I’m coming to the end of my TWW and my OTD is tomorrow but unfortunately I started to have menstrual cramps at 5dpt. I knew it was game over immediately as the pain shifted from my uterus to around my belly.
I am 10dpt today and I’ve started to have red spotting/ blood since yesterday. I am just waiting for a flow now. It was my first IVF/ICSI and I only had one egg collected..
My embryo was a fighter and started to hatch just before transfer and I was holding on to a bit hope that my embryo would implant..
I have low AMh and I was on the long protocol and on the highest dosage of medication. I am really frustrated that I was on this route as I have met other people on this group with low AMH who have been on a shorter and more natural protocol who have been successful.
In addition my clinic didn’t grade my embryo and said they couldn’t “as there were many cells in the way”. We asked twice. I’ve never heard that before and others here have told me that their embryos at 4 cells were even graded!
I feel my clinic do not specialise in people with low AMH otherwise they would have considered a shorter protocol. I was on STIMS for 21 days too. I ovulate normally and my cycle is normal. I’m considering changing clinics and go for a natural mild IVF route.
Can anyone tell me of any success stories with low AMH and which protocol they had? Also if anyone can recommend any clinics in Oxfordshire that will be helpful.
Honestly if it wasn’t for this group I’m not sure what I would do. Everyone are just so wonderful and supportive and I’m so thankful I found this group xxx
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Katie455
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Happy new year! Sorry to hear that you have spotting and cramps. It’s so hard 😔.
I don’t have a success story sorry but I also have low AMH. I’ve just finished my first round of ivf that was unsuccessful. I was on the short protocol, had two eggs collected, both fertilised and transferred on day 2 due to the way they split. They were graded as 2,2,3. The embryologist said that clinics have different ways of grading, especially if it’s before day 3/5.
I have read a few threads on here where ladies with low AMH have responded better to the long protocol, including one who has just had a positive pregnancy test. I’ve read stories of ladies with low AMH who responded better to the short protocol as well. I think it’s a bit of trial and error as to which you respond better to. I think age is also a factor. My clinic said that they always start with a short protocol for low AMH. We have a review appointment on 6th Jan so it will be interesting to hear what they said for the next round.
I have found this forum really useful as well and will follow this thread for info on low AMH and protocols. Thinking of you tomorrow Xxx
Thank you so much for responding. I am really sorry to hear about your unsuccessful round.. it’s a horrible feeling I did test this morning and as predicted it was negative. I started my period yesterday too.
I should hopefully back hear back from the clinic tomorrow about when my follow up consultation will be and I will see what they suggest.
I just feel my clinic are always rushing and have always given conflicting information so I am getting ready to challenge them. I hope they don’t suggest the same protocol either !
I hope your follow up goes well on the 6th it would be good to share what our consultants suggest to understand different opinions. Xxx
it is horrible. Make sure you are kind to yourself today. It’s been a week since my negative test and I am starting to feel a bit better. I hope it’s not too long before you do too. It felt good to get the review booked in as well.
Definitely challenge them, we have to be advocates for ourselves. I hope your review goes well and it would be great to keep in touch Xxx
My clinic told me that they have better results with ladies with low AMH on long protocol on high dose of menopur. Stimmed for 17 days. I done that round first, 4 eggs, 2 mature, 1 fertilised but abnormally.
Second round I said I wanted to change protocols. I done short protocol, menopur 150iu and gonal f 225iu. Stimmed for 10 days, managed to get 8 eggs, 6 were injected with icsi, 3 fertilised, 2 made it to day 5. One transferred which ended in my BFP and the second one was frozen on day 6.
People respond differently to different protocols. I think it’s worth trying long and short and seeing how you get on. I know it’s not an easy journey but it’s a bit like trial and error!
Thank you so much.. your experience of second round is what a few other people have also said they have had which led to BFP. I am going to push for a shorter protocol if they listen.. if not, I’m going to change clinics !
Hi Katie sorry to hear about your BFN. I also have low AMH and have meeting with my clinic on Tuesday to discuss my protocol and had read a lot about success with short protocol! Good luck for your next round xx
Hey, so sorry to hear you’re going through this. I first started my ivf journey at 32 discovered I had low amh. I was told to take DHEA high dosage of folic acid vit d and e for 3 months before I started my treatment. On my first day of my period I started with the injections, I can’t quite remember how many but I think I was short protocol. I managed to get 4 eggs, 1 didn’t make it and 3 survived to blasto. The first egg I had put back resulted in my now 3 year old. I froze the last 2, one didn’t work and the last one has resulted in me now being 20 weeks pregnant. I only had one round of ivf in total. I used the London women’s clinic and I cannot speak highly enough of them. Fantastic clinic who looked at my situation and put me on the correct protocol from the start.Sending you lots of hugs and I hope it works out for you xxx
Where is your clinic in Oxfordshire? Sorry not really a success story ... I also did 2 IVF round here, I have a medium low amh for my age and I did twice the long protocol.
