fyi: medicine information

birth control
i'm typically on birth control but with the egg donation cycle i did not start taking the pill again after i had my period for a week. i won't start back on birth control until after surgery.

z-pak (zithromax)
an antibiotic taken used to prevent and treat infections in the reproductive tract as a precautionary measure.

dexamethasone
a low-dose steroid tablet taken at bedtime to suppress androgen production, which may improve egg quality. side effects: insomnia, nervousness, indigestion
i've been taking this every night since the beginning of injections.

lupron
a daily subcutaneous injection to aid in ovarian supression and to prevent ovulation. side effects: insomnia, hot flashes, weight gain, mood changes, headache, hive-type area at injection site.
more info:
GnRH is a hormone released from the hypothalamus. it controls the release of LH and FSH from the pituitary gland and these hormones in turn are responsible for stimulating the production of hormones and development of eggs in the ovary.

in normal cycles, GnRH is necessary for the system to function properly. however, when gonal-f (fertility drug) is used to induce ovulation, GnRH may actually interfere with the timing we are trying to achieve. it may do so by causing premature ovulation or "overaging" of the egg. premature ovulation is the most common reason IVF/GIFT cycles are canceled prior to retrieval of eggs, and "overaging" of eggs is believed to be one of the factors that results in a failure to conceive.

lupron is a synthetic hormone known as a GnRH agonist. when given over a prolonged period (more than one week) they effectively prevent GnRH, and subsequently LH and FSH, from affecting the function of the ovary.

gonadotropins (gonal-f)
a medication (fertility drug) given as daily subcutaneous injection(s) to stimulate the growth of follicles in the ovary. side effects: fluid retention, breast tenderness, abdominal bloating, mood swings, ovarian enlargement.

the final injection (big big one): chorionic gonadotropin (HCG)
a subcutaneous injection given prior to egg retrieval to mature the eggs. this injection is extremely important and must be taken at the exact time you are instructed. side effects: nausea.