Donor egg or try again

[katymcg]

hi! I'm new to the group. we've had one round of ivf with crgw in Plymouth. live in Cornwall, but wasn't accepted for nhs treatment as my amh is 2 low. I'm ony 33. Just wondered if anyone has any information on donor eggs, in UK or abroad. I'm struggling with whether we should try again or use a donor. We tried a short programme last time, I had a poor response with nothing to fertilise. I have responded really well to clomid, which was a huge surprise. I had 8 follicles and two dominant, sadly resulted in chemical miscarriage (2nd one). the clinic have said i could try a IVF round on letrozole or a donor egg. I'm just so confused and frazzled, need some advice x

[Ivfgotadream]

It really depends on your stance on using donors I guess. The fact you had a good response to clomid and 8 follicles as well as a BFP - I would exhaust all options with own eggs first and do at least another round or two (took me 5 rounds of IVF to have success) - at 33 I’d say you have a good amount of time on Your side to continue trying with own eggs for a bit longer?

[katymcg in reply to Ivfgotadream]

hi!

thanks so much for your response. I think your right. The consultants just keep going back to donnor eggs and I don't know what to think. I'd love to be able to have a baby with my egg. wow congratulations on your success! how did u keep going and get through it? x

[Ivfgotadream in reply to katymcg]

Bear in mind that ultimately these ivf clinics are still businesses who have a success rating to uphold hence they will have an ulterior motive to push donor eggs so early in the process

[Seren0119 in reply to Ivfgotadream]

I totally agree - you are still very young and whilst a miscarriage is so painful, it is a strong indication you can get pregnant. The doctor is probably pushing for a donor egg because they want the quickest way to success. Yes, you might get a baby quicker with a donor, but i would exhaust your options first and do more of what is working (Clomid ) x

[katymcg in reply to Seren0119]

thank you 💓. Sometimes your fight waines doesn't it, its such a mine field. thanks for your input. I think I'll try the ivf round on clomid and see if there's any better success. x

[lauraB87]

I have had 9rounds of clomid (fell first time but had MMC) then 3 rounds of ivf which didn’t produce any good quality embryos, then while waiting for donor eggs tried letrozole and fell on the 3rd try, now 11 weeks which is the furthest we’ve gone 🤞🏻🤞🏻 I don’t seem to respond to high stimulation, as both pregnancies have been mild stimulation from ovulation drugs. Perhaps with a low AMH though try long protocol - I have the opposite problem with pcos but I’ve heard this is usually the protocol of choice for low responders - correct me if I’m wrong anyone

[katymcg in reply to lauraB87]

thanks so much for your reply! wow congratulations ! that's wonderful news 😀. I seem to not respond well to heavy stimulation either. I think because clomid/ letrozole delays the cycle, it allowed more growth time. I'm not sure. thank you, I will ask them about a long protocol. your story gives me some hope x

[ebonyebene]

I hate when clinics suggest the reason for a BFN is due to low AMH. AMH is only an indicator of how many active follicles you have at that time and can change month to month. I feel clinics want results within 1 or 2 rounds and if not sucessful push for DE when in actual fact having a low AMH at your ages just means it'll take longer to get an egg but the quality should still be good. I would complete exhaust the possibility of using my own eggs before I consider DE but it really depends on how you feel. If you want to use you're own eggs you'll need to advocate for yourself and be firm with the clinic ensuring they don't mention DE until you're ready-to-wear consider that option. Best if luck xx

[katymcg in reply to ebonyebene]

thank you! yes I felt the same. the NHS basically told me I had no chance of having my own child. and it was like a knife to the heart. we went private and now after 1 round, which I believe was to short and aggressive. I went on highest stimulate. had 8 follicles and by day 10, one was 25mm another 9mm and no other had grown. no egg in the 25 and 9 wasn't mature, the wanted to go straight to DE. thank you, I will. it like no one will look into why clomid worked xx

[ebonyebene in reply to katymcg]

So, there's a lot to be said for short and aggressive protocols. I'm 41 now, had two NHS cycles, first cycle in March 21, 8 follicles, 4 mature eggs none fertilised. Was on 375ml of menopur and downregulated for far too long. I was heartbroken, consultant said egg quality was the issue although the embryologist said she couldn't see why they wouldn't fertilise. Second cycle in July 21 7 follicles, 450ml menopur with down regulation drugs, 6 eggs collected, 3 injected, 2 fertilised and the implanted on day two. Unsurprisingly BFN. I'm still waiting for feedback from the consultant, one was scheduled for last week but they didn't bother calling, to say I'm pissed off with them is an understatement. Third cycle in prague was cancelled as I didn't respond well to the new stimulat, had 2 follicles, one dominate. I wasn't comfortable going ahead with EC so I cancelled. Whilst waiting for my 4th cycle, still in prague I sought some advice from other older women who were also having treatment in prague. Found out that down regulation drugs play an important part in retrieving a good quality mature egg which can eventually lead to a good quality embryo. If you're older and/or have diminished ovarian reserve aggressive treatment won't necessarily yield better results. For my 4th cycle I got 5 eggs, one shot of depot (down reg drug), menopur 375, 7 follicles, 5 mature eggs, 3 fertilised 1 made it to day 4, one day 5 blastocyst graded B3AA. Protocol plays a huge part in the success of treatment. Also I was a lot less stressed during this cycle, primarily because I wasn't worried about my weight (that's a whole other story). I'd advise reading a blog by Dr Sher drgeoffreysherivf.com/blog/ Some very interesting blogs about infertility treatment. Also conduct your own research and advocate for yourself and be firm. We have to remember clinics obviously want to help us but they're a business who obtain customers based on their success rates regardless of how success is obtained so of you fell something isn't right or they don't listen to your choices tell them or find a new clinic. Xx

[katymcg]

thanks so much for sharing! there's so much yilou need to know that no one tells you. I didn't know about the down regulation drugs. thank you! wishing you so much luck on your journey.I totally understand how stressful and heartbreaking it is. xx