Very low AMH: Hi all I've just had my... - Fertility Network UK

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Very low AMH

DogMum7 profile image
41 Replies

Hi all

I've just had my AMH results and it's 1.4pmol/l. The letter is pretty damning and I'm wondering if it's at all worth putting myself through all this as the chances are so low?

Has anyone on here had such a low AMH and had success? The letter does say they'll give me the highest dosage meds during treatment to try and stimulate my ovaries but this is making me feel more frightened about the whole process.

I am 38, very fit and healthy and just feel so upset as I couldn't have/be looking after my body any better. Has anyone ever been able to increase their AMH naturally? The only thing I can think that isn't 100% is my diet as I am taking every supplement under the sun! I also have to have my 1st cycle within 2 months so not really sure I can even impact it now?

Thanks for reading, sorry for all the q's - just feels like yet another set back xxx

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41 Replies
Habibi87 profile image
Habibi87

Hi Love

my first AMH test at the age of 34 was 1.6 pmol and the result really upset me. The first clinic I saw also made a big drama out of it and said we had to proceed immediately if we were to have any hope. Luckily we saw more than one clinic and the third consultant was excellent. She explained that my chances of conceiving on a monthly basis were the same as anyonelse but that IVF might be harder as they might not be able to get many eggs for each round of stimulation. For that reason she recommended embryo batching and she also prescribed dha and growth hormone. In our case, the two collections work out much better than we had hoped for and we ended up with 7 healthy pga tested embryos from 2 collections. This was against all odds. We had many more issues with getting a transfer to work, but we now have a beautiful daughter . We were both really happy and said we’d be happy with one and if a transfer didn’t work again in the future it wouldn’t matter… to our great surprise however, at the age of 37 we conceived naturally and I’m now 20 weeks pregnant. I hope that this can give you some hope. AMH is only one of the many factors that impact our fertility journey, though I cried for days at the time and only felt better once I got to speak with a therapist.

Sending you love, strength and luck

X

DogMum7 profile image
DogMum7 in reply to Habibi87

Oh that is so helpful thank you! Is DHA different to DHEA? Did you take that and the growth hormone before your cycle? What worries me is we're going NHS and I already have the feeling they don't help as much as we're not paying 😑 the consultant literally said 'lets just see what happens with the first cycle'. Congratulations on you're family, it really does give me hope xx

Habibi87 profile image
Habibi87 in reply to DogMum7

Sorry for the confusion, I should have written DHEA, I’ll edit it. DHEA was before the cycle while the growth hormone was during stimulation. How many cycles do you get on the NHS? The reality is that the first cycle is always a bit of let’s wait and see, even privately, so it’s good you can have it on the NHS. X

Citizenerased83 profile image
Citizenerased83 in reply to DogMum7

Hi lovely, I had an NHS clinic and they were excellent. We later had to move on to private after out NHS funding ran out but stayed at the same clinic and there was no difference in the care between NHS and private. Always excellent. If you're London based I can tell you what clinic we went to if that helps x

Lunamagica profile image
Lunamagica in reply to Citizenerased83

Hi,

Would you mind to share the name of the clinic? I am London based.

Thanks

Citizenerased83 profile image
Citizenerased83 in reply to Lunamagica

Just messaged you x

MiniCeeCee profile image
MiniCeeCee in reply to Citizenerased83

Would love to know the clinic too if you don’t mind PM’ing me, thanks!

Citizenerased83 profile image
Citizenerased83 in reply to MiniCeeCee

Just messaged you x

Tnthketnf profile image
Tnthketnf

Habibi 87 has put it very well. AMH is only one factor and doesn't mean much. I had good AMH and never managed a single positive test in 6+ years of trying, until I used DE.

DogMum7 profile image
DogMum7 in reply to Tnthketnf

I'm sorry to hear that 🥺 What is DE please? X

Tnthketnf profile image
Tnthketnf in reply to DogMum7

Donor eggs. Currently pregnant for the first time. I hope it all works for you! xx

CJohns profile image
CJohns

Hi lovely

My readings were 2.2 in July 21, 1 in September 21 and then 3. something in July 23. So I am extremely low, but it didn’t seem to go down; perhaps it was always low! I’m now 31 years old for reference .

It took 16 months to conceive our 1st, and 12 months for our 2nd (currently 38 weeks pregnant) - with a failed IVF round with double embryo transfer in between.

