Because one issue isn't enough. Diminished ovarian reserve AND poor motility!

[IsthisMummy]

New to this board, so hello everyone.

My DP and I have just had blood and semen results back from our hospital. I have DOR and DP has poor motility. Doctor wants me to go back for more bloods when I next have my period (God knows when that will be; cycles are irregular since coming off pill) and she said she would then advise us depending on the results.

All this was done over the phone and as you can imagine I am now incredibly upset and stressed. We have only been ttc since April, but I just knew instinctively that there was an issue and I really pushed for tests.

What are they likely to advise us? Is it likely to be IUI or IVF? would it be possible that I wouldn't be a candidate? Doctor said she wasn't too worried about DP low motility, but surely she should be? I was so in shock that I didn't think to ask. I suspected there would be an issue with me as I'm 37, but never even considered DP as he's a lot younger than me.

Any sage words of wisdom would be really appreciated right now.

[lucieloos]

Hi there sorry about your results but try not to stress too much. We had the same results a couple of years back and I'm now 10 weeks pregnant following IVF. They are unlikely to offer you iui with poor motility as the sperm most likely won't be able to reach the egg but IVF is great and you will have a good chance. The reason she's probably not worried about the poor motility as with IVF they can use a technique called icsi where they inject the sperm into the egg so it doesn't matter if they are good swimmers or not then. Did they tell you what your amh blood result was?

[IsthisMummy]

Thanks for the reply lucieloos.

She didn't tell me my amh result and I was too shocked to think to ask. She just said I have diminished ovarian reserve. I'm quite upset that they are allowed to just break such distressing news over the phone tbh. If I'd been face to face it would have been easier to ask!

I have to go for more bloods when on my next period and then see if any treatment is appropriate (doctors words) I didn't know that about poor motility and IVF. I've not done much reading on male factor infertility. Time to educate myself.

Congratulations on your pregnancy. Wishing you a happy and healthy one😊

[IsthisMummy]

DP cried when I told him last night.

So angry that we've just been left hanging like this with no advice or guidance!

[lucieloos]

I'm sorry hun we found out about dhs results over the phone too. It's hard and they should have ideally called you in and told you in person. Stay positive though. I am 37 as well and it can work. It's not an easy path at times but you have to stay as strong as you can and be determined. You will get there I'm sure. It's good that you got things checked so soon.

[IsthisMummy]

I'm utterly determined without feeling positive. It's a strange and interesting combination.

I'm kicking myself now because I forgot to give doctor results of blood tests that I had done at GP. The fertility clinic didn't have them when we had our consultation with them. Doctor had asked me to get them and read them out over phone. I forgot to do it though as I was so in shock. I'm not sure if I should contact her? The bloods she's asked me to have done on next period are same ones I think? FSH and such. Surely it's a bit pointless me getting them done twice?

[lucieloos]

Yes give her a ring and see if she still wants you to repeat them. If they are recent ones then maybe they will just accept those.

[IsthisMummy]

I'll ring today I think. Perhaps I should ask for three months grace so I can continue to implement my it starts with the egg plan that I'm now following!

[lucieloos]

I wouldn't wait another 3 months continue with any plan they put in place as you will probably have to wait a good few months for any treatment anyway depending on what area you are in but best to get the ball rolling and get on the list.

[Chattycat78]

Just to step in here, no experience of senen issues but I was told I had low ovarian reserve age 34 (3 years ago). I too was horrified. This was based on my fsh results which were too high for my age (number was 12). I asked about having the test repeated and was told there was no point so I'm not sure why they are repeating your test if it's the same one. Also fsh can fluctuate from month to month so it's not masively helpful anyway. Amh tests are supposed to be more reliable as they don't fluctuate (allegedly).

In terms of waiting to implement any kind of regime, to be honest it won't increase your egg numbers as this is impossible - therefore it won't improve your test results. However, it is possible to improve egg quality which is far more important than quantity for achieving pregnancy. There is no test available for egg quality. All the amh or fsh tests tell you is that you have Low egg numbers- NOT if any of those eggs are up to creating a pregnancy or not. I know this because, despite my results, I now have two little boys (born 17 months apart!)! One via ivf and the second one naturally conceived.

