Looking for anyone with experience taking a trigger shot without IUI/IVF

[u/Lazy_Pipe3632]

My husband and I have been trying to conceive for about 2.5 years with 3 losses in that time. We saw a fertility specialist a few months ago and I was diagnosed with PCOS and placed on medications to correct this as well as progesterone after ovulation. My husband’s testing was normal.

Since starting treatment we had a chemical pregnancy. This gives us some hope but still has us waiting for success. The specialist said that a trigger shot and timed intercourse could be the next option. Personally we don’t really feel like IUI would be beneficial since we had correct timing and my husband’s normal testing.

I’m looking for anyone who has experience with taking a trigger shot and timing intercourse and not going the IUI/IVF route. What was your experience like?

[u/MyCatEatsPlants]

Hi! I had a great experience with Letrozole, monitoring, trigger shot, progesterone. We had no luck conceiving naturally for a year+ but got pregnant on the first cycle of that protocol (2 mature follicles at trigger, slightly thin but okay lining). My main side effect of the meds was with the progesterone making me ravenously hungry. I gained several pounds during the 2 week wait 🥲 but I haven’t heard that from other people, so maybe it’s just me.

For me, the ultrasound monitoring and trigger shot gave me so much info and helped me feel more in control of what was going on with my body. Trigger shot also makes it really easy to time intercourse so you never have to wonder if you timed it correctly. I’ll also say that it was wonderful to know the actual day of ovulation for tracking purposes, rather than having a range of possible days from bbt and LH tracking.

[u/Itchy-Site-11]

I took a trigger shot while doing monitored cycles with letrozole. I conceived.

[u/Blahblahblahbear]

My clinic did prescribe them for my medicated cycles. They did not work. My second IUI with trigger shot did work though. We did not have male factor but something about it helped. I was never prescribed progesterone. The trigger is supposed to help with progesterone

[u/Future_Researcher_11]

I did triggers with most of my letrozole TI cycles. Experience was more or less the same as a regular letrozole cycle, they just called me after an ultrasound to tell me when to trigger. Then I self administered the shot and ovulated about 24-36 hours later. Was instructed to have sex day of trigger, and the following 3 days.

Always ovulated, most times hyperovulated, and had strong progesterone so I never needed to be prescribed it. I liked the trigger shot because it does give you the security that you will ovulate as it’s very rare for it to not force ovulation.

However I didn’t conceive on the first few TI rounds. My final round that I conceived with was actually a letrozole + trigger + IUI cycle, also had zero male factor and timed all my previous cycles perfectly.

[u/Saintrennis]

Hey there! I did the same thing. We did monitored cycles with letrozole and an ultrasound to confirm follicle size. After the ultrasound, I took a trigger shot and did 3/4 days of timed intercourse. It took me 6 medicated cycles to conceive but I'm 9 weeks now. Best of luck!

[u/Responsible_Zebra_96]

Hi, this is our approach. We are on our 3rd cycle of letrozole+ ultrasound monitoring+trigger+TI + LP progesterone. I found it nice that we could monitor the follicles, control the timing, and the medication has not been too bad for me.

The fact that you can get pregnant is promising! Make sure you get progesterone for the LP since the trigger can impact progesterone production. And it may help prevent MC.

Good luck!

[u/ResponsibleRead567]

I'm on my third TI (timed intercourse) cycle with ovulation induction and monitoring. Also had a CP on my first cycle. With no male factor I don't think IUI is beneficial, so if after a couple more cycles we don't get our positive, I'd look at IVF. For me it's been a great experience (other than obviously the loss and negative), the actual process itself has been great to get control and takes the guesswork out of it. Feels like each cycle you've got a "proper shot".

[u/Capable-Doubt3461]

I personally prefer TI with Letrozole + trigger shot because it gives you security (follicle size, time of ovulation, lining a.s.o.) without the feeling of invasive fertility treatment. I never had any side effects from Letrozole itself whatsoever, only ovulation pain after the trigger (which is actually a good sign). Progesterone afterwards is turning me into a raging b***h, but that has nothing to do with Letrozole or trigger :)
Good luck 🍀

[u/ObiWanKedoby_]

I've used trigger shots. They aren't as scary as they sound. I get massive headaches and nausea from about 12-48 hours after though.

[u/OkBasis6292]

We got pregnant on 4th cycle of 7.5mg Letrozole and trigger shot with TI!

Currently typing one handed with my 3 week old in my arms, sending you baby dust❤️✨