Why do some doctors recommend taking a one month break between egg collecting cycles? (Ask The Egg Whisperer)

In this Ask The Egg Whisperer episode, Gulbahar sent in a question. Here’s what she asked, “My doctor recommended that I take a one month off between egg retrievals. There are only so many times to ask 'why' and not be answered before feeling you can't ask again. What is the science between a month wait? I have low ovarian reserves, so overstimulation is not likely.  Why do some women have back to back IVF cycle while others don't?”

And the answer is you don't have to take a break. You really don't. I always say when your period starts, you think of me and you come on in by cycle day three, you just keep showing up. I say this because you just never know when you're going to have an awesome cycle. So how would you know that the cycle right after one egg retrieval, is going to have a lot of sparkling eggs unless you actually go and look?

So I would advocate for yourself. Ask your doctor if you can come in at the time of your period, just to check, understanding that you might have an ovarian cyst that might make it so that you just need to take a break. 

I don't necessarily recommend a one month break. I do have patients that just feel like they want to  keep coming in cycle after cycle without a break.

But if let's say you're 41 years old, you have a follicle count of three the next month after your egg retrieval, you could have a follow up count of four. So I would suggest, showing up, find out what’s happening in that cycle and then make a decision as to whether you should take a break or wait for your next cycle.

To submit your own question to Dr. Aimee for a future episode of Ask The Egg Whisperer, click here. 

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