First round of IVF as single female with low AMH and 2 potential follicles

[RoxyRhani]

Hello - I stumbled across this thread when searching desperately for answers I was really hopeful to find some blogs of ladies who are undergoing ivf with not many follicles - I’ve been injecting for 8 nights now and introduced another last night - I had 11 follicles on Monday - they were small but I was delighted - I had another afc scan on Wednesday to be told I have 5 left two of which are slightly bigger 8mm- but the rest have remained so tiny -I really thought this round would be cancelled I have a scan tomorrow to check measurements again and potentially pull the plug - or if my clinic decide it’s best to continue I will fly out this Saturday I knew this journey was going to be hard but nothing truly prepares you! I’m so emotionally drained the uncertainty is awful - I know other ladies are out there in my shoes and it brings comfort that we are warriors doing this - My amh was 3.8 in October - ladies if any of you can shed light or tell your story I hold onto hope x

[Denguefever]

I dont know if this helps but acupuncture can help with improving egg quality, so can coq10 and dhea. It's worth speaking to your doctors about these

[RoxyRhani in reply to Denguefever]

I have been having accupuncture thank you for your message x

[Anneonimous]

I'm not sure if this will help but my situation was kinda similar. I upped protein, water intake, had reflexology session and used a hot water bottle on my stomach and started to respond much better to the meds. Some follicles were empty but I did manage to get two eggs. Neither fertilised in the end but I'm glad my cycle wasn't cancelled.

[RoxyRhani in reply to Anneonimous]

Hello

Thank you for your message- and for your helpful tips! Ohhh I didn’t think of reflexology but I have been having accupuncture and trying to have a healthy diet - could I ask if this was your first round x

[Anneonimous in reply to RoxyRhani]

No problem at all.Yes it was my first NHS round and my amh is around 6, so I was told not to expect great results.

As it was my only NHS round as a single person and about to turn 40, that was another reason for me not wanting to cancel. I'm in Wales and have fertility issues, so part of the reason it was funded.

Any questions feel free to ask! I may actually DM you as I'm interested in going abroad for my next round x

[Foxglove_daffodil]

Hi Roxy, I'm single and AMH 3.8 last time it was measured. I'm on my first round too. I had 5 follicles but only 2 were big enough. My clinic wanted to cancel the cycle but it was my only NHS funded round and I was told they wouldn't fund another so I thought it was worth going ahead anyway. I'm really glad I did as in the end they collected two eggs, one didn't fertilise but the other made it to blastocyst and I am about to have a frozen transfer next week. I totally understand what you're saying about it being harder than expected. I felt exactly the same like - ooohhhhhh now I get it. I think as well it's really difficult to do it single because you don't have anyone else going through it with you at the same time and nobody to give you a hug at night when you're feeling emotional and drained. But, hopefully it helps you to hear you're not alone in doing this and it's really bloody brave to embark on this journey as a single woman! Sending you lots of love and luck for the scan today. xx

[RoxyRhani in reply to Foxglove_daffodil]

Hello

Aww so lovely to read your message and to know I’m not alone in this! And you have same AMH- without sounding intrusive and obviously you don’t have to answer can I ask how you got free nhs treatment as I was told they would not help single ladies I think it might be to do with post code - I’m self funding and it’s extremely expensive hence travelling abroad - your message gives me so much hope and I’m so happy that you are to have a frozen transfer next week that is truly magical - I have told myself all the way through it only take one egg - I have been having accupuncture and trying to look after myself as much as I can -how long did you inject for? I am on my last dose of gonal pen tonight alongside cetrotide ( what a pavala that is mixing your own! I am trying to remain strong and positive and sending you so much luck and hope - I pray it all works out for you xxx

[Foxglove_daffodil in reply to RoxyRhani]

Thank you so much. I really hope it works for you too. I think I was on the stims for 8 or 9 days but I was on different meds than you. The NHS treatment really is a postcode lottery and dependent on your circumstances. There are some reasons they will give you treatment without self funding first but I don’t know the specifics and where those rules apply. Hopefully they will take away the differences for funding for couples/single people soon! I keep telling myself it only takes one egg too. I have so much hope riding on this one little embryo and it’s really hard trying to strike the balance between staying positive and preparing myself in case it doesn’t work. Lots of love and luck to you. Xxx

[RoxyRhani in reply to Foxglove_daffodil]

Aw it really does take one egg - I feel so protective of my follicles - I got given the green light to fly on Monday morning I have two follicles that are growing nicely my left is slightly in front - I have pulled myself together that’s it’s two but I will forever have hope and just pray for that miracle ! I got pregnant at 22 on the coil and lost at 8 weeks - I was left with an awful infection in which the nhs didn’t treat properly leaving both my tubes blocked !! The low amh is obviously my problem but I feel so so let down by the NHS it adds so much stress to travel abroad !! Please keep me posted I have hope for all of us ladies - WE HAVE GOT THIS xXX

[Foxglove_daffodil in reply to RoxyRhani]

Oh I’m so pleased you’re going ahead and I will keep everything crossed for you. Visualise those follicles growing even bigger! It’s really nice to be in touch with someone in a similar situation. We are strong and as Glennon Doyle says, we can do hard things xx

[Clayhugs]

hello.

