After many years of having a Mirena coil for heavy periods, my then partner and I decided to start to try for a baby. I thought it was strange that when I had the coil out my periods remained just as light as when I had it in. I decided to do some hormone tests, and discovered I had a high prolactin and a low AMH (4). We wanted to be proactive so saw a fertility clinic, and they recommended we proceed with icsi (low sperm morphology) for our best chance. Did 1 long protocol, 8 follicles initially which dropped to 5 and on egg collection only 2 eggs were collected. Both failed to fertilise. My lining also never thickened past 3.5mm. I did a HRT challenge for 60 days after this to see if I could thicken the lining, but it didn’t change despite 8mg oestrogen orally a day.
Waiting for my next cycle my partner and I were having increasing difficulties and he left the relationship saying he did not want to be in any relationship wanting to go it alone. I then found out I was pregnant naturally the week after he left, but began bleeding 3 days after finding out. After an agonising month or so of bed rest and seeing an ever growing subchorionic heamatoma on scans it was unfortunately diagnosed as a missed miscarriage at 7w4d, measuring 6w4d. I had surgical management as they were concerned how large the heamatoma was, and at 3 weeks post-op my hcg was still positive. I went back to EPAU and they re-scanned, to discover they had left the baby and sac behind. I was listed for another EVAC. I then had a long-awaited hysteroscopy the following month to look at my lining issues, and the surgeon found scarring obliterating my cavity. He thinks this was due to the 2 miscarriage surgeries. I had the adhesions divided and was started on 6 weeks of HRT.
However, my period never came back afterwards, and I underwent another hysteroscopy which showed some reformation of the scars but a very thin lining, and ultrasound has confirmed my lining is now just 2.5mm on oestrogen and viagra combined. The thinking is that a curettage I had ages 17 for heavy periods in the same procedure my first Mirena was inserted may have damaged my endometrium irreversibly. In better news my AMH had improved to 8 when last checked, and AFC to 10 (I think due to DHEA and the effect of the hcg from pregnancy). I consulted with a couple of fertility clinics and essentially I’ve been told I will probably never be able to carry a baby and my only chance is to try one more round of ivf/icsi on the hope of getting a blast to freeze and then purse a surrogate. I started my short protocol this week and will be using donor sperm. It’s been such an emotional year, I feel like I need to know I’ve tried everything. Please reach out if anything resonates, wishing you all the best on your journey.
NB. I’ve been taking DHEA, coq10, vitamin E, l-arginine, Maca, aspirin, NAC, magnesium, choline, theanine, vitamin d, vitamin c, folic acid, pregnacare, omega 3, flaxseeds. Raspberry leaf tea, melatonin, and accupuncture. I’ve also tried testosterone gel and Norethisterone priming for this cycle, the latter necessary as I don’t have periods now so they’ve started my stims the day after stopping Norethisterone.
Sorry to hear this. Just wanted to share. I'm an infertile woman. 16 years ago we started our journey to baby. It just wasn't meant to be. Or for some unstated reason I simply cannot have children. I'm 47 this year. Already have a baby from surrogacy in BTC, Kyiv. Many would say that maybe I could adopt. But since I had severe heart disease, all thoughts of being a parent have well and truly gone for some time. I simply couldn’t risk leaving a child behind if it comes back. I'm now comfortable in my role in life. I'm a mama. Moreover, I am a wife, a daughter and a sister. I do get moments of incredible sadness our path was this looong. But as others say, sometimes you can gain happiness from seeing others happy, and try your luck out. I hoped one day I would be among those too. I'm still producing eggs. Our new doc investigated their quality. She was feeling quite optimistic about so called mitochondria replacement therapy which I think we would use if no luck! As I wanted this baby the most in my life. And I wanted to see me in him/her. All this is definitely not the walk in the park.
We made our choice in favor of Ukrainian Biotexcom mainly due to the following strong sides of the clinic. Firstly, their specialists. They are really qualified and work for the result, they deserve trust and are capable of doing their job right. Secondly, their packages have accommodation and food included. Thirdly, all-inclusive packages. They are intended to take care of all the possible stress, complicated paper work and possible issues. Though the cost of surrogacy in Ukraine is not always low if you are looking for a cheap surrogacy program, Biotexcom is the right place. Most of world clinics can't offer the same services - youtube.com/watch?v=c58Oz43.... Dh and I used DE IVF ‘Guaranteed’ plan. 11.900 euros includes the following services: 5 embryo transfers. In case of 5 negatives they refund the money paid. Medical treatment. Medications needed before transfer and 3 months after. Egg donor fee, sperm donor if needed. Pregnancy monitoring till 12th week. Embryo reduction (if needed). Services of the coordinator in charge of the program. Accommodation; Meals; Transfer from/to the airport and from/to the clinic. It doesn't include TESA, TESE though, but it wasn’t of any need for us.
Ladies, a dose of realism is needed when you’re 42. Miscarriage rates are 50 per cent. Live-birth rates for IVF with your own eggs are only 10 to 15 per cent. And the likelihood of chromosomal abnormalities are higher than average. Donor eggs take on all three. If your objective is a baby, and reduced heartache, donor eggs or donor embryos are a consideration. We've opted for former ones and have nothing to regret about. The thing to add, our clinic also has different plans. To take, standard surrogacy package, in case of twins IP must pay additionally 3k euros. (The package cost is 39k euros). With their VIP plan for 64k euros, in case of multiples they won't pay this sum .The agency has to do instead of them. Once more, regardless of how far along the surrogate is, if the case of miscarriage, abortion, or death of child, the agency will take care of the cost of paying the surrogate and finding a new one. In case the baby is born premature, the agency will pay all medical fees regardless. If IP have twins, there is no additional fee. I believe such plans are attractive for all sides of the process. Hope this might help.
This is my personal point of view. Banning surrogacy is really scaring. And for the most part for the intended parents. For those like me surrogacy was the only possible way out. My husband and I have been married almost 7 years and have, unfortunately, suffered multiple miscarriages and an ectopic resulting in rupture and removal of both tubes. Not only were these losses physically tiring considering 3 of the 4 required major, emergency surgeries. But they have scared me emotionally, psychologically and traumatized me and my husband to the core. Prior to the tubal I underwent tubal reconstructive surgery in the hopes to successfully conceive naturally without medical issues. We were wrong. 6 months after the surgery, I became pregnant with ectopic pregnancy. After severe hesitation on my end, I finally chose the doctor I would see for IVF and scheduled our consultation. It was great news to hear that I was the ideal candidate for IVF. She even gave us a 70% success rate and financially it was better than expected. Actually we passed 2 ivf cycles with them but never succeeded. Our shot#1 resulted in chemical pregnancy. Shot#2 – BFN. This was unfair game as the next biotexcom clinic we were with resoluted my body had no chances to carry healthy pregnancy. So we moved onto surrogacy. Currently bringing our little LO up.
Sooo sorry to read this, I don’t know how far you are have come now but I am in a similar situation like yours. My last chance is going to be the "Treatment of thin endometrium with autologous platelet-rich plasma", which still is a pilot study. I don’t know if that could be another option if you haven't already tried it. I have tried n trusted my doctors doing their best, but as I was told this is the last treatment they haven't tried with me. So,waiting for my cycle to give it a chance.
Hope it helps, if not after the transfer, but at least improves my endometrium in general as some women conceived naturally after the treatment and after unsuccessful ivf cycle.
Being a believer, I guess giving my body a rest n never give up hope,faith n trust in God, God may surprise me and everyone else going through this path.
Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.
Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.
