Natural IVF & Low AMH: Hi Ladies... - Fertility Network UK

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Natural IVF & Low AMH

Zoexx profile image
33 Replies

Hi Ladies

Unfortunately our 1st round of IVF ended in a miscarriage at 8/9 weeks 😔

I have low AMH and had a poor response to the highest dose of stimulation medication (only one mature egg retrieved) so we were very lucky to get a positive result on OTD.

We are already thinking about round 2 and we have read about natural IVF which seems to be aimed at those with low AMH, but when we asked our clinic about it we were advised not to go down that route.

Would love to hear other people’s views on this, and especially those in my position.

Thanks in advance x

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Zoexx profile image
Zoexx
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33 Replies
Orla9298 profile image
Orla9298

I have low amh and got much better embryos and actually more eggs with natural modified ivf! (Tamoxifen and just 75 or 150iu bemfola). Mines a long and sad story, but it really did help!Xx

Rumi40 profile image
Rumi40 in reply toOrla9298

I orla is Tamoxifen or bemfola similar to merifort or fostimon. these are the meds my clinic use for IVF

Orla9298 profile image
Orla9298 in reply toRumi40

Meriofert is more like menopur which is 50-50 fsh and LH. Bemfola is more like gonal-f - and I’ve just googled - fostimon too - 100% fsh.

Tamoxifen is actually something totally different - I think it stops premature recruitment of a dominant follicle but I’m not sure. It’s not a stim. Xx

Zoexx profile image
Zoexx in reply toOrla9298

Thanks for the advice Orla9298, that’s really good to know. I was given Meriofert on my 1st round (450) x

in reply toZoexx

Hi Zoe,

I’m the same as you. Low AMH for my age and I just finished my cycle I only have two follicles to go in to collect. They only managed to retrieve one egg. This has fertilised and is going back in this morning (fingers crossed)

I was on 450 too.

I have also heard about natural ivf where they go in and collect the egg when you’re ovulating so no drugs then they fertilise it.

No sure what my next step would be. Obviously I’m

Praying this works but I can’t help but feel like it’s all my hopes on this transfer of one embryo. X

Zoexx profile image
Zoexx in reply to

Hi Flossy

Your story sounds so similar to mine and I can totally relate to how you are feeling, but one egg did result in a BFP for us and they do say quality over quantity so you definitely need to keep positive at this stage!!

Good luck🍀 I’m keeping everything crossed for you 😘 xx

in reply toZoexx

Congratulations Zoe fingers crossed for the next few stages for you. We had the transfer yesterday so now it’s just a waiting game. The progesterone shots stung! X

Zoexx profile image
Zoexx in reply to

Sorry I should have clarified that the BFP resulted in a miscarriage later down the line for me, but I was just wanting to let you know that one egg is sometimes all that’s needed!🤗 Hope the 2 week wait passes quickly for you xx

in reply toZoexx

Oh Zoe! Sorry to hear- well let me know what you do decide to do for your second try. Fingers crossed for you. I will update how I go. X

Ivfgotadream profile image
Ivfgotadream in reply toZoexx

Tamoxifen has a similar effect to clomid - so stimulates to grow the few follicles you have visible at the start of the cycle. Unlike stims it doesn’t force your ovaries to recruit more follicles

slinky00 profile image
slinky00

Hi Zoe I'm in the same position as you. My 2nd cycle was high stims and it was a complete failure no eggs made it. This time round I decide to have a low stims protocol. Modified IVF and have had the best result yet. I will never produce large numbers with my low AMH but the ones I do are of good quality. I've not had success yet as I'm in the middle of cycle but I advocate low stim protocol with low AMH. I wish you the best in your next cycle whatever you decide is best for you.

