Nearly 42, Endometriosis, ivf, donor eggs or not?

[NJB1418]

Hi there,

I’m looking for some advice please if anyone has gone through similar. Me and my husband have spent the last 4 years trying to get pregnant with various issues resulting in lots of delays for treatment. I have significant endometriosis, spent almost a year trying to regulate my TSH level as I reacted to the meds before having 1 failed round of ivf last year. I have a low amh and only produced 4 eggs - 2 embryos were transferred but unfortunately I bled before the 2ww was up. I then needed to wait for surgery for a hydrosalpinx after waiting for an MRI for ages and add COVID to the mix have resulted in delay after delay. We are now considering treatment again ASAP. My consultant is supportive either way but it’s obvious he thinks we should go straight for donor eggs as he says success would be 60% as oppose to 5-10% with my own eggs due to age/endo/low amh etc. I’m struggling a bit with the idea of donor eggs wondering if we should give mine one more go as we have only tried once with mine but is it pointless? am I just delaying the inevitable and leaving myself open for more pain and heartbreak only to need donors anyway? I feel like time is running out and we don’t have a bottomless pit of money either.

I feel so confused. Any words of wisdom would be appreciated X

[WeeJacs]

Hi didn’t want to read and run. We’re in a very situation, I have significant endo too. We have had 3 IVF attempts, unfortunately 2 miscarriages from these attempts. We still have 1 in the freezer but it’s the lowest graded 1 we had so not holding out much hope. I’m going to look into immune testing before moving forward with this. I will need to go to London for it and it will prob be around £1k but it’s worth it before moving on. I’m 39 and tbh this will be our last attempt with our own eggs, it will be DE next. I understand how you are feeling but I’ve made my peace with DE, the way I see it if it works then great. It will be our baby as I will be carrying it. Both miscarriages we’re 5AB’s but I do think egg quality is an issue for me too xx

[NJB1418 in reply to WeeJacs]

Hi there thanks for your reply. Sorry to hear about your losses. We have turned a corner and are moving forward with DE and have chosen a donor! Hopefully moving on with treatment next month. 🙏As you said I have made my peace with it and am starting to feel excited and hopeful ( although I know that’s dangerous!) your younger than me I think you have to feel like you ticked all the boxes and gave it your all. Good look with immune testing and everything in the future X 💖

[WeeJacs in reply to NJB1418]

I imagine it must feel like a relief you have picked a donor, how was that? Did u have many to pick from? Xx

[NJB1418 in reply to WeeJacs]

Yes it was a relief. There were plenty to choose from but actually found it easy enough to whittle it down to a handful then the clinic helped with matching based on photos I sent them of myself. Fingers crossed all goes ok for treatment next month.

[WeeJacs in reply to NJB1418]

Wishing you all the luck, it’s all such an emotional rollercoaster. Are you uk based? We’re in Scotland but prob looking at DE abroad xxx

[NJB1418 in reply to WeeJacs]

We are in the south west. Luckily our clinic is affiliated to an egg bank in London so we went that route and the eggs will be transported across. Definately a roller coaster. We have had so many delays praying now for some good luck. Good luck to you too. X

[Marmo]

It's just natural. I'm praying we could go again IVF route for more kids in future. (we're currently parenting beautiful twins after 2 rounds with donor eggs performed at BTC). I believe you have all chances with own eggs. If they did work out the first time (taking into consideration yrs more have passed since then) I don't think those affected dramatically their quality. And even if so, they have quite a new method of how to make our eggs ''restored''. I'm seriously counting on this method when twins are 3 yo. It's called the donation of mitochondria. This mitochondria is sth like the power station for all the cells including eggs. And if it's for some reason inactive or unhealthy, it cannot supply the egg with all the needed energy to then fertilize and result in a perfect embryo. So the aim of this method is to retrieve some healthy active mitochondria from the donor's egg and put it back into your egg. This way you get own egg ''renewed'' and the best ready for the further manipulations. In other words, you do need the donor's help. But her mitochondria does not affect the baby's DNA. so you get genetically related to you kid! It's also proved to be beneficial for ladies in 40+ and those with low AMH levels.I believe it's worth considering before moving straight to donor eggs.

Hope my message find you well and active and full of strength. Good luck.