Hope this helps.

[Blue2014]

Same issues here although DH sperm had low everything. Our first round of icsi worked (currently 34 weeks)

[IsthisMummy]

Guys and St Thomas say they have no waiting list on the website Lucieloo? Do you think that won't be the case? I'm really confused about it all.

ChattyCat. My doctor at St Guys doesn't have my 3 day blood results. They didn't have them when I went for my consultation. I was supposed to read them out to her over phone on Tuesday (I got them from GP) but I was too in shock to remember and she didn't ask. She told me I have to go back for more bloods and to go to the unit on the first day of my next period. TBH I was so horrified that I couldn't really take in what she was saying. I think I should ring her back, but she hasn't exactly got the nicest bedside manner!

I know I can't create more eggs :( I just want to try and improve the ones I have as much as I can. My life is about to become even more boring and virtuous than it already has been since ttc!

Congratulations on your little boys. You're so lucky! :) Same to you Blue. Positive stories give me hope. I'm pretty much convinced right now that I'll never be a mother and I feel borderline suicidal tbh. It's definitely one of the bleakest moments of my life so far.

[Chattycat78]

Yes I can understand how upset you are- I felt the same- and I also thought I would never be a mummy. However, as you can see, it can happen so hang in there!

In terms of improving egg quality i would recommend high dose co enzyme q10 (think that's in the book anyway).

Also I see you ve only been trying since April (which is not a long time in ttc terms), that doesn't mean it couldn't happen naturally I assume? It might be that u don't actually need ivf. Also to answer your question about being a good candidate- the problem with low ovarian reserve is that you're likely not to produce many eggs during ivf. This was indeed the case for me. However, from 2 eggs, I got 1 embryo and 1 baby. Massively lucky I know but this shows that it really is quality over quantity.

[lucieloos]

Yes it is possible some places don't have a waiting list. I still think it will be a couple of months though by the time you are referred and then you have your initial consultation with them, they might want some other tests, then you have to wait for period to arrive. I wouldn't delay things just get the ball rolling and keep trying naturally and taking supplements in the meantime. I have low AMH and sometimes I did only get a couple of eggs but on a few occasions I got 7-8 eggs a time. It really all depends on getting the right protocol for you I think. You will be fine.

[IsthisMummy]

It's the worst feeling isn't it chattycat? I can barely even speak to my DP at the moment. Totally unfair of me I know, but I don't know how to snap out of it.

How many IVF attempts did you have Lucieloos? If you don't mind me asking of course!
I'd already started cq10 200mg. I've now upped that to 300mg, ordered DHEA (I can't find micronized version though?) and started implementing all the recommendations for the IVF plan in it starts with the egg. I'm surprised I don't rattle with all the supplements!

True it has only been since April. My DP having low motility is just going to make it so much harder though.

I'm so worried they will say we can't have IVF on NHS. I've already told DP we have to cancel holiday we'd booked for December. I can't stand to waste all the money. Plus what is the point of a holiday if you can't sink loads of booze and food that is bad for you?

[Chattycat78]

I'm not sure about NHS criteria- there are quite a lot of criteria (to do with things like age,bmi,etc) and it also depends where u live how many goes you get. I only got one free go where I live. I imagine you could find that out quite quickly and easily.

Ps I also agree that it takes time even with no waiting list. My clinic had no waiting list and I think it still took about 3/4 months to get started after all the tests, scans, consultations etc.

[Graceflorrick]

Really thinking of you OP. I found out I have egg quality issues when ttc our second DC. It really knocked us as we'd had no difficulties conceiving our first.

[IsthisMummy]

I'm in London chattycat, so will probably only get one go. Ironically I moved here from North East where I'd get three! :(

I'm 37, DP is (ahem) 24. Neither of us have children or smoke. My bmi is 19.5. So hopefully no major issues there. I'm just terrified they will tell me my low ovarian reserve won't make me a candidate.

Stupid question, but how do you even cope with your life while going through this? I just feel like everything will have to go on hold. Including mine and DPs plans to marry. How can I let him marry a woman who can't give him children? My head is in bits right now.

