. They run pretty frequently and it is a phone call away.
katie	thanks. i will ask the afa--offline or now? don't want to take up others' time with my rural needs! I'll ask
deb_capone	Remember, we are here every Tuesday night -albeit usually with a guest.
sk	how to use the telephone support... I live in Jamaica west indies
deb_capone	Katie, call Lisa V in the morning. She is terrific.
deb_capone	You call into a bridge line-if you have phone service that is all you need.
katie	will do. thanks. i know so many people go through this, but like sk, I often feel so alone.
deb_capone	If you got the email on this session, you will see some info at the bottom on support services. It can be quiet in the summer but picks up in the fall.
sk	where can i look for the numbers
deb_capone	Katie, I think that everyone on this session has felt just that at times. This can be a horrendously isolating process.
sk	Katie, ur right .... it makes you feel left out... and wondering.
sk	ok deb thanks I will look back in my email.
deb_capone	Take a look at www.theafa.org for info and if you are a free "No Barriere" member you will get weekly emails and a monthly online newsletter that has all of the opportunities that are coming up.
taylorg	I would like to hear about when your egg donor is a poor responder... how to deal with that.
	dom left.
deb_capone	Sk, I think there is a "Just for Men" session on Sept 27 if that is interesting. I will be sending the info out on that next week. Sometimes we forget (we women, at least) that there is another side to the equation who might also need some support.
deb_capone	Does anyone have anything to share with Taylorg on how to deal with an egg donor who is a poor responder?
maddie1702	I think it is important to when going thru egg donation to only use a proven egg donor.
deb_capone	Good advice maddie!
sk	I guess thats when the doctors have to find someone young and been scanne properly before hand
Ellen	they should test the donor's FSH before she donates. unless, your donor is a "known'" donor.
taylorg	I was told she was "ideal" -- but not "repeat" & "proven". Guess lesson learned. But broke.
sk	Oh yyess MEN need more support i think and it'll be good for them
Ellen	taylorg, was her FSH low?
Ellen	Did they stim her enough?
maddie1702	I think when docs recuit young girls for egg donation, they might have normal everthing ,but even docs willnot know how they respond until meds are given for stims.
sk	the donnor has to be scann properly before hand, and before i can Iagree to it.
taylorg	don't know. Just didn't produce eggs.
deedee	So are many donors available from Donor organizations that have not had their FSH levels tested?
Ellen	usually no. not in the ones I've contacted.
Ellen	Well, the clinic actually does the FSH test. Not the donor agency.
deedee	hmm, thanks
deedee	Do you think donors should go through a mock cycle like we have to do?
sk	deb thanks I'll check my email for the support line and till next titme.
maddie1702	Some clinics have their own egg donation recruits.
Ellen	Then you would have to pay for her meds....more $$$.
deedee	right ...
deb_capone	ok, SK. And please let me know if there are any topics you want me to start planning for these session. They are all about YOU!
sk	thank you... will email
	rosienyc joined.
maddie1702	Better to pay for meds and know they can stim than not. Plus young donors need less meds than older patients.
	sk left.
	pruizch joined.
taylorg	re Ellen/ stim her enough: basically told me they would change her protocol...for another $20G cycle
Ellen	After spending an exhausting 6 months searching for a donor, we have decided to go with a donor who has donated before. The clinic I'm using has given me her results with the other donations. i.e. how many eggs, how many fertilized, and outcome.
katie	what's the typical outcome for donor eggs?
	rosienyc left.
taylorg	Ellen, that seems the way to go
Ellen	taylorg: Did she produce any eggs? Wouldn't they have been able to tell with ultrasound earlier?
deedee	so a good topic might be to explore the process of ensuring that the donor is going to be a good one
deedee	Taylorg ... did you say $20,000 more for another cycle, boy that seems high for another time
Ellen	absolutely. we first thought about using someone who had never donated before (to save a little money), but too risky in my opinion. Unless you are using a relative, of course.
Ellen	Taylorg: have you looked into the Shared Risk Program?
taylorg	we were told that she would have 12-15 eggs, then at retrieval she only had 3. Two were quite questionable. The other didn't take.
pruizch	My sister is 38 she had 2 perfect child do you think it should be my first option for donor?
deedee	wow
deedee	should like a good one ... but i'm not a doctor
taylorg	our donor was late twenties with two healthy children. Didn't help us any.
maddie1702	taylorg, I would ask the doc for a discount. especially if you have been a patient there for a while. It does not hurt to try. Also depending on your finances ,the doc might have finacing available.
deedee	Don't think that every donor organization has the shared risk program , though
pruizch	thanks anyway... do you know at what time is the doctor going to be online?
Luly	pruizch - I am in the same situation as you where I wanted my sister as my donor but my doctor said the success rate drops to 20% (in my case) because of her age.
	Joanne joined.
deedee	Taylorg .... i spoke to another person that was sucessful with her third try with donor eggs. Her third try she tried a different doctor. She went to USC on her third try. She's got a 1 year old baby boy now.
deb_capone	Dr. Potter is not going to be online tonight. We will reschedule this topic and Dr. Potter at a later date.
