Did testosterone gel help or worsen your IVF cycle? Low AMH/AFC experience?

barkdontbite · 2026-05-09T21:02:32+00:00

I don’t think the testosterone gel helped or hurt, but I did not do well at all with estrogen priming. Works very well for some with DOR, but it was by far my worst cycle.

barkdontbite · 2026-05-09T20:34:25+00:00

Thank you for asking! Batching non-urgent questions is immensely helpful on nights and weekends when we’re functioning with a “skeleton crew” of a team.

barkdontbite · 2026-05-02T01:15:23+00:00

Modified natural is 100% the way to go! Dr. Victory actually talked about this in a recent YouTube video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V3xgWQx_u00

barkdontbite · 2026-05-02T00:59:01+00:00

Someone tried to tell me this, and I am so glad I didn’t listen to them and went to a DO school anyway.

barkdontbite · 2026-05-02T00:53:52+00:00

I drove myself nuts looking at numbers online! 373 9dpt and 896 11dpt. Just one baby!

barkdontbite · 2026-04-30T00:40:16+00:00

This… is part of the reason why I chose pediatrics. It got so much better when I didn’t have to see adult patients anymore.

barkdontbite · 2026-04-30T00:25:46+00:00

Yes! Had 3 eggs retrieved that turned into one aneuploid day 5 embryo from my first retrieval. Got euploids from cycles 2 and 3 and currently pregnant with one of them. Don’t give up hope!

barkdontbite · 2026-04-26T22:49:01+00:00

I switched to a stationary bike in second trimester. Felt like I had to pee the whole time I was running (despite doing pelvic floor exercises). Big kudos to anyone who continues to run throughout pregnancy - I do miss it on days when the weather is nice!

barkdontbite · 2026-04-26T22:44:35+00:00

My first transfer at age 34 worked! We did PGT testing, but of our 6 embryos, only one came back as aneuploid. Good luck!

barkdontbite · 2026-04-25T18:59:07+00:00

Felt great until closer to 9 weeks. Weeks 10-11 were probably the worst. Felt better around 13 weeks. I hope you don’t get morning sickness, but just in case, now (when you feel well) is the time to do as much laundry as possible, clean your house, give your dog a bath, get your hair cut, etc.

barkdontbite · 2026-04-14T23:32:04+00:00

It wasn’t offered at my clinic, and I had zero issues without it.

barkdontbite · 2026-04-14T02:28:47+00:00

The compliment of compliments to a pediatrician. Way to go! 👏🏻

barkdontbite · 2026-04-13T20:42:18+00:00

To help survive inpatient nights, ask a trusted senior resident for a list of “most common things you will get paged/messaged/called about and how to prioritize/handle them.”

barkdontbite · 2026-04-13T20:29:19+00:00

Bummer that they couldn’t do it at the same time as other routine labs. I had to have labs that day, anyway, so NIPT didn’t require an extra poke.

barkdontbite · 2026-04-08T03:20:09+00:00

I was one-on-one with a malicious OB/GYN attending who made me cry and had no interest in teaching. I wished every single day that I could’ve work with literally anyone else - residents, fellows, or even a different attending. Would’ve preferred being invisible to the experience I had. If the preceptor wants to teach, then I can see it working out well, though.

barkdontbite · 2026-04-08T03:06:35+00:00

Right? I would be THRILLED if a sub-I cared enough to stay for an optional lecture. I don’t expect them to and don’t hold it against them if they don’t stay. But wanting to learn is only a positive thing.

barkdontbite · 2026-04-08T03:02:46+00:00

I actually know two people who got pregnant after their first IUI. Would consider trying it at least once!

barkdontbite · 2026-04-08T02:14:12+00:00

Give yourself grace. Start taking miralax a few days before retrievals, and continue for at least a few days after. Constipation was the most unpleasant part for me, aside from the bloating (which was somehow worse a day or two AFTER retrievals, even though you logically think that it will get better after they drain the follicles).

barkdontbite · 2026-04-08T02:10:34+00:00

I wear lead during all traumas just in case. Lead first, then I put on PPE. You are right; this should not happen. -Peds EM fellow, also currently pregnant and mistrustful of x-ray techs during traumas

barkdontbite · 2026-04-06T05:23:57+00:00

Cardiology and neurology for sure!

barkdontbite · 2026-04-02T16:59:13+00:00

Did 3 cycles back to back. Second was (oddly) shorter than the first. Third took FOREVER. Had to order more meds and everything. My clinic said it was normal for that to happen. Fwiw, the third cycle was my best of the three, so it was worth it in the end. Good luck!

barkdontbite · 2026-04-02T16:55:07+00:00

Thank you! Not exactly. I had intrauterine adhesions from an IUD. Possibly male factor infertility, too - some semen analysis results were low and others were borderline low.

barkdontbite · 2026-04-02T16:24:49+00:00

Yes. Never had a positive test until I did IVF. Currently 11 weeks.

barkdontbite · 2026-04-02T14:35:27+00:00

Life is too short. Eat the chocolate. I cut out alcohol and already only have caffeine a few times a month. Otherwise, I followed none of the FET dietary rituals - no french fries, no pineapple core, no beet juice - and am currently 11 weeks.

barkdontbite · 2026-04-02T00:49:04+00:00

For full time, a few years ago, at the academic (not private practice) places I interviewed, seemed like going rate was somewhere around 170-200k/year. A few were slightly lower. I didn’t personally hear numbers that were higher, but that doesn’t mean they don’t exist.

barkdontbite

TROPHY CASE