But both ended up being natural pregnancies - however this was after IVF prep, so extremely good diets, supplements, DHEA, acupuncture and so on. I still had 1-2 squares of dark chocolate everyday, but generally just cut all most processed foods (crikey, I missed bacon and sausages!). It’s amazing how much you can put yourself off ‘bad’ food when you want to conceive so badly.

I wouldn’t say you can increase your AMH naturally, but it clearly does fluctuate a little. But my message is really just to do all that you can with your body to prep it, and hopefully you’ll get your little miracle naturally or by IVF🙏🏻 xx

DogMum7 profile image
DogMum7 in reply to CJohns

That's insane! Massive congratulations, I'd literally do anything to conceive naturally and avoid all this. I think I literally need to completely clean the diet. Out of interest did you take DHEA off your own back or was it recommended? My consultant said don't take it and 'see how cycle one goes' which feels really f@*king unhelpful xx

CJohns profile image
CJohns in reply to DogMum7

I know the feeling, and I get it.

So prior to conceiving my 1st we were with the NHS scheduled in for IVF and they literally just told me to order it and take the usual 75mg dose. I did do this, and went through a period of agitation as they hadn’t even checked my level, however I did a blood prick test with medichecks (while taking it), and I was within the normal level, so I assumed I may have been low initially. Personally I’d do a medichecks test and see what level you are, or just order it and take it if your consultant has such a haphazard attitude. I’m assuming you may only get one round on the NHS?

Also, assuming youre in a heterosexual relationship, it wouldn’t also harm your partner being as clean eating etc as possible too, and taking a fertility supplement. Boost that sperm as much as possible 😁 xx

DogMum7 profile image
DogMum7 in reply to CJohns

Great advice. Thank you so much for taking the time to respond ♥️ xx

Endofitall profile image
Endofitall

I’m sorry you’ve had this shock result. AMH definitely does fluctuate, whatever they tell you - mine can go from 2 to 7 in a couple of months then back down. While I’ve only had few eggs (1-3 mature) at each collection the quality of blastocysts and fertilisation rate always been excellent so the consultant said our cycle results are more like someone making 8-10 eggs. So it is true AMH says nothing about quality. Our lack of baby so far seems more about my endo, immune issues and recurrent implantation failure. The endo is probably also what’s caused my low AMH at a younger age (it was low when tested in my early 30s). But as others have said AMH doesn’t affect your natural conception at all, you’ll still ovulate one egg a month. We are just likely to reach menopause earlier and respond worse to IVF stims.

Sending hugs! xx

Moshine13 profile image
Moshine13

Hi,I am very sorry that you are going through this...it's hard enough to go through infertility, doing with low amh is another level unfortunately 😕

I would say that it might be helpful for you to have a look at the low AMH groups on Facebook, I have found them very helpful. There are people there who have 0.02pmol and have got pregnant and had suscess in IVF, this doesn't meant that it doesn't come with risks....but I think it would help you to make a more inform decision.

With respect to increasing amh, not really possible, but you can improve the egg quality and highten amh as much as possible. I have improve mine taking COQ10, Vitamin D and omega 3, also Mediterranean diet. I am using OVUM supplements.

I hope this info helps, sending love your way x

DogMum7 profile image
DogMum7 in reply to Moshine13

Thank you so much for your advice. It's so silly I feel like a walking supplement at the moment! Best of luck on your journey x

Moshine13 profile image
Moshine13 in reply to DogMum7

I am the same.... so many supplements, my pee looks radio active 😳 Same to you lovely, all the best of luck x

Wuhu85 profile image
Wuhu85

Hi, low AMH in higher age is quite normal and it just tells you that you will have less eggs. What can be the problem is the quality of the oocytes. We are born with our eggs and they age with us. Follicule development take 3 months so I supplemented 3 months prior and during the IVF. I used recommended supplements and also IV drips. I had firstly 2 eggs and one PGT tested embryo from it. Afterwards I changed clinic and they gave me a long protocol and I had 7 mature eggs from 8 and I have 5 embryos from it. 2 are biopsed and 3 with great quality. So there are many factors which influence the process.

DogMum7 profile image
DogMum7 in reply to Wuhu85

Thanks so much for taking the time to reply. Lots of hope for yours current round 🙏🏼

Glaedy profile image
Glaedy

Hi hun, not sure if it will give you any hope but AMH is fluctuating, it has mamy factors to it etc once I tested it with my clinic and I was shocked how low it dropped and I couldn't agree with it, so week later tested it again with lab next to my house and it went slightly up.

