QuestionHello Dr. Ramirez...I have written to you before..
I have been prescribed oral contraceptives for 3 months before we start my IVF. My question is whether I am supposed to have a period between these 3 months or am I supposed to keep taking these pills? I would be extremely grateful if you could help me as soon as you can as I just had my last pill today and I am in a dilemma now!
Thanks Dr. you are the best!!
AnswerDear Marusha,
Thank you for your question. You should have been able to get that information easily from your IVF clinic. They are not doing a good job.
You can have a period every month until the month preceding your IVF cycle. In that case, you would continue the pills until your stimulation calendar tells you to stop.
For example, for my patients doing IVF in November, if they start the pills in September (beginning), then they would have a period at the end of September in the normal fashion. They would then start a new pack but not have a period until the cycle start the first week of November. In your case you would go two months instead of the one month in my example.
So for you it would be:
August have a normal period as planned in the pill pack
September don't have a period until the calendar tells you to
October IVF cycle
Some of this depends on when you expect your period to be, so it may have to be modified to your specific situation. For example, if my patient started her period in mid-September and her cycle was in November, then she would skip the period in October and take the pill continuously until November.
Maybe you should consider flying out to California for your IVF cycles? We do get out of state and out of area patients, as most IVF centers do, and you could enjoy visiting our beautiful vacation spot.
I hope this helps.
Edward J. Ramirez, M.D.
Executive Medical Director
The Fertility and Gynecology Center
Monterey Bay IVF Program
www.montereybayivf.com
Monterey, California, U.S.A.