Ive low amh of 3 too and desperately needed hope during treatment…hope this gives you some.

First cycle, 4 follicles, 3 eggs, zero fertilisation

Second cycle, started with 3 follicles, eventually got 7. 5 eggs retrieved, 3 fertilised, one didn’t make it but 2 transferred on day 3 and am now cautiously 9 weeks after both embryos took.

I never thought it would happen.

Best of luck. ❤️❤️❤️

[Nakijo in reply to Clayhugs]

Congrats Clayhugs. How old were you when you collected

[Clayhugs in reply to Nakijo]

I am 36. Xxx

[RoxyRhani in reply to Clayhugs]

Oh my goodness these stories honestly just make me well up 🥲 thank you so much for sharing!! Awww that’s amazing !! Our beautiful little eggs

[Clayhugs in reply to RoxyRhani]

Thank you - our cycle nearly got cancelled and I never expected to be so lucky. Really Hope it all goes well for you. Sending lots of love and hugs ❤️❤️❤️

[Penguinw21]

Firstly you are so strong to be going through this alone so please be kind to yourself 💗

I hope my story gives you hope... I have an AMH of 1.0 and I'm going through my first ever IVF now.

I had 4 follicles on my 3rd progress scan and then went into egg collection. They only were able to 2 eggs and I was broken thinking our chances were over.

But 1 fertilised and grew as expected and we had an 8 embryo 3 day transfer only 4 days ago 🤞💙❤️

Obviously too early to tell if it's worked or not but hopeful and just so grateful that the saying it only takes 1 really did work out for us 😌

I think its beyond crap that the NHS don't fund IVF for single women and I'm sorry you're facing this alone and having to go abroad. Wishing you so much luck xx

[RoxyRhani in reply to Penguinw21]

Aww bless you that’s so kind 🩷

Omg your story is truly incredible!!! Wow

Aww 4 days ago this is so touching I’m sending you all the positivity and luck in the world ! I have been so upset this week I’ve had so many scans ( at a glorious £145 a pop) I seemed to have 11 then 5 now 4 but two are very small and the sonagrapher said it’s more likely the two bigger ones should work ! I was adamant my cycle would be cancelled but with low amh my clinic said they expected 2-4 follicles ! So we shall see what happens next week! I have a lovely anonymous Scandinavian donor ( a lovely part of IVF was choosing a donor ) thank u so much for sharing and providing hope xxx 🩷

Sending you all the positive vibes xx

[LittleBlueOwl]

I had really low AMH (~2.3) and only 9 follicles. My right ovary didn't even respond to stims so half of 9 really. Thank god there were 5 in my left ovary! My first round we only got two eggies and it was a bust as neither made it to blast. But my second round I took dhea for a few weeks prior and we got 5 eggies and 4 of them made blast. The best one is about to be born this February! There is definitely hope for those of us that have low AMH and follicle counts. Focus on lifestyle changes that will improve your egg quality like supplements and getting plenty of rest. ❤️

[Nakijo in reply to LittleBlueOwl]

Congrats, how old were you? LittleBlueOwl?

[LittleBlueOwl in reply to Nakijo]

Thanks ❤️ it's meant everything to my husband and I. I was 31 on my first round of IVF and turned 32 just before starting on the second round.

[RoxyRhani in reply to LittleBlueOwl]

Ohhh woww what a lovely story !! I’m so thrilled to hear you are expecting next month that’s beautiful news!! Huge congratulations This is my first round- I will try to remain positive it’s so hard - I knew this journey would be hard but until you go through it - wow! I will hold onto any hope ! These stories have shown me it can and does work 🩷🥚xxx

[Gerbear22]

Hi there.I now have an 8 month old beautiful baby girl with only 2 follicles.Wishing you all the luck in the world and hoping for success for you.x

[RoxyRhani in reply to Gerbear22]

ohhh my goodness 🥹🩷 that’s so lovely to hear!!! Aww you give me so much hope!! May I ask how long you was on medication for ( type of treatment plan ) did you have more follicles to start ( when you started stims) thank you for sharing xxxx

[Gerbear22 in reply to RoxyRhani]

It was a short protocol using pergoveris and cetrotide with a priming cycle before hand.I stimmed for 9 days.4 follicles seen on last scan but only 2 follicles for collection as others were too small( punctured during collection and were empty).Our clinic was in Prague.Antral follicle count of 10 before treatment but cycle one showed that I was a poor responder so I was going to go ahead for collection in round 2 even if I only had one follicle.In my head I kept thinking you only need one good follicle😊.I also have underactive thyroid,endometriosis and I was 41 at the time of both cycles.