Estherlovescats profile image
Estherlovescats

Hey i had low amh 3.4pmol and was told ivf was the only option. 2 failed ivfs later after loosing 40lbs to qualify for nhs ivf we got pregnant naturally using mira fertility monitor and fertilily conception cups. I think doctors are quick to go to ivf and often with low amh we have better chances naturally. Mira gives a 7 day fertility window not just the 2 days u get on ovulation strips. I also had coq10 ubiquinol 600mg daily and dhea eurovital brand 75mg daily but with that you are meant to have dhea-s and testosterone bloods done. Im 40 and 38 weeks pregnant now. I think doctors should talk more about timed intercourse and drugs like letrozole and clomid to educate people more rather than just tell people they need ivf which actually has less chance than cumulatively trying naturally month on month if you have low amh. X

Isabelclaire profile image
Isabelclaire

Hey? do you know what your antral follicle count is? As that together with amh you can get a idea of how many eggs might be collected.At 33 my AMH was 5.6pmol and I had 9 eggs collected. At 36 my AMH was 3.4pmol and I had 18 eggs collected (I was shocked when they told me the number)!!!

Also the quality of the eggs is more important the the quantity, and it sounds like you live a v.healthy lifestyle etc... so sounds like you're doing everything you can.

DogMum7 profile image
DogMum7 in reply to Isabelclaire

Wow that's crazy. I don't know that number yet although an scan showed 4 follicles? I think that means literally only 4 eggs can be produced? tbh I feel very in the dark with the whole process and have one friend going through this who seems to have had a lot more tests than us 😞

Isabelclaire profile image
Isabelclaire in reply to DogMum7

Yeah the number of follicles is an indicator of how many eggs they will collect. But that also fluctuates month to month, so at that scan it was 4 but the next scan it could be more 🤞🤞

It is such a hard process to go through, and really overwhelming at times.

I also was on v. High stimulation dose, there are things you can do with diet to help with side effects of the meds. That really helped me.

Superhans1 profile image
Superhans1

Hello please don't get stressed by these results. At 38 I underwent a fertility MOT and got AMH of 1.54pmol/L and was single at the time and was being told by the clinic (and everyone on Mumsnet) that I needed a sperm donor asap otherwise I would miss the boat. I was also advised by the clinic to freeze my eggs if not doing sperm donor. I did just one cycle of egg freezing and got 6 eggs and decided to just forget about it all.

2 years later at 40 I am now 30 weeks pregnant - met someone at 39 and conceived naturally. My AMH must be close to zero now but it has not stopped me getting pregnant v easily. In the year leading to to this pregnancy I had 3 early miscarriages in a row all at 6 weeks, no causes found and was told by miscarriage clinic to just carry on. The bottom line is low AMH does not mean you can't have children and it does not mean you need IVF.

DogMum7 profile image
DogMum7 in reply to Superhans1

Oh my God what a journey!! Massive congratulations 💜 Yes I had one miscarriage at 2 years ago and nothing since. Out of interest did you change/do anything to increase your chances e.g. supplements, diet etc? I feel like I'm doing everything right now but always worth asking what worked for others! X

Superhans1 profile image
Superhans1 in reply to DogMum7

Thank you! All I did was follow the supplement guide in the book 'it starts with the egg'. I did this as soon as I got the low AMH reading, who knows if it made a difference. I didn't alter my diet, maybe tried to drink more in moderation every now and then (husband and I enjoyed a sesh!) Tbh I think it was just a case of catching a good egg. IVF would have made no difference as the issue wasn't getting pregnant it was staying pregnant. I read a theory about some women getting pregnant really easily and having miscarriages as their womb wasn't fussy about what it accepted. I wonder if that's what I have as tbh there wasn't much trying required yet the fertility clinic gave me a really low stat for chances of getting pregnant, something like 4 % every month . Yet any time we had unprotected sex I was pregnant. I honestly think these AMH tests are rubbish and should be banned. They just generate a lot of anxiety and it's obviously in the clinics best interest for women to be shelling out on IVF. I remember reading posts by women saying exactly what I'm saying and I didn't believe it still and was actually on cusp of having IVF and embryo banking out of sheer desperation. V glad I didn't. My obstetrician rolled her eyes re low AMH stuff and she said it really doesn't mean much

Poop84 profile image
Poop84

hi

I had a low amh at 36 of 2.9 fast forward a few egg collections later I have some pgs embryos stored but haven't transferred those yet. We had several failed transfers but for me, I took zita wests dhea and followed her egg quality book and guidelines. I'd focus on your diet when stimming. Human growth hormone is a good drug to use from your clinic too. I got my embryos and pgs normal embryos from these.

