Low Follicles_increased stims_confused

[Letis]

Hi lovely people! Hope everyone is doing ok.

I'm so confused and upset (can't stop crying). I'm 39, approaching 40 at the end of year and going through my second cycle. I had a failed ICSI transfer end of May. So we decided to get back into it. Last cycle I had 10 follicles, 6 eggs collected, 5 matured and only 2 fertilized. This cycle my pergoveris was increased from 300iu to 450iu but at day 7, I've got no symptoms (no tender breasts and bloating like last time) and the sonographer could only find 7 follicles (down from 9 at day 4). 4 of which are at the size of 10-12. I'm gutted. I know it's quality over quantity but I was hoping to have more follicles.

Has anyone experienced this? Are the other follicles likely to grow more within 4 days (that's when my next ultrasound is before they determine if I can do my trigger shot)?

I'm so worried that this cycle is going to fail. I feel completely different to the first cycle, but was expecting to feel more bloated considering increased dosage. Sorry I'm rambling...just don't have anyone to talk to who will understand. Any success stories will similar story?

Thanks so much in advance... Hope everyone is doing ok in their journeys and wishing all the best 🤞🏽

[-Cupcake]

In my experience every cycle is a bit different, and it may just be that you need a couple of days extra stims this time round - I think I needed 14 days first round, 11 second, and then I think it was 12 this time. And it really really is quality over quantity - I'm a similar age to you and I think it's normal to get fewer mature eggs at our age - they got 6 mature eggs from me this time - but last Sunday I finally got a BFP and just waiting for my scan next Friday. Fingers crossed for us both and for everyone else on this journey!

[Letis in reply to -Cupcake]

Cupcake that's great news...wishing you all the best for the scan and journey! That's brilliant news. Thank you, gives me hope. I was originally booked to have an ultrasound on Weds but then asked to come in a day earlier so I'll query this when I go in. Can I ask, if you did anything different from the second to the third cycle? And your right it is quality over quantity, have to keep telling myself that!

Good luck and thank you

[-Cupcake in reply to Letis]

My consultant said things can be exactly the same one cycle to the next, but you can still get a different outcome. That said, I was taking a small dose (100mg) of CoQ10 for about 3 months for this cycle - the cycle before I'd taken double that but not for 3 months as I'd only just learned about it (and I found it in the reduced to clear section in the supermarket as it was near it's best before date! So very cheap). No idea if the consistency made a difference - I don't think the evidence is particularly strong. The only other difference is that my consultant advised me to cut down on running - I didn't do much before, only one 3 mile run per week, but she said it can have an impact, and so I'd actually been reducing anyway due to an injury, and just decided to stop altogether and see what happened. Again, no idea if that made a difference - I think running can affect fertility, but normally in much higher amounts than that, and from what I've read it's more about impacting ovulation, which wasn't an issue in an ivf cycle. I would say I was under a lot of stress at work on the cycle that didn't work, but my consultant was insistent this wouldn't make a difference - she highlighted all the people having babies in the developed world, who barely have enough to eat, so stress can't be a major factor. From what I can tell, once you get to 40 something like 80% of eggs are not good enough quality, and only 20% are, so when we're only dealing with smaller numbers of eggs anyway, it makes sense that some cycles are going to be a complete dud. I was really down after the second round thinking that was it for me, but this round has given me my hope back. Fingers crossed.

[Letis in reply to -Cupcake]

It's so hard to tell isn't it..but so glad this round worked for you... I've also started taking CoQ10 upon the advice of my consultant and also acupuncture. No idea if that'll help but mentally in a weird way it's giving me some hope. I too worry about the stress factor (hence doing acupuncture) but your consultant raises a good point. Thanks, Cupcake, I wish you all the best for the scan and journey. Thanks for your guidance. Fingers crossed!

[-Cupcake in reply to Letis]

No worries, all the best to you, too!

[neonpg]

Hi Letis I'm currently going through my third IVF round (5th round of stims if we include my failed IUIs) and like you I've been surprised at my lack of symptoms. My nurse mentioned that my body may simply now be better at adjusting to the hormones as I've done it so many times, so maybe that's what's happened with you? As Cupcake said it might just be that you need a little longer to get the follicles to a food size. Keeping everything crossed for some food growth over the weekend!

[Letis in reply to neonpg]

Neonpg, thanks for you our message and truly keeping my fingers crossed they grow over the weekend. Your probably right about body adjustments. Just surprised it's reacting in such a different way, only on the second try. This is such a rollercoaster! How's the third cycle going? Wishing you all the best. It's nice to have people to talk too... keeping everything crossed for you! Thank you

[neonpg in reply to Letis]

It's going well so far, thank you. My response has been as expected and it's looking like I'll trigger tomorrow. My problem is always when egg meets sperm-I have a huge drop off (my track record is just 3 blasts from 24 eggs) so just try and remember it's quality over quantity. Keep drinking lots of water as even if you can't feel it, your body is going through a lot.

[Letis in reply to neonpg]

Good luck and hope the trigger goes ok. Routing for you! Literally got a water bottle strapped to me. Thank you Neonpg and keep well