I thought it would be good to have one post where all the ladies with low ovarian reserve can share info on what they think is worth doing/considering and what is not good in their experience.
From my side:
* supplements Dhea, inositol, melatonin
* an idea: double stimulation (see my previous post). Although I have not tried it so far.
* protocol: consider double trigger (to mature). Although I have not tried it so far.
* avoid clomid which can waste precious cycles due to cysts
* get rid of perfumes, plastics
* check your TSH is below 2.5
In my case, the clinic recommended mild stimulation which had disappointing results: 2 eggs collected while there was 4 to 5 follicles to start with. I am now changing treatment for the short protocol. How did your protocols work in terms if ratio egg collected/antra follicles? Would be good to see what achieved the rest retrieval rate. Mine is 40-50% only.
Please share your knowledge on good things and things you would avoid and your retrieval rate!
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Lilly12255
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My AMH was 2.3. Low ovarian reserve is often accompanied by high FSH... I took microgynon for 21 days before starting stims (low dose) this hopefully helps lower FSH so ovaries respond better to treatment. Worked for me first time 👍🏻 What is double trigger? Is that double the dose of the trigger shot in one go?? Xx
It’s double trigger on the the trigger shot You take just before collection. Helps mature the eggs before collection. It’s something my doctor does for women who’s perhaps have eggs that aren’t mature when collected.
It’s interesting isn’t it how different clinics differ with preferred protocols. My consultant really argued the case for short protocol and microgynon beforehand. Maybe we were just super super lucky. We are hopefully doing a cycle in July (same protocol) so it will be interesting/terrifying to see how it goes. Hope your cycle goes well 🤞🏻🤞🏻. Ps. Yes thanks Lilly, this is a great idea 💡 xx
It really is! I think it maybe more the fact as well I had 2 failed cycles with short so it made sense to change the protocol for me this time especially as ive moved clinics, they need to seen to be proactive I guess! Wishing you all the luck in the world 🙏🤞 xx
Same for me. AMH of 6.5. 2 failed short cycles (3-4 eggs collected), long cycle worked 1st time (12 eggs collected) and we now have twins. I had 3 consultations before I found a consultant who agreed to try long protocol and I’m so glad I did. We also did AOA on the successful cycle and embryo glue on the unsuccessful cycles x
In my case, the clinic recommended mild stimulation which had disappointing results: 2 eggs collected while there was 4 to 5 follicles to start with. I am now changing treatment for the short protocol. How did your protocols work in terms if ratio egg collected/antra follicles? Would be good to see what achieved the rest retrieval rate
I have a low amh for my age (9 at 34). My last two cycles (rounds 3 & 4) I did a double trigger and those were the only two times I made it to day 5 blasts.
Fourth cycle we switched from long to short protocol and I was a combination of menopur and bemfola for stims. I think it was the switch to short that had a impact on egg quality for me personally rather than stims but I definitely think the double trigger gave us an extra boost x
It just means instead of doing one dose of drugs as a trigger you do two. It’s supposed to give your eggs a final boost on quality/maturity.
On cycles 1&2 I did a normal single trigger so 1 x 250 Ovitrelle pen.
On my third cycle I did 2 x 250 Ovitrelle pens.
On my fourth cycle, different clinic and protocol so change in all my drugs and for my trigger I had one gonassi pen at 5000iu and one buserlin dose at 1mg.
Also, the other thing that made a difference for us on rounds 3&4 was using an embryoscope (time lapse) incubators. I think our embryos need all the help they can get in the lab and not being disturbed gave us better development x
I also had double trigger shot on my second IVF cycle, honestly it didn’t make any difference for me at all. Consultant decided to give a double one as on my last cycle 50% of my eggs wasn’t mature.
In regards to embryoscope I used it twice for my 1st and 2nd cycle, a bit of waist of money but I don’t regret using it because I have the images with all our beautiful embryos (unfortunately all ended up in biochemical pregnancy).
Thanks for posting this thread - I’m about to embark on IVF and have low AMH (8.9 34yrs).
This has been really informative and helpful 😊 my clinic only does short protocol and mild IVF so not sure what to expect but will be on Bemfola 225 and Ovitrelle as my trigger shot once we get going.
DHEA, folic acid, royal jelly, inositol, Brazil nuts for selenium, I cartitine, l arginine, b complex with b12, magnesium, evening primrose oil, Maca, omega 3, ubiquinol (coq10), zinc, vitamin c & d , melatonin and have started since jan taking spirulina powder , wheatgrass powder and baby aspirin.
I also take kefir.
1st private IVF:
Testogel day 14( 3 wks before baseline)
Norethisterine day 21
Fostimon 300 for 5 days
Fostimon 150 &Meriofert 150 for 7 days
Extra injections :
Fostimon 225 1 day
Fostimon 150 1 day
Ovitrelle trigger
Resulted in 5 follicles, all fertilised. All blasts. 2 transferred-BFN
3 smaller kept til day 6 grew but too small to freeze.
2nd IVF:
Testogel 2 wks before stims, 1 wk during (slight change).