taylorg	We were not offered a discount. Been there a long, long time. It's depressing. My husband doesn't want to change doctors at this point though...
maddie1702	My sister is 30 yrs and has two healthy children ,I want to use her eggs and my doc thinks it might be better to use someone in her 20s
deedee	Taylorg ... did they give you any possible reasons why the donor wasn't very successful?
Ellen	Taylorg: Do you think the donor didn't give herself the injections like she was supposed to?
taylorg	no. Just said they would change her protocol if we used her again. Not going to though.
Luly	maddie - my dr said the same - my chances went from 20% with my sister to almost 70% with a donor in her 20's
pruizch	My doctor in the 2nd IVF gave me a $2,500 dicount...you should speek to him obout discount
	Joanne left.
taylorg	I'm pretty confident that she followed the protocol given to her. She was very much happy to to this (we were told). Just didn't respond to meds the way they "predicted".
Ellen	Was it her first time?
taylorg	yes
deedee	So how are you going to pick a new donor, what are you going to do different?
maddie1702	Luly,some how though I would still like to give it a shot at least once before I tried someone elses.
taylorg	we would go with a proven repeat donor.
deedee	right ...
Ellen	Luly, if you use your sister you eliminate the cost of donor fees (which is expensive). 30 isn't old!
taylorg	Luly- the money you would save on donor & legal fees is worth considering your sister. Wish I had that type of option..
Luly	Maddie - I understand that but I just could not bring myself to try knowing I had such a low chance and also did not want to burn through the funds because if that didn't work than we would have to go through it again.
Ellen	me too!
deedee	me three (too)
pruizch	Do anyone tried acupuncture and chinese medicines to improve egg quality
deedee	I tried it but the chinese medicines were expensive, tasted bad and the Accupunture doctor seemed to have a an attitude. I'd try it again
	Joanne joined.
Luly	I am doing donor through my dr - not an agency - so I do not save anything on the legal fees. As for the donor fees it would come out to more as we are doing the Shared Program. With my sister we would have to pay for a full cycle on our own
Ellen	Luly: There are numerous 30 year old donors on a lot of the agency websites. If you look at the success rates of 30 years old it's higher than 20%...I believe. If your sister has a low FSH level, I don't know why your doc would think she's a bad choice.
maddie1702	Luly, I guess there is a risk to everything. I am still weighing all my options. I am going to cycle again using my own esggs ,before going to donor.
deedee	Luly ... why won't they consider your sister under the Shared Program .... because she wasn't orginally under their program?
Ellen	I wondered the same thing.
	Joanne left.
maddie1702	What are other clinic charging for donor eggs ? Mine charges $8000.00 which goes directly to the donor. He makes his fees on the ivf and transfer.
	DebbieS joined.
taylorg	Pruizch -I tried acupuncture with poor results (& I personally believe a nerve damage problem that coincidentally began a short time after). I think he zapped the needles too much. BUT, have heard others rave about it. Personal decision.
Ellen	Mine is $8,000 as well....using the clinic's donor.
	kaylalunaava joined.
deb_capone	As a reminder, we get kicked out of this room at 9pm. We will be back next week-talking with Dr. Kim Bergman about the psychological issues surrounding Third Party Reproduction. In the meantime, there is tons of info on www.theafa.org on surrogacy, donor eggs and anything that you can think of relating to fertility is there.
joannvan	maddie my clinic was charging 7000 but now it's up to 8000 for donor fees
Luly	My sister is 39 and has 2 children. My Dr will not use her as a donor for somebody else due to the low rate but will use her if I insist but they highly recommend against it.
deedee	Have been looking at website with donors starting at $5,000
Ellen	is that with an agency or clinic?
deedee	With an agency
Ellen	If it's an agency, you will have to pay their fee as well.
Luly	My donor fee is $4500.
Ellen	Agency fees usually run from $5,000 +
maddie1702	$4500,seems reasonable compared to 8 grand
taylorg	Donors here have gone up to 7000, then there are agency fees at 5G+, plus legal fees.
Luly	We went to a few doctors and the other were $5000 and $6250
Luly	absolutely
pruizch	good night and good luck to everyone !!!
deedee	Have seen website in the range of $12,000 just for the donor portion for repeat sucessful donors
	kaylalunaava left.
	pruizch left.
deedee	This can be expensive since there isn't any insurance coverage
taylorg	Thanks for reassurance of next decision to be proven & repeat. Just need to save up now.
deb_capone	Thanks to all of you....this turned out to be a great session. I appreciate all of your suggestions for topics and formats etc. Please don't hesitate to contact me at deb@theafa.org if you need anything from us.
	DebbieS left.
Ellen	I know. I don't know how people do it 3-4 times. $$$$
taylorg	bye
	deb_capone left.
Ellen	bye, see you all next week!
deedee	good luck Taylorg
taylorg	thanks
	Nancy joined.
Luly	good night everyone and good luck to all
maddie1702	Good night everyone, Thank you Deb for staying with us tonight.
	redsy left.
Luly	see you again next week
joannvan	good night
	Ellen left.
deedee	Thanks Deb
	taylorg left.
	joannvan left.
	maddie1702 left.
	Queens_College left.
	Nancy left.
	katie left.
	Luly left.
	deedee left.

Poor Responders and Egg Donation

Categories

Chat Archives