Only 3 follicles

[lolly2019]

Had my first scan this morning and lining and bloods fine but only 3 follicles. Feel so deflated as it’s the same as first cycle which failed, even though i am and have been for weeks, taking every vitamin and supplement under the sun! The clinic kept me on exactly the same protocol and wondering why they did when didn’t get a great response. I know it’s down to my age (43) but surely something could be tweaked somewhere. Got everything crossed for these wee guys but hard to not feel like it’s a waste of time.

[Hope76]

Hey am sorry I know how deflating this is as happened to me last cycle was worse as only had 2. Am 43 also but with excellent FSH levels (5.9).

At least this is only your first scan, wait & see what next scan says and try to remain positive 🤞🏼

I looked closely at my previous protocols and they changed my FSH drug from Gonal F to Menopur last time claiming best for quality and my age. Was my worst cycle with only 1 egg collected and no transfer.

So I started another cycle on Monday, insisted on Gonal F this time. God knows if will make a difference. AlI I know is my first cycle @ 39 had 8 eggs and at 42 had 5 and that was with gonal f, so I strongly questioned why my Clinic changed something that worked. I basically feel like we have wasted precious time. They claim not much difference but my research tells me they are very different. Some women respond better to certain types of drugs, Defo worth asking why they never changed it for you to see if would make a difference.

[lolly2019 in reply to Hope76]

It’s gonal f I’m on and was on first cycle too. I am wondering if it is that I just don’t respond well to it as had 6follicles pre stims (I know not a lot) and have only had 2 first cycle and this cycle after stims!! Anyway scan tomorrow so will see how these two are doing and what they say!! Good luck with this cycle! 🤞🙏

[crisps88]

I’m only 30 and had a really poor response in my first ivf. I’ve been pregnant twice naturally with my husband (although no children), and for my second cycle my consultant advised taking dhea. Then they had a multi team disciplinary meeting due to him seeing lots of follicles but at egg collection I only had 3 collected.

So I took dhea and the meeting decided to stay on same proctol and medicines but to ramp up Meriofert from 225 to 375 and I’ve responded so much better to that(10 collected;8 fertilised)

Is there any reason why at your meeting after the first failed cycle they deemed it ok to stay the same? I’m nhs funded and I know that the cycle only counts as one round after egg collection, so maybe that’s something to consider? Are they going to up your dose now due to poor response again or keep you on the drugs longer?

You’re doing everything right and you’ve got such a good positive attitude. X x x

[lolly2019 in reply to crisps88]

Thanks for replying. They said at the time they were keeping me on the same protocol as it is my egg quality that is the problem. I’m taking dhea along with lots of other things I’ve read about (nothing other than folic acid and vit d recommended by clinic) This is my second private round as after a year of getting tested on the nhs they said there had been a mistake and I was a year too old so didn’t make actual treatment!! I had 6follicles pre Stims but only two first cycle and this cycle. I can’t help but think it’s the protocol I’m on. Anyway, getting scanned tomorrow and will see how these two are doing. I made egg collection first cycle but they fertilised abnormally so hoping all the vitamins have kicked in and I might have better eggies. Have you had any transferred yet? Good luck!!!! 🤞🙏

[crisps88 in reply to lolly2019]

Same here, mine was egg quality. So this round was the decider whether or not I had to use donor eggs and had empty follicle syndrome. Hopefully it has proved the latter wrong! I researched a lot of extras to take. A full list (!) 2 royal jelly, dhea 75mg, ubiliquol 600mg, NAC, omega 3, vit b complex, vit C, zinc, vit D, beta cardone, folic acid, pregnacare, I was taking 16 tabs per day and cost a fortune but the increased dose as well of Meriofert seems to have worked wonders. I kept the same diet and alcohol intake, of which mine is of severely bad quality admittedly. How annoying about the just one year out! That’s more than annoying of course it’s so costly for you. At least you got the tests? Which scan did they see that and when do you have further scans? Aw good luck I hope it goes well. I hate the saying but so many people on here are proof - it only takes one. Xxxx

[lolly2019 in reply to crisps88]

I’m currently taking dhea, l’arginine, pycnogenol, vit b complex, vit c, vit d, vit e, iron, calcium, omega 3, probiotics, green tea capsule, zinc, melatonin, coq10 and 2x sachets of inofolic a day. Haven’t heard of mac, beta cordone or royal jelly. Probably too late for this cycle now! My clinic didn’t recommend anything other than folic acid and vit d and were very unhelpful when I asked about other supplements! Frustrating! Had an initial scan pre treatment that showed 6 follicles. Then had my 5 day stim scan on Wednesday that showed 2 follicles and having another one tomorrow to see how they’re doing. I’m on a flare protocol which is short and fast! Only stim for 8-10 days...

[Hope76]

Wishing you luck for your next scan. I find it interesting your Clinic are unhelpful reg supplements mine are too. Basically said up to me if I want to waste my money. One Nurse even suggested these companies prey on women like us !!!! I find it hard to know what to do for the best. I took DHEA alongside ubiquinol last cycle and had worst outcome ever had.

I then scared myself by reading in the book ‘it starts with an egg’ only to take DHEA if you have been diagnosed with ‘diminished ovarian reserve’ as I haven’t I have not taken it this cycle just in case. Although at 43 am sure it may have helped but without any support from Clinic it’s hard to know what dose to take. I have however taken ubiquinol up until I started stimming for this cycle.

Let’s hope we are both lucky. Let me know how your scan goes 🤞🏼🍀🙏🏻

[lolly2019 in reply to Hope76]

It’s such a minefield knowing what supplements to take!! I read a lot of contradicting stuff but just been for my scan and have 4 decent follicles today and 3 teeny ones so something is working better since first round as only had 2 follicles and as protocol the same must be the extra pills I’m taking! EC is Monday!!. Where are you at?? Feeling a little bit more positive today! ☺️

[Hope76 in reply to lolly2019]

I know ! Particularly hard when your clinic will not support their use.

That is fab sounds like whatever happens you will have at least 4 maybe more. 😀

They do say every cycle is different, that is what am praying for🙏🏻🤞🏼🍀

Am on day 5 stimms, Monday is my first monitoring scan hard to think of anything else.

Good luck for Monday x

[lolly2019 in reply to Hope76]

Good luck with your scan today let me know how you get on!! I’m just heading to the clinic for egg retrieval 🤞🙏

[Hope76 in reply to lolly2019]

Thank you well can’t quite believe it but had 7 measurable follicles. A bloody amazing start.

Keeping everything crossed you get at least 4 eggs 🤞🏼 Good luck x

[lolly2019 in reply to Hope76]

Amazing!! Go you! That’s great! Unfortunately they only got one egg today. I’m devastated. Don’t understand how I had more follicles than last time but only one egg. Gutted. I’ve been taking dhea l’arginine pycnogel and coq10 which I didnt first round so who knows. A lot counting on this one egg for fertilisation. Chances aren’t good 😢

[Hope76 in reply to lolly2019]

Am so sorry believe me when I tell you I know exactly how you are feeling. I only had 2 follicles last cycle and collected only 1 egg.

Don’t give up hope because it only takes ‘one’. Thinking of you 😘🤞🏼🍀

[lolly2019 in reply to Hope76]

It’s fertilised! I’m in shock! Was not expecting that call! Spent all day yesterday crying! I know still lots of hurdles to get over but this a step further than last time!! Have to go work out what drugs I need to stop or keep taking now!! 🤞🙏