Medication: What I’m taking

One morning I had a very strange phone call from a number unknown. Asking me to arrange a delivery from a clinic I was under. They couldn’t tell me who they were until I confirmed who I was, but luckily she could answer yes/no questions and confirmd that thy were calling from Stork for my IVF meds!

I didn’t even know my prescription had been placed as I was told that it probably wouldn’t get placed until my next clinic appointment where they will do my final weigh and get me started.

I am doing short protocol, or sometimes referred to as antagonistic protocol, which is apparently the most commonly used IVF protocol – and involves the fewest number of injections.

So on Cycle Day (CD) 1 I will call the clinic and book in for a CD9 scan – but I will also start my medication on that day too. With short protocol you go to Stimulation phase, or stims as its known in the IVF world.

Stim Medication: Meriofert 450
Meriofert, seems to be commonly used at my clinic, and is quite expensive, but if it does the job its supposed to do then so be it! It comes in 75 or 150 units so to be on 450 which is the maximum dose I have to mix 3 x 150 vials and I’m quite excited about it. Things like this don’t worry me, but maybe its silly that I’m excited! Its given by injection into my tummy!

Supression Medication: Fyremadel
Fyremadel is another injection but this stops the body giving an LH surge which means they can retrieve the eggs to fertilise. If you’ve ever pee’d on an ovulation stick this is what shows up on your test – your LH surge.

Vaginal Cream: Clindamycin
Clindamycin is an antibiotic vaginal cream, this is given by my clinic to help prevent infections, but also clear up any potential unknown infections which can be caused by your own body – or – hormonal inbalances. Especially when they’re having to use needles etc to do what they need to do throughout the IVF Process

Trigger Injection: Gonasi 5000iu
The Trigger injection(s) is given between 5000-15000 units, I’ll be triggering with 10,000 which is two injections. This causes the LH Surge that your body needs and is given normally 36 hours exactly before egg collection is booked. This means it can be administered at lots of varying times of day or night depending on the time. This means the eggs will be “ready” when they go in to get them.

Progesterone: Cyclogest
Progesterone pesseries are given, I’m unsure until I get my IVF medication booklet from the clinic at my next appointment when I start these within my cycle, but I believe its from Egg Collecton. I know that they can help prevent the abnormal thickening of the lining of the womb, but also, are shown to help support pregnancies.

So overall not many different medications to get confused with, but, enough anyway!

Every person is different to what medication and protocol they will be on – this is just mine – and I’ll be tracking symptoms etc too so if any of you end up on these I can give you the low-down too!