My amh was retested for my own sanity last week and it's 1.8 pmol. I did conceive naturally but miscarried. But I believe amh is an indicator of egg reserve and how we would be with ivf stats etc.

good luck you've got this! X

Dormus01 profile image
Dormus01

hey - lord it can be tough when you get that news. When I first started fertility treatment age 41 I was told that I had an AMH of 2.4 , I tested again aged 43 and it had gone up to 6.66 (🤘)! So it can fluctuate. I’ve being having acupuncture and taking Chinese herbs. No positive tests yet unfortunately but trying to remain hopeful. Wishing you baby dust x

DogMum7 profile image
DogMum7 in reply to Dormus01

Wishing you all the luck too 😘 xx

Lunamagica profile image
Lunamagica in reply to Dormus01

Hi,

I am also having acupuncture and Chinese herbs. Only 1 month and half in it. The TCM doctor said at least 3 to 6 months treatments. I hope this will help both of us x

Dormus01 profile image
Dormus01 in reply to Lunamagica

I really hope it helps you. It’s really been a support to me.

I’m so sorry you were denied NHS IVF because of low AMH. Our consultant allowed us to go ahead as she didn’t think it was fair to penalised when AMH tests are optional and have to be paid for. I think you have been treated unfairly here. Sending baby dust your way xxx

Lunamagica profile image
Lunamagica in reply to Dormus01

Many thanks xx

Lunamagica profile image
Lunamagica

Hi dear,

I can feel your frustration. I am on the same boat. I am 39 and my AMH is 1.9 pmol.

When I got the results back I was shocked as I am fit, I follow a Mediterranean diet and I am very active. I have an autoimmune condition but this doesn’t impact on the fertility. Unfortunately we didn’t qualify for NHS funded IVF because we didn’t meet the criteria (AMH has to be equal or above 5 pmol). We’ve been advised from the consultant to keep trying naturally for few months more (20% chances if low AMH) and if not successful to go for self-funded IVF. Quite disappointed as they made us lost precious time. (Almost a year).

Are you going do it with NHS, right?

In the meantime, I am doing acupuncture and Chinese supplements plus other supplements on my own (vitamin D, curcumin, white lions, folic acid), also taking Impryl to improve the eggs quality.

Honestly, I feel under pressure, stressed over and very likely this has an overall impact.

I wish you all the best of luck x

Cuppppatea profile image
Cuppppatea

I just saw your post and wanted to give some hope. I have Amh 1.8 and high fsh - I had two dismal rounds of ivf with nhs, first round nothing to transfer, second round - one failed transfer from three eggs. I got pregnant on my first real period after that round! I am 26 weeks. Definitely keep up supplements and be really careful with sugar, alcohol and carbs. I think this may have helped. Good luck xxx

DogMum7 profile image
DogMum7

Omg amazing news - congrats! Thanks so much for this. I can't believe how many stories I've heard of people conceiving naturally after IVF! Xx

CyclingAddict profile image
CyclingAddict

I know that feeling. My husband is incredibly fit and active. He doesn't drink alcohol, he eats super healthy, he runs and cycles most days, he lifts weights, he's in shape, his hormones are fine, he's a very relaxed person etc. So we were incredibly shocked when his lab results came back and they showed he has a low sperm count and it was unlikely we'd have a baby naturally. I'd never considered he could be infertile as he's the picture of health and all his blood work came back as normal (he was even on the higher end for testosterone).

Please don't lose hope though. Low AMH isn't everything. What I will say though is, if you have a male partner, it can be a good idea for him to take supplements too in preparation for IVF - especially if you have fewer eggs to work with. The eggs are only half of the equation and a man can have a good sperm count but there may be other issues, like DNA fragmentation. We were both taking a cocktail of supplements everyday in preparation and he even wore underwear with a cold pack in on the evenings. It was definitely a joint effort, but I'm now 35 weeks pregnant.

Wishing you the best of luck x

DogMum7 profile image
DogMum7

Thanks so much. It's hard as my partner thinks he has nothing to do as his sperm results were all fine. He won't even take the supplements I bought for him. I got him to read your comment on the hope something lands! Huge congratulations on your pregnancy xx

Cuppppatea profile image
Cuppppatea in reply to DogMum7

‘Test him’ podcasts are good to try to get him to see sense. Also ‘celebrity save our sperm’ documentary.

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