Hello. I was wondering if anyone has had an IUI cycle cancelled with 4 good-sized Follicles (had approx. 9 in total)? My DR stated that I was “over stimulated” and cancelled my cycle without even discussing it with me.  He told me that my husband and I need to abstain from intercourse for 10-14 days too!  My question, should DH and I go against our DR’s orders and BD this week? (I’ve done research and learned that women my age are able to complete IUI cycles with 8 follicles safely!)

(Little background. I’m 28 & DH is 30. We have been TTC for over 2 years and recently confirmed that I have endometriosis. We did get pregant 21 months ago but ended in m/c. Because I was able to get pregnant once, my DR is being really cautious and I don’t understand. Throughout this process I’ve had a cancer scare, two surgeries, injections, labs, exams, ... and A LOT of “don’t worry, you’re still young.”)

TIA!!

If it were me, I would still have intercourse about the time you are going to ovulate.  I am not telling you to do it, I am just going off of what I would do. 

Good luck!!

I also have been in your shoes before, having once 3 follicles and another time 4 follicles…all mature of course.  My RE had cancelled my cycle and actually informed me that it would be my sole decision to baby dance.  However, when there are mature follicles present, that could very well mean that’s how many babies you can have.  Plus throw in the risk of any dividing, further increasing the #‘s.  Its a challlenging decision to which you and your husband can make on your own.  I did submit my answer in your poll…yes!!!  Although I may decrease the amount of intercouse but would focus on the 30-36 hour mark in lieu of a follicle or two being released.  I wish you well.  I totally hope that you come back on this thread and let us all know that you conceived.  I’ll be keeping my fingers crossed for ya!  GL.

The problem is the total number of large and mid sized follicles.  It also matters if you are taking injectable drugs or clomid.  The risks of high-order multiple birth (HOMB = triplets or more) are significant with 6 or more follicles over 12 mm or so, and most responsible physicians will recommend cancellation.

With injectables and the usual # of follicles (2-4) we see 8% triplets and 4% quads or more.  The risks are approx doubled if you go over 6 follicles.

With clomid, the risk of HOMB are lower anyway (about 2%), so I would not be as concerned.

The safest course is to follow the dr advice.  Have they counseled you on selective fetal reduction (FR)?

If FR is acceptable to you and spouse, then proceeding may not be completely crazy, but you must be prepared to accept that you may have to face with the decision to perform FR for HOMB.

I have had couples proceed with cycles I wanted to cancel,and then conceive quads that they would not reduce and then lost all 4 at 22 weeks of pregnancy.  When they returned 9 months later to resume therapy, they told me they should have stopped the cycle and resumed at a lower dose the next month.  That way they would have lost only a month and 1 cycle’s worth of meds instead of 9 months and 4 babies (their words).

Good luck with a tough decision.

Peter McGovern, MD

Free Admission for a Select Few Into Family Matters NY 2008!

Hello, Everyone!  It’s Brian Armentrout, The AFA Communications Director. 

Time is running out to sign-up for this year’s Family Matters NY Conference to be held October 5th at Steiner Studios in the Brooklyn Navy Yard.  We just received some very exciting news.  A sponsor has generously donated a scholarship to cover the cost of admission for 25 recipients.  To apply just e-mail your request to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or call 888.917.3777.  Register today at our homepage at http://www.theafa.org and click on the Family Matters banner.  See you October 5th!

Haven’t you ever watched “John and Kate plus eight”??? According to their website they also had 3-4 follicles ready prior to an IUI and then had sextuplets. I also had an IUI cycle cancelled last month with 4 follicles ready and as much as it was disappointing to wait another month, I really didn’t want to risk the health risks (for me or babies) of high-order multiples, nor do I want to have to consider fetal reduction. Please listen to your doctor and focus your energy on next month. I have focused on being happy that I responded so well to the meds. So many women on the message boards are disappointed they did not respond at all.  One other option that no one mentions is converting to an IVF cycle. My doctor offered to keep me on the meds and do an IVF instead but we only just started treatment and I am not quite ready to do that yet. So we will try again next month.