Stilltrying6 profile image
Stilltrying6

Hey, we were in a similar position having had 3 rounds with high dose medications (the max you can have for stim) as I have a lower Amh of the range for my age. We got 2 4aa on our first and then a 3ab on our 3rd and nothing for our 2nd. It seemed that my body like yours didnt want to generate multiple eggs and if it did the quality wasnt always there. We eventually went for the natural modified option which aims for lower numbers but higher quality (if quality is a concern). I was concerned that my clinic were taken my eggs too early and trying to get too many hence the quality of not being succesful. We too were advised not to do natural modified by our clinic mainly on the premise that IVF is a numbers game. The more u get, take off 50% for maturity then 70% for fertilisation and then another x amount for development to blastocyst and so on and on. Which sort of makes sense the less you have the more ule lose in those percentages. However Lower AmH doesnt give you that option really so as I say we went for the 'it only takes one egg mantra' of natural modified because my husband also has a historically low count sonwe figured that may be the bigger issue. If u do the natural, you have to really have 3 cycles to give yourself the chance to get the same number of eggs that someone may get with a higher AMH in a mild cycle. We did the 3. The results is probably what you're eagerly awaiting now. Cycle 1 resulted in a 4Aa embryo from one real runner in the race (as my body also selects eggs very early and grows one primary follicle in the main). The 2nd cycle yielded a 4Ca so still decent. The 3 cycle a 4Aa and a 4bb from 4 eggs. So in summary, I think I got better appearing quality embryo wise. The key part pregnancy. The 4Aa sadly ended September in a chemical pregnancy. The 4Ab in nothing in October and the last 2 (together) 4Ab and 4Ca ended Friday in another chemical pregnancy at about 5 weeks. So my summary, even with it being pretty raw, is that I think we got closer with the natural modified approach and taken a 3rd of the dose of meds that with traditional approach however we did have the 3 cycles to get a better yield of eggs before starting the transfers. I did feel the quality was better even if I didn't get the result this time. Killer question?!? Would I do natural again. Yes if we have another go, I think I'd be inclined to go down this route again since to genetic tests which we will get not to be sure with having had so many failed transfers. If you think your issue is quality, then go fo it, or you will benefit from.less drugs, but be prepared to have a few cycles to get the same chances with yield numbers being lower each time. :) good luck!

Knittingababy profile image
Knittingababy

Hi Zoexx, I will PM a tip someone gave me which has helped me get pregnant naturally just after my failed IVF cycle. ..soanu people I know have had failed rounds and then got pregnant naturally...I just didn't think it would happen to me. It's early days but I am 43 and doctor told me I had barely a chance even with IVF let alone naturally. X

PollyT20 profile image
PollyT20 in reply toKnittingababy

Hey, sorry to jump on this thread but I’m 43, low AMH and high FSH, my NHS specialist has said I need to go down the IVF route with donor eggs as don’t have much chance with my own eggs via IVF or naturally. I’d love to get your tips for natural pregnancy if you don’t mind sharing. Congrats on your natural pregnancy x

Mowsi profile image
Mowsi in reply toKnittingababy

Hi, I’m about to start my second round of IVF and I know I’m jumping the gun but I would like if you could send me that tip also please! I’m 44 so all tips are so welcome!thanks and big congratulations!

MoMa1 profile image
MoMa1 in reply toKnittingababy

Hi hun, congratulations!I would like if you could send me that tip also please!

Mumayo profile image
Mumayo in reply toKnittingababy

Hey, can you PM me the tip too. Just had a 2nd failed IVF. I'm an emotional mess right now.

Miracle43 profile image
Miracle43 in reply toKnittingababy

Hi Knittingababy, Sorry to jump on this I know it’s a few months old, would you mind sharing the tip you were given please? Thank you x

Knittingababy profile image
Knittingababy in reply toMiracle43

Hey fingers crossed for you...I used fertility smart conceive for women and men check out their website and reviews...you never know. Sadly I miscarried at 12.5 weeks xx

Melody79 profile image
Melody79 in reply toKnittingababy

Hi, just reading this thread and i'd love to know the tip please, just had my 3rd cycle end. I'm 42 and not sure which way to turn..modified cycle or DE..also going to try naturally aswell. Congratulations and hope all going well with you x

Knittingababy profile image
Knittingababy in reply toMelody79

See above xx

Melody79 profile image
Melody79 in reply toKnittingababy

Aww i'm so sorry 😥 xx

1980Neil profile image
1980Neil in reply toKnittingababy

Hi, I’ve had 2 failed rounds of short protocol. 2 follicles both empty ! I’m trying natural modified soon but I would like to hear your tips too. Would you mind sending me PM too?

