Phase 2 : Antagonists

Appointments

I haven’t had any more appointments since my initial meetings, consultation and bloodwork in Phase One. My first monitoring appointment is scheduled for June 29th after nine days of medication.

Medications

I’m still currently injecting myself daily with 225 units of Gonal-F and 75 units of MENOPUR. On June 25th, which was day six of those two original stimulating medications, I added 250 mcg of Orgalutran to my routine. Orgalutran is an antagonist which is used to prevent premature ovulation in IVF. You may be prescribed Cetrotide or Antagon instead of Orgalutran. These are essentially the same medication, just with different brand names. Cetrorelix is the medication in Cetrotide and Orgalutran and Antagon contain ganirelix.

I will inject myself with the Orgalutran between 6:00 and 9:00 a.m. to prevent me from ovulating too early. We want to time ovulation perfectly, and when most of the eggs are over 17 mm, the clinic will trigger ovulation and retrieve them. The ideal size for a follicle is between 18 mm and 24 mm. Typically, a follicle larger than 24 mm is considered "too ripe," the quality of it decreases, and your body can actually reabsorb the follicle. Orgalutran comes in easy-to-use preloaded syringes. You just inject into a skinfold on your midsection, and that’s it!

Side Effects

I experience what I admit could be classified as “bitchiness.” I can be short-tempered with my boyfriend, especially because I have been stressed about packing for this retrieval camping trip and getting our trailer up to par. It’s a 16-hour drive from my hometown to the ferry in Vancouver, then a one-and-a-half-hour ferry to Vancouver Island and then an hour's drive to our campsite. The clinic is 40 minutes away in Victoria.  

Back story: My boyfriend and I don’t have to go back to work following this camping trip and instead have decided to road-trip across Canada to New Brunswick, where my partner grew up. He just finished school and passed his red seal for plumbing and red seal for gas fitting. I just finished a three-year contract working at a youth detox center. However, this was quickly decided and planned after buying a cheap trailer on a whim, thinking we could fix it up and do some camping. We had only a month to get ready, and all of this planning and packing while on my medications has left me feeling some fatigue, in addition to the irritability. Still, it’s really not that bad overall. If you tend to get a little stressed and grumpy during your period, this isn’t much different than that.

Before

After

Warning Signs

Carefully keep track of any excessive bloating. You can do this by regularly weighing yourself. If you are gaining a lot of fluid early on (without peeing it out in due time), this can be a sign of OHSS (ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome). If you are being seen locally at this stage, ask for your estrogen and follicle counts.

Self-Care Tips

Continue your daily meditation practice, and increase your time if needed. Taking warm baths and showers can help with any aches or cramping. Make time for solo activities that you enjoy such as reading or watching TV—I recommend at least 30 minutes per day so you can fully relax. Take multivitamins too, if you don’t already, to keep your immunity up.

Personally, I am using the following essential oils to help with fatigue and stress:       

·    Peppermint diluted with a carrier oil (like coconut oil) on my temples and the bottoms of my feet.

·       Northern lights black spruce on my wrists and along the back of my neck and spine.

Essential oils are a great way to reenergize yourself naturally without stimulants.