[IsthisMummy]

Thank you Graceflorrick. That's very kind of you. Did you manage to conceive second DC in the end? I need to hear as many success stories as possible right now.

[Blue2014]

Erm it's not just you with fertility issues?? So if you can marry him with his issues then he can marry you - it's not you that can't give him children

[Graceflorrick]

Isthis, sadly not. After lots of miscarriages we've had to admit defeat. My friend who was in a similar position now has two though, so there's definitely hope.

[Chattycat78]

Yes it's very very tough when you're going through it I have to admit. I think I just tried to muddle through but I definitely had a good 8 months or so where I felt awful about it and like it would never happen. I seem to remember being baby bombed during that time about 8 times too by friends and colleagues which made things worse.

However, there is definitely hope. I would try to find out asap whether you can have ivf on nhs or not so u know where u stand.

[lucieloos]

Isthis, we did a few rounds of embryo banking so it's a bit different for me as we didn't have a transfer with those rounds we were saving up embryos to freeze so that if we did get pregnant after that we would have some left over hopefully for a sibling as I wouldn't have wanted to start again with all this further down the line. So my first IVF we had 2 transferred and it was bfn. Then following that we did 3 egg collection only rounds and froze embryos. Then my turn came up on the NHS and I got a bfp but it turned out to be ectopic, another private round and bfn and then final NHS round which was this most recent one was bfp. We now have 4 embryos frozen, 2 of which we had tested and have been found to be chromosomally normal so no downs or other trisomys which could cause miscarriage. I did find that it felt like my life was on hold throughout it all. I still did things and went on holidays etc but it was always there with me and I felt like I was going through the motions rather than really enjoying life. It's hard there's no doubting that but you can make it work. I had all my private treatment in the Czech Republic as its a fraction of the price of private treatment here and they were great. That's where all my frozen embryos are now. I agree with others it's not just you with the problem. Your DH has a significant problem too probably more so that you. Just because you have low reserve you will still be ovulating the same one egg every month the same as really fertile women it's more the fact that your dhs sperm can't get to the egg so don't go blaming yourself. The AMH test for reserve is mainly to identify how you will respond to IVF and help them decide on your protocol it doesn't have much bearing on trying naturally other than maybe you might want to try sooner rather than later.

[IsthisMummy]

Blue. I suppose you're right. There will be no wedding until God knows when either way now. We aren't going to be able to afford it now.

Graceflorrick. I'm sorry it didn't work out for you

Chattycat. I think I have to wait until my next 3 day bloods to find out how we can proceed? The doctor just said "if any treatment is available" I'm assuming we meet the IVF criteria in other ways though, so I think it's just down to my egg quality? I'm really confused to be honest and my doctor is not particularly pleasant or approachable.

The chance of being baby bombed is next to nothing for me. None of my friends ever seem to have children. I've not been to a wedding since I was 12. None of them ever get married! Hardly any family either and no children in my life at all. That's mainly the reason I want a family of my own so much. I don't feel like I really have one atm.

lucieloos. Wow, it is all so confusing. I've been looking at Reprofit in Czech Republic, but even that is so insanely expensive. I don't know how we will afford it to be honest. We are pretty poor! There will be no holidays ect in the interim period though. We won't be able to afford it :( Which clinic did you use? Was the protocol you followed the one that they suggested? Do you mind me asking how much it cost you altogether? I'm already trying to work out a realistic price tag for how much this is all going to cost.

Thank you so much for all your responses by the way. It's hugely appreciated.

[lucieloos]

We used reprofit and they were great. I think for a cycle of icsi it worked out about £1500 but you can at least double that if you want private treatment in the uk.

[Chattycat78]

You mean it's down to your egg quantity- like I say there is no test which exists for egg quality.

Well I was entitled to ivf and my amh was pretty low at 2.8. I don't know whether there is a cut off, or if there is what the level is. Fingers crossed yours is above it.

On an unrelated subject I think there are things that can be done to improve sperm issues naturally
. Might be worth looking into that hi to improve your chances of natural conception.