Looking for advice on slow growing follicles. Low Amh, turning 42 very soon & partner with low count so already know we are not going to have the easiest of times however, I didn't take into consideration that I wasn't going to be able to produce even one follicle to get to egg collection. First cycle was standard protocol with high dose of stims and cancelled at Day 9 with 3 each side but not growing. Change of clinic take the more natural/mild approach with low stims starting on day 8, 1 dominant follicle and one small, slow growth where they got to 12mm by day 13 and then I ovulated on the Cetrotide injections on day 15, cycle cancelled again. Just been told I can take more of the Cetrotide to try and stop me from ovulating again but just wondering if anyone else had really slow growing follicles but ended in success.
Slow Growing Follicles : Looking for... - Fertility Network UK
Slow Growing Follicles
Have you recommended any pre treatment like DHEA or testogel? It might be worth a discussion with your consultant?
I have recently been taking coq-10, along side vit D and folic acid. I do have active Crohn's so how much gets absorbed I'm unsure of. I will mention the testogel as I've not heard of that before and see what they say. Have you used it?
It’s worth asking. DHEA (over a longer period, 3 months) or Testogel (over a shorter period, a month) are said to be able to help egg quality. I was recommended Testogel after some tests and that stims cycle responded well and got one PGTA normal embryo at 42. Now preparing for transfer x
Which dosage of Testogel were you prescribed?
Hiya
I have really low AMH too. I also only had 2 that were growing so wasnt expecting anything, but on the day of egg retreival they managed to get 4. 3 were immature and 1 was fertilised and has made it all the way to a frozen grade 2 embryo. Dont give up hope. I know what its like to have constant bad news and we were told to cancel our cycle too but we said no and insisted we carry on. We still have a long way to go but never thought we would get this far. It only takes one. Sending you lots of love and luck x
Thank you for taking the time to reply, my second cycle was cancelled due to me ovulating early on cetrotide so I've been told that they can increase that to try and stop me on this next cycle which I'm awaiting to start. Just wanted to see if there were others that had really slow growth. I guess if I hadn't have ovulated I'd have carried on with the Pergoveris for growth. Can I ask what vitamins etc you were taking?
What about doing oestrogen priming before stimming. That would lower fsh to ensure follicles grow evenly.
Thank you, I will email my nurse/consultant to see what they say about that option, however I'm not sure if it will be too late as currently waiting for Day 1 which is anytime.
I used it for my transfer. It’s recommended by lots of gynaecologists. It’s a vaginal pessary. You can use it at night before bed. It’s really effective and safe in pregnancy. It contains crispatus lactobacillus which is one of the top strains for preventing infections.
I’m sorry. I forgot about oestrogen priming. Tired brain! Yes it would be too late to start oestrogen priming cycle day one. It’s best to start on cycle day 21. You could ask to start norethisterone early as well to control cycle.
I had slow growing follicles in all of my cycles (first egg collection at 32 and last at 40 or 41). I always stimmed on high levels and for at least 2 weeks. My follicles would be so slow and barely respond and then all of a sudden take a growth spurt at around 10 or 11 days of stims. If you have 3 on each side for example I would ask them to continue stims for an additional day or two and see do they do the same. On my final collection the consultant did not want to continue but I explained that I had always been very slow to respond to meds. Eventually she agreed and was very shocked when my follicles did exactly what I had told her would happen and grew around 5 or 6 mm in 2 days. Definitely worth perhaps trying different stim drugs too. Some work better. I think some are synthetic and some natural so maybe your body would respond differently to one or other. Don't give up.
Thank you for taking the time to reply, when I did standard protocol with high stims this was cancelled due to lack of response and they would only offer DE so I took to Google and found a clinic that did a more natural/modified cycle which works better apparently with my age and low AMH, I had one dominant on my right and nothing on my left, I think I started Pergoveris 150 on day 8 which then saw a tiny one on my left start to catch up but the problem was on this round I ovulated whilst taking Cetrotide which is meant to stop you from ovulating. If I hadn't of had a lh blood result showing a peak and therefore ovulating they were going to continue me on the Pergoveris for longer to get them to a better size for collection. It's just so frustrating, I hadn't taken into account all of the steps and certainly hadn't taken into consideration I was going to have trouble growing follicles. I will hope for 3rd stim round lucky, am awaiting my Day 1
Follicles slow 
Protocols to sync follicles/avoid big lead follicle? 
Low Stim FET protocol, follicles growing but lining stalled, can it catch up?
Too many follicles? 
