Is it normal for a doctor to recommend ovarian drilling as a treatment option before even attempting any medicated cycles (oral or injectable)?
My doctor currently has me on dexamethasone to lower a slightly elevated androstenedione. I talked to one of the nurses earlier today, since I'm supposed to be going in later this week for follow-up blood work to see if it's working (luckily I don't need to go in any more since they have enough blood left over from what they drew on Saturday to perform the additional test!)....and I just happened to ask her what happens next if for some reason it doesn't seem to be working. She said that, if that is the case, the doctor will most likely suggest ovarian drilling. Needless to say, I do not want to proceed with that unless it seems like absolutely nothing else will work. I'm still very hopeful that the drug is actually working, but I won't get the test results until sometime next Monday...
Why would they use your "before" blood to run a test after youve taken meds? Im curious about that..and it was just the nurse saying that, perhaps the doc has a different plan. Drilling I would think would come after a few medicated cycles. Seems to be jumping the gun there.
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I agree with the PP on both issues. How are they using old blood to do a new test to see if somethings working? And from what i'm seeing around this site, ovarian drilling is a last resort, not first... I would talk directly to the the dr.
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I've been on the medication since the beginning of July....and the blood they'll be using was drawn this past Saturday when I went in for bloodwork to see if it was alright for me to take Provera to end my current cycle (currently CD52, second day of Provera). They had more than enough for Saturday's test, so she said they can use the excess to check the necessary hormone level.
This wasn't the first time that ovarian drilling was brought up as a possible treatment option. The first time was by my doctor when I went in for the results of my "investigative cycle" tests. The treatment options she mentioned were:
- Clomid/Serophene with timed BDing
- Injectables (most likely with timed BDing)
- Ovarian Drilling if those don't work
So the idea that she'd jump straight to ovarian drilling if my androstenedione level doesn't increase on dexamethasone unfortunately doesn't sound very far fetched to me. Depending on the test results, I'm definitely planning on talking to her because ovarian drilling definitely seems like jumping the gun. I was just curious as to what others thought....
I have a question for you experts out there...what indicates that ovarian drilling is neccessary and or recommended? Thanks so much, just curious!
__________________ TTC #1 4/08 Met 1500 XR 11/08 Clomid 50mg cd 5-9, 1 follie, trigger, BFN 12/08 Clomid 50mg cd 5-9, no bueno follies- bust 1/09 Clomid 100mg cd 5-9, 1 follie, trigger, BFN 1/29/09- SA- Muy Bueno To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
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i have been on metformin since may 2009, my dr wants me to stay on these till march 2010 then if i dont get pregnant then he wants me to have ovarian drilling before i get put on clomid, he seems to think the clomid will work better for me after i have had ovarian drilling To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. ive never heard of ovarian drilling been used 1st without being prescribed any medication 1st but i suppose some do To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. <3 x i wish you the best of luck & baby dust for all To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. x
From what I have learned about ovarian drilling since I had this done back in June, it that it clears up all the multiple little cysts and the encasing they create on the ovaries. Some research is showing that some women respond better to meds if they have had ovarian drilling. Also Ovarian drilling can be enough to stimulate natural ovulation without meds.
Some things your dr. may also be thinking about when talking about doing Ovarian drilling, is it will give them the opportunity to make sure there isn't anything else wrong, like endometriosis, scar tissue, etc.
Ovarian drilling also has shown a tremendous reduction in androgen hormones post surgery, because it enables the ovaries to produce the female hormones at a more normalized level. HTH!
To me, it seems reasonable to have Ovarian Drilling before starting other hormonal treatments, because it will help your body respond better, its almost like starting with a clean slate. I'm on 2500mg/day of met, and since my OD surgery(along with other things), my hormones have seemingly completely stabilized. My Lh/FSH ratio is excellent, my testerone is 16, and everything else is well within the normal range.
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Samie- thanks so much for the explanation, it really makes sense. I too agree that it does seem reasonalble. Thanks again, learning something new every day on here!
__________________ TTC #1 4/08 Met 1500 XR 11/08 Clomid 50mg cd 5-9, 1 follie, trigger, BFN 12/08 Clomid 50mg cd 5-9, no bueno follies- bust 1/09 Clomid 100mg cd 5-9, 1 follie, trigger, BFN 1/29/09- SA- Muy Bueno To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
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Treatment question 