The first one, 2 eggs collected only with one that made it to day 5 but BFN.
The second one, 7 eggs collected with 3 that made it to day 5 and an unfortunate ectopic pregnancy. The last frozen one did not work.
I am thinking of doing a round 3 but they said to me that the long protocol actually gives the best chance if your amh is not too low, this is statistically... I also wanted to do the short because, it's soooo long this protocol. They also said that there is no mild natural IVF really and that the chance were really low. But I am curious to know what they will say to you.
I am interested on what peoples actual amh levels are ( and antral follicle counts too) and what protocol were put on? Mine is 5.8. 2 years ago I was put on 2 long protocols which I didn't respond well to (amh much higher at this point) didn't produce many follicles got to day 5 but not great quality. I was then put on short and responded better more follicles and better quality.
But 15 month break between egg collections did another short and not so great. Have changed clinics and consultant wants to try me on long protocol despite knowing my poor response previously, me being older now ,and amh lower which I'm of course very worried about because of past experience but he said long protocol tends to work best for low amh so I just don't know.
Don't really understand how long can be better as it shuts ovaries down more which isn't good for those with low amh.
Interested to see the reasons consultants have given people with low amh for a long or short protocol?
Hiya, my AMH is 2.6 and I have my follow up next week to discuss the failed cycle .. in the meantime I have booked with another clinic and will see what they say. I was on long and my body was very slow responding. Will let you know what my consultants say. Xx
Hello I’ve got low AMH (2.6) and had a failed cycle in December. At my follow up appointment the consultant said that they will try short again with different meds and then long. She said that basically there are three main protocols (two different short and one long) and they always start with short for low AMH. I’m waiting for two normal periods before trying again. I’ve really upped my supplements this time and trying to eat a Mediterranean diet so really hoping for a few more eggs next round. In December I got two eggs, both fertilised and transferred on day 2. How are you getting on? X
Hey, Yes I have increased my supplements too! I’m hoping to start my next round in April. I will be trying the short protocol this time round. Unfortunately I only had the one egg on my first round which fertilised and I had a 5 day transfer. I was on STIMS far too long and my follicles took forever to grow.
I had a baseline scan recently after my failed round at a new clinic and the scan showed more follicles than I did when I was on STIMS and they were all decent sizes so I definitely know perhaps lower dosage of STIMS would be better for me.. did you transfer 2 embryos in your last round ? Xx
Fingers crossed for the supplements! The consultant who did our follow up was quite blasé about DHEA and basically said it was up to me. I got my level tested on Medichecks and they came back as being on the lower end of normal so I emailed one of the (nicer) consultants and she said to try it and order another test in 3 months time. I’m really hoping that and the other supplements make a difference.
It sounds like your new clinic is a lot more forthcoming which is good. Especially if you are self funding. Great news about the follicles too! We’re self funding as well. I am on the nhs waiting list but they don’t think I’ll be seen until Jan 2022. I’ve been on it since 2019! I know there’s been a pandemic but it just seems crazy. I think the waiting lists are particularly long in Wales. I had an appointment with NHS gynae in the mean time last week and they mentioned that they’d more than likely only offer me NHS funding with donor eggs. I am willing to consider that in the future but at 32 I want to give my own eggs a good go first.
Yes I had two embryos transferred which is unusual for my age but due to them being day 2s and the way they split I think they were less likely to implant.
We’re waiting for a date to start our next round but it’s looking like end of March/April for us too. Everything crossed our supplements are working their magic in the mean time 💫🙏🏼 Xxx
I had my follow up after my failed first round and they actually didn’t advise me on which protocol I should try next. I felt as though I advised them..
I shared with them what my fellow supporters on here had told me about their experiences with protocols and medications and the consultant didn’t dispute it and agreed with what I was saying which was strange.
I was on the long protocol on my first round and I enquired whether I could have a short protocol next with lower dosage of medication and possibly a 3 day transfer and they agreed.
The fact that they didn’t lead or guide me and that I had to guide them made me decide that I definitely didn’t want to go with them again especially as my next round will be self funded. I did also ask about whether they even specialise in people with low AMH and I didn’t like their vague answer. My first round was NHS funded and the clinic choices I had was very limited.
I found a new clinic that does specialise in low AMH and I have already had a baseline scan and I have a consultation this week with them.
I already like them, they seem more professional and knowledgeable. They advised mild ivf...
I’ve started to take COQ10 and DHEA as they were recommended in my follow up consultation but my new clinic were quite surprised that DHEA was recommended and left the decision to me if I wanted to continue to take it.
I want to wait at least 3 months for it to be effective and then I will start my next round so hoping around April. In the meantime, I will keep hoping for a miracle. Feel free to message me if you have any specific questions xxx
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I did test this morning and as predicted it was negative. I started my period yesterday too. 
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