Updated by the Progyny Clinical Team \u2014 August 2025.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You\u2019ve finished your consultation and all the testing. Now you\u2019re ready to begin treatment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Based on your results, you\u2019ve made a plan with your reproductive endocrinologist (REI) to start in vitro fertilization (IVF) using an antagonist protocol.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are several IVF protocols that can be used. Each one is designed to help your ovaries grow the optimal number of mature eggs that can be fertilized. Hopefully, this leads to a healthy pregnancy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The antagonist protocol is the most common protocol to start with. Your REI will personalize your medicine doses, visits, and schedule. It\u2019s called the \u201cantagonist protocol\u201d because of the medicine that is used to prevent ovulation while the eggs are growing. These medicines \u2014 Cetrotide or Ganirelix \u2014 block signals from your brain that would normally tell your body to ovulate (release eggs).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As with all IVF cycles, you\u2019ll take injectable hormone medicines called gonadotropins. These help your ovaries grow follicles \u2014 small fluid-filled sacs that each hold an egg. As the follicles grow, your body produces estrogen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Once your estrogen levels rise and\/or your follicles are a certain size, your brain may try to trigger ovulation. This is where the antagonist medicine comes in. Your REI will decide the right time to start this based on your progress during the treatment cycle. It\u2019s important to prevent ovulation so that the follicles can keep growing until they reach the optimal size and maturity for retrieval.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What\u2019s the general timeline?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n What are the benefits of the antagonist protocol?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n What else do you need to know?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n If you have questions or concerns, Progyny is here for you. Please contact your Progyny Care Advocate for support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Disclaimer<\/strong>: The information provided by Progyny is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for medical guidance.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Updated by the Progyny Clinical Team \u2014 August 2025. You\u2019ve finished your consultation and all the testing. Now you\u2019re ready […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":25,"featured_media":28833,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[230,229],"tags":[228],"class_list":["post-11916","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-education","category-ivf-facts","tag-article"],"yoast_head":"\n\n
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