Less follicles, will be put on drugs..50/50 chance of success

[Lata7384]

Hi ladies

Just need some advice.

I had my initial consultation yesterday, I have been told the number of follicles is 6 only. Women of my age 36 should have 15-20 follicles to retrieve. The consultant said she will put me on drugs for 7 weeks but the chance of doubling the number of follicles is 50/50.

I am devastated and worried if there is no follicles to collect. Anyone there with the same situation and how far you have been with the ivf process?

[KiboXX]

Hi Lata,

Sorry you haven’t had great news, your consultant sounds a little overly negative if I’m being honest though!

I’m 35, my last fresh round of IVF was 8 months ago and I had 8 follicles at my baseline, every one of those had a egg. We got three beautiful blastocysts in the freezer and I’m currently 23 weeks pregnant from my first transfer of one of those.

Do you know what drugs protocol you will be on? 7 weeks sounds like a long protocol and most consultants would recommend short if you have less follicles.

Try not to worry though. It’s definitely quality over quantity that’s the most important thing in IVF xx

[Lata7384 in reply to KiboXX]

Hi lovely

I will be on Buserelin subcutaneous injection for a week from Day21 of my cycle then a week after my period, the consultant said I will be on Pregnyl or Ovitrelle injection

[Florencenightingale]

I was 33 when I had my first round, had maybe 11 follicles but only a few were decent sized on egg collection. Got 4 eggs, 1 fertilised and I'm currently 18 weeks pregnant. It can happen xx

[Itsalongjourney26]

I’m sorry you have had disappointing news. At 27 I had 0 follicles, then 2 follicles and then an additional 2 that consultant was querying weren’t mature enough for collection. We went into collection being prepared that we might have no eggs, got 4, only one fertilised and I had a 2 day transfer, but I am 28 weeks pregnant and so far our little baby is doing extremely well.

My point is, although it seems impossible, a healthy embryo is all you need to give you a fighting chance.

At the time I was convinced our cycle would be cancelled and we had already looked at going private and yet we got there when the odds were stacked against us. Wishing you all the best for the rest of your cycle xx