Antibiotics Doxcycline wk before stims.
Norethisterone from day 21.
Same meds to above only we mixed up the injections 😔 used Meriofert instead in Fostimin,
only one follicle switched to IUI- BFN.
Ovitrelle trigger.
3rd IVF:
Day 7 Testogel 3 wks before stims
Period came early, baseline from natural cycle.
Same meds as above for 10 days only to find out we were naturally pregnant!
Oh dear, that’s horrible you lost the naturally conceived child. I am confused: did you get pregnant between the period and day 10 or did the periods come despite you being pregnant?
I was supposed to take norethisterone on day 21 of my last cycle. 2 days before I started to bleed.
I had already started the Testogel.
It was like a normal period.
The clinic agreed they would scan me on day 3 of that bleed and if all ok start the meds. Scanned and all good to go, lining very thin.
Injected for 6 days, went for a scan only 2 follicles. Was so upset.
Continued for 2 days, another scan,
Still only 1 lead follicle and 1 smaller.
Noticed a blob .. didn’t know what it was, clinic thought it was a cyst.
Continued with injections. Went back blob was still there a little bigger. I panicked think we had lost our cycle, did say maybe it’s our miracle baby.
The nurse said we should test. I said there was no point there was no way we could be .. it was positive straight away!!
Sounds like the meds injection could be the ones to blame for the loss. I also had unexplained cysts. Starting to wonder if I have not been pregnant without knowing. Did you have unprotected intercourses after the early periods? If not, then the baby must have been created before the bleed I guess?
I have been reported with cysts several times so I asked about the cysts being potentially a baby and my clinic told me that it’s impossible to detect a baby on scan for many weeks. But as I had a period around the scheduled date, I assumed that I was not pregnant. Now I am realising that it’s not necessarily true
For me, multivitamin, DHEA ultra micronised, Omega 3, ubiquinol. Also avoided fragrances. We also had a su restful pregnancy on a natural modified cycle after 5 high drugs rounds, with 2 unsuccessful pregnancies.xx
I am reading about those. Maybe be wheatgrass is not safe if taken while on IVF as it could interact by producing hormones. I have tried another « superfood » for a few weeks now but not convinced it is useful so I did not put it in the list above: it’s Acai berries. Read about it in a US fertility clinic website
In my IVF diet book it recommends, spirulina, superfood berry powder, maca powder and ashwanghanda powder and baobab powder. Bit pricey to get them initially but will last ages xx
I’m 36 with an AMH of 1 and FSH of 12. I had fibroids removed prior to starting my cycle. I also have hypothyroidism and got sorted on the right thyroid medication dose and started taking elevit pregnancy supplement (about 2months) before starting.
I did a long protocol, with contraceptive pill, nasal spray, gonal-f 300, trigger of ovidrel 250 and then after retrieval progesterone 3xdaily for about 2 weeks.
I had 10 follicles that reached appropriate size, 8 eggs collected, 6 fertilised through ICSI, and 4 embryos (1 fresh transfer and 3 have been frozen).
I’ve been extremely lucky with a successful cycle first go and am currently 8 weeks pregnant.
I’m not sure actually. I don’t remember getting told about antra follicles sorry, I didn’t do an ultrasound prior to my cycle/treatment. They may have checked it out during my fibroid surgery but I don’t remember being told about any results for that.
Have any of you taken melatonin? I have purchased it but unsure when to start taking it. I have read various articles which say 6 weeks before egg collection and other that say 3 months before egg collection but no earlier than 3 months. I am currently eagerly awaiting my clinic opening for a date when I can start treatment
Has anyone’s clinic been able to mature immature eggs in the lab? I think it’s called in-vitro maturation?
My AMH is 3.4 tested at 39 I’m 40 now. I’ve had 3 mmc and 2 chemicals since naturally ttc for 3 years. I think it’s more the quality of the egg than quantity I ovulate every mth. I’ve took supplements too ubiquinol pqq dhea Maca etc etc etc can’t say they helped either way.
Hi all, just to say I was taking inositol but I've recently read that this can be detrimental unless you have PCOS. It lowers androgens when, if you have low amh and are >35 then you most likely have lower levels of androgens than you need for follicle growth and quality. People with PCOS have excessively high androgens which is detrimental to eggs so the inositol helps lower this.
DHEA increases low androgen levels. So it seems that taking Inositol along with DHEA is a contradiction.
Hi. Last year I was told I had an AMH of 3.5 at 32 years old. We had been trying almost 3 years with no joy - my periods had become shorter too which was I told was due to my low egg reserve. I was about to start my first round of ivf December / January time and was prescribed the long protocol. However, I fell pregnant naturally just before starting by some miracle. I only took folic acid and vitamin D. I was very stressed around the time of conceiving so don’t believe this affected my ability to conceive, but I did start to feel more positive once I got the ball rolling with private ivf which may have helped, as I finally felt a bit more in control of situation. Hope this gives some hope to all of you that it is possible to fall pregnant naturally despite a low AMH, it just may take a very long time!! Good luck with all your journeys!!! Xxx
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