Running out of time...advice welcome

[Rubylou01]

Hi all - I just turned 44 last week and have had a negative result (after 2WW) this morning. I started my solo journey in 2019 and was told to go find a sperm donor/straws in Feb 2020...and COVID really mucked that up. I finally managed 2xICI in 2022 - one chemical, the other resulted in nothing. I started IVF in summer 23 - with 2 x 5 day blastocysts - a fresh 4AB that resulted in a chemical pregnancy and a frozen 3BB that's obviously now failed. My clinic in NE Scotland is lovely but completely unproactive. They didn't even review my 2nd chemical - just got me straight onto the drugs for FET. My latest MediChecks blood test told me I've low testosterone (which I relayed to Clinic), but otherwise everything else looks okay/ good. Id like to try again but don't know where to go next. Does anyone have any advice for me about tests I can do and where to get them done? Proactive clinics that they like? I fear I may have reached the cut off age for my current clinic. I will find out when I ring this morning. Many thanks xx

[Greenleaves1]

As much as I love my clinic it also feels like a conveyor belt of people. Sometimes it feels more personal than others. Like yesterday when I told them my test was negative it was just a reply in the portal rather than a phonecall to see if I was ok.

Have you had your AMH tested lately? The clinic may go more on that than age.

[Rubylou01 in reply to Greenleaves1]

Am really sorry to hear you're in the same place. At least my clinic were very sympathetic when I spoke to them. That's a good point about AMH - will go and get a test so at least have something to discuss with them. Thank you xx

[Steadman80]

I’m with a Spanish clinic - highly recommend xx

[Rubylou01 in reply to Steadman80]

Thank you any chance you would mind sharing their details with me? My clinic have said they will review my case and let me know whether they will proceed any further given my age - which isn't leaving me with much hope. If I start making enquiries now I will hopefully be able to proceed asap. Many thanks xx

[Football61]

Hi, I’m sorry to hear about your struggles. We’re around the same age, and I’m also on a solo journey. Please do you mind me asking whether you sent your embryos for PGTA testing before transfer? x

[Rubylou01 in reply to Football61]

Thank you for replying - but no; they weren't tested. I don't think my clinic offers this service at all - at least it's not something that they have even hinted is available. I will ask though if given an opportunity to proceed... at this point am thinking I'd be better at a true private clinic that's assesses your situation properly. I hope your journey proving more successful than mine xx

[Football61 in reply to Rubylou01]

Thanks. I carried out two IVF cycles last year, at 44. I sent 5 blastocysts for PGT-A testing, but they unfortunately all came back abnormal. My clinic had very strongly recommended that I send my embryos for testing before transfer, because at our age, around 90% of embryos are chromosomally abnormal (and therefore won’t implant or will end in a miscarriage, etc). I definitely think it’s worth raising this with your existing clinic, or potentially a new one. Wishing you the very best of luck, and please feel free to DM me if helpful x

[Rubylou01 in reply to Football61]

Thank you. Am really sorry to hear about your results - that would have been devastating but I think your clinic is absolutely right and I clearly need to do the same and stop hoping on a wing and a prayer xx

[IVFat40]

Hello hun, I found the book 'it starts with the egg' by Rebecca Fett very informative and helpful, including regarding testosterone levels and DHEA, I'd say that's definitely worth looking into if your levels are low.Wishing you so much luck.

[Rubylou01]

Thank you - it's a good suggestion and one I intend to follow. I was following Aimee Raupps diet and supplement suggestions before egg collection (after the ICIs) and then heard about "It starts with the Egg" - but only after my egg collection. Wish I'd read the book 4 months beforehand. I just would have thought the fertility specialists would know to recommend DHEA to me ... other than I just needed vitamin d and folic acid!! Thank you for advice - away to reread Rebeccas book, take notes and order DHEA asap xx

[Football61 in reply to Rubylou01]

Definitely yes to DHEA, and also Ubiquinol. You should also ask your clinic about Human Growth Hormone x