Many thanks x

Knittingababy profile image
Knittingababy in reply to1980Neil

Hiya sorry to hear you've had 2 failed rounds...see my earlier reply to miracle 43 for the supplements brand xx

sparkle183 profile image
sparkle183 in reply toKnittingababy

Hi sorry to jump on the list too lol, but would you mind sending me the tip too please? I have an AMH level of 2.0 and have just had a failed icsi cycle with only one mature egg being retrieved but not making the fertilisation process. I too was on a long stim with Buserelin and 450 Gonaf F. We're waiting to start another round of icsi via the NHS they are currently deciding what stims to use ect. So would be great to hear your tip please?

Knittingababy profile image
Knittingababy in reply tosparkle183

Hi Sparkle if you scroll up you'll see I have put the name of the vits on se of my replies... conceive for women and men xx I am on a plethora of usual ubiquonol, folate and vit D also. xx

Countrymouse56 profile image
Countrymouse56

Hello. Sorry to hear about what you have been through 😞

My AMH is very low (2.3 nearly 2 years ago, it’s not been retested)

My first round. 150 Bemfola, 2 eggs collected = my 10 month old little boy.

Second round 350 Bemfola, 1 egg collected = BFN

3rd round back to 150 Bemfola, 5 eggs collected = hopefully nearly 11 weeks pregnant 🤞🏻+ 1 frostie.

I’m a big believer in low dose stims for ladies with low AMH. If you look back through my posts my round with high dose was a disaster!!

Stay positive. You can do this. Xx

Zoexx profile image
Zoexx

Thank you all so much for taking the time to reply!

I really appreciate all the advice, tips and well wishes 💖 it is just what I needed to hear, and it has definitely given us more of an insight for when it comes to making a decision about moving forward.

Wishing all of you lovely ladies lots of luck for your own journeys, and congratulations to those who have already been successful 😊 xx

Ivfgotadream profile image
Ivfgotadream

Whilst I had no issues with follicle numbers by egg quality was rubbish. I also changed to natural modified IVF and am now pregnant with twinsUnless you specifically go to a clinic which specialises in low AMH and natural or natural

Modified IVF then you won’t get any support from another clinic as they rarely offer it and are quite snooty/dismissive of it? (Their whole business model is based on giving high dose drugs to produce the maximum amount of follicles they can get out of someone - if they admitted that natural IVF would be more beneficial the are basically admitting their business model is wrong)

Zoexx profile image
Zoexx

Ah that makes perfect sense ... I thought that might be the case. It’s so good to get some unbiased advice on here. Thank you and congratulations!! xx

JoyB8 profile image
JoyB8

I hv two failed ivf with low amh. For third cycle I’m doing natural modified ivf

Mazzath1 profile image
Mazzath1

I've done natual ivf, twice. If im honest its very expensive. Not much different too normal ivf. It didn't work for me. 3 eggs a time. If im honest they encourage to do a 3 cycle package and freeze the eggs. But freezing eggs has not got a great success rate. Only give you 14% success rate. Your better of trying natual. Or iui. Xxx

Zoexx profile image
Zoexx

Hi Everyone 👋

I wrote this post back in November, and since then I have had my AMH re-tested in preparation for a second round of IVF next month.

Just got the results today and my AMH is now 0.9 (12 months ago it was 6.6). I really didn’t expect it to have dropped so rapidly 😔

We had signed up for a final round of high stims (before moving onto natural modified IVF if that didn’t work out) but we are now wondering if we should change tack ... or even consider going straight to donor instead.

Our consultant’s view prior to the test being re-done was that it would be good to see where we are at but that it wouldn’t change anything. I’m just not sure if it’s normal for it to drop that much in a year?

Any advice would be much appreciated x

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