Low AMH and high Fsh

[Gemstar20]

Sorry me again with the million and one questions. I just find this group so helpful.

my last blood test was done feb 2020 which showed my AMH 2.1 and FSH was 8.7. I’m now 36 I was 35 when tested.

My ivf clinic said they didn’t need to repeat the blood test as they have been able to get everything they need from my scans.

Anyway, I’ve only produced 3 follicles (only one is growing)

I just wondered if this egg collection fails Friday, am I worth giving up with IvF or is there other options for people with similar results. My clinic won’t offer me another go, I’m currently on long protocol on high doses of ovaleap. I’ve heard mild ivf can work, but with my results I’m not so sure.

X

[Skittles11]

Hi Gemstar. Have you had previous IVF rounds? - if so what were they been like in terms of your response?

I also have low AMH and in my first cycle (long protocol) I had no eggs collected. I then switched to short protocol with different drugs and my body had a better response with 6 eggs collected. The thinking was that the long protocol did not allow my body to "wake up".

I don't know much about mild IVF personally, hopefully others will be able to comment re that.

Is it worth contacting other clinics to get some input to see what they might be able to offer?

[Latetotheparty38 in reply to Skittles11]

Hi skittles I’m in a similar boat what drugs and dosages were you on? Just have my third failed ivf.

[Skittles11 in reply to Latetotheparty38]

Hello. Always nice to hear from people in a similar position. I've had 3 failed cycles as well, sorry to hear you have been through the same heartache.

Cycle 1 - I was on Gonal F 450 long protocol - 2 or 3 eggs expected but no eggs collected.

Cycle 2 - I was on Menopur 450 short protocol - 9 follicles, 6 eggs collected, 4 fertilised. 1 put back BFN. 2 to freeze.

Cycle 3 - same drugs and protocol as Cycle 2 - 9 follicles, 6 eggs collected, 2 fertilised, 2 put back BFN.

What about you, what protocols and drugs have you been on? Do you know what's next for you? Have you been taking any supplements?

[Gemstar20 in reply to Skittles11]

Sorry for late reply, I missed this one.

My first round was nhs on antagonist cycle, I only had 1 follicle growing , sadly no egg retrieved at collection. I wasn’t taking any supplements at that point apart from folic acid.

This cycle was private, they suggested with my AMH (2.1 at the time) I do a long protocol and take dhea and CoQ10. It started off slow, I had 4 follicles but again only the one was growing. The littlest ones were being lazy. But we decided to continue to egg collection and hope for the best!

Surprise surprise, they managed to collect 3 eggs from follicle sizes of 20mm/14mm and 10mm all were mature eggs and have fertilised. We are now waiting to hear about quality of embryos etc and hopefully if they are good, I get my first transfer Wednesday. I’m in shock I got this far.

Are you taking CoQ10 and dhea? As I think that’s definitely helped me , especially ru get a mature egg from a 10mm follicle x

[Cat84]

Hi Gemstar20! I don’t know if this will help, but my AMH was 3.6 and FSH was 17 when I started at the beginning of the year. They put me on pretty high doses for my first cycle. I only had 3 follicles of roughly the right size and they only collected one egg and it was immature. I was gutted. This time they switched me to mild IVF and I did so much better! They medicated me to get my FSH down and we got 5 mature eggs this time! I also took a ton of supplements. I know I’m not out of the woods by a long way but wanted to share how much a change to protocol can have. Wishing you all the best and let me know if you have any questions! 😊 x

[Miracolo2 in reply to Cat84]

Hi Cat84, do you mind me asking on what protocol you were and how they got your fsh down?

[Cat84 in reply to Miracolo2]

Hey Miracolo2, sure no problems! So I down regulated with Norethisterone and then bought in progynova. I then had alternate days of Fostimon, Meriofert and Zomacton with five days of clomid. Finally the last few days before egg collection I had indometacin. I also have been taking levothyroxine everyday for a few months as although my levels were fine by NHS standards they preferred them to be lower for IVF. I also took wheatgrass, DHEA, inositol, CoQ10, vitamin d and omega oil tablets. I literally rattled I was taking so many tablets! Who knows if I just got lucky or if it was the protocol but I am happy I tried everything! hope that helps and any questions please let me know! Best of luck! 😊

[Miracolo2 in reply to Cat84]

Thank you! That's good to know! X

[Cuppppatea in reply to Cat84]

Hey I noticed you had clomid - I have been given the choice of this in my next round and can’t seem to find any info on this.

[Gemstar20 in reply to Cat84]

Thank you, this is reassuring to know. If this fails, I’m definitely looking into mild/natural IVF x

[Marisa32]

For low AMH long protocol seems to be the worst. Short protocol should work better but mild/natural works best. My AMH was 0.16, no amount of stims would get me more than 1 egg. I eventually got pregnant with at home IUI after trying for 12 cycles. I'm 41. If multiple IUIs aren't an option for you due to blocked tubes, sperm issues etc, then few back to back cycles with natural IVF and embryo banking is your best bet.

[Gemstar20 in reply to Marisa32]

Thanks hun, will look into this. I asked about iui at our current clinic and they said because I’ve never been pregnant before, they wouldn’t recommend it. But if this don’t work, I’ll see about getting my tubes tested and look into iui x

[Latetotheparty38 in reply to Marisa32]

Hi Marisa what’s mild ivf? How does at home iui work? Thanks

[Marisa32 in reply to Latetotheparty38]

Mild IVF are very low dose stims or just something like Clomid. At home IUI is just that kit you can buy online (cup and syringe). I needed it because after so many months of ttc, we were over sex and this was the only way to get things done during ovulation.