Is my FSH level is too high to conceive?

[donttrythisathome]

Can anyone help me please?

I got the results of my day 3 test today and the results are
FSH - 10.7
LH - 7.5

I can't get to see my GP until next week, so had a look at the internet which said my FSH level could be indicative of "diminishing egg reserve". The test results say the normal levels are 3.5-13 though.

Very worried now

[bamboostalks]

Well it is on the low side but people have conceived with that level and remember that it can fluctuate. I would get advice from a fertility specialist if you can aford it as your GP will not be that helpful. You may be referred but that is notoriously slow so you would be better to self refer. How old are you?

[Cosmosis]

Mine came back at 9.7 and my doctor said they preferred it to be under 8, however I have read in other places that under 10 is considered normal as well. So yours is raised, but it's not hugely high from what I have read.

Acupuncture has good results for lowering FSH levels, as does taking wheatgrass supplements, so might be worth looking into?

[donttrythisathome]

Thanks.

I'm 36. maybe I should pay for a referral...do you recommend anywhere?

I read that if its high this means that your eggs aren't great, so even if i do lower it would that change anything? My eggs would still be in the same condition?

[rubles]

In short, I would say no.

Mine was 10.2 and then 10.9 a few months later when I was being investigated. I saw two different consultants, the first said that 10.2 was not a problem at all and he was not bothered by that. He said it was only an issue for IVF protocols (or something like that), not for natural conception.
The second said that my fsh level was maybe indicative of why I was taking longer to conceive and that view was backed up by a miscarriage I had had, he thought. However, he said that the fsh level was not a clear 1:1 indicator of fertility, as women with much higher levels than that might not have any apparent lowering of their fertility, whereas women with lower fsh levels may have a significantly affected fertility level, so basically it was no predictor.

So, to sum up, one of them said it was not an issue and another one said I should not delay and consider starting iui or ivf as soon as possible!...

In the event I did get pregnant that very month, and since having that baby I am now pregnant again after an easy conception so don't loose heart.

[rubles]

I second what bamboostalks says, as GPs don't (ime) know jack about that level of detail.

[donttrythisathome]

Thanks, that's encouraging.

So is the consensus then to go to a specialist? Guess I should ask the GP to give me another test as well next month.

[bamboostalks]

Definitely but be prepared to pay.
A really good source of advice and support is the fertility friends website where you will see this type of detail discussed in great depth. Good Luck.

[donttrythisathome]

Thanks - had a look at fertility friends...think I'm freaked out now but will try to keep my cool until I know more.

[donttrythisathome]

Thanks annie. I'm very sorry to hear about your m/c and hope you are feeling ok. I'm glad to see you are looking at it in a positive light.

I get spotting too pre and post AF, though LP looks ok.

I've only been reading into this for a day, and on the internet (dangerous...) but I don't "get" why lowering FSH would help.

If a high FSH is indicative (possibly) of a lower egg reserve, then lowering it isn't going to change your egg reserve. Your eggs is your eggs so to speak.

I can kinda see why they might want to lower it for IVF i.e. to get your eggs used to lower levels of FSH to make them more responsive to fertility drugs. Although not sure if they've proved this is the case.

Have come across lots of positive stories however, including several from a friend of mine (so RL!), so I'm really trying to keep my chin up!

Sorry, very long post!

[ThursdayNext]

Mine was was 15.3 a couple of years ago (only tested because I wanted to be an egg donor)
I conceived DD after a few months trying

[Onlyaphase]

Having had IVF several times over the past few years I would say that IVF clinics don't really try to change or lower your FSH level - as you say, it is what it is. The reason FSH is looked as a criteria for IVF is that high FSH levels correspond in most cases to poor IVF outcomes - i.e. only a few eggs produced.

However, I would say your level of FSH isn't really that high, and a far better indicator of ovarian reserve is the new AMH test. And don't forget FSH levels change from month to month too, so to get a true reading of your FSH levels you could repeat the test.

[ThursdayNext]

Anniemac, yes, the specialist predicted doom and gloom for me (do you want more children? better get on with it then, come back quickly and see me if you can't conceive), while also giving me the impression that he really had very little understanding what this measurement might actually mean for me

[donttrythisathome]

Excellent news Thursday.

Sorry Annie wasn't trying to discourage you at all. Just because I haven't seen anything saying we can change the egg reserve doesn't mean that our present egg reserve is useless!

In fact some things I've read say FSH is not really a reliable test of ovarian reserve at all! So whether you lower the FSH or not is probably immaterial as our FSH levels are not indicative of anything
I think the remedies for lengthening LP definitely seem to be useful and work.

Feck, if a specialist is going to send me for IVF or put the frighteners on me should I even bother going??!

My friend's hairdresser's was 15, but she is now 4 months preggers naturally after several failed IVFs, and she knows someone at her fertility clinic who is preggers on FSH 29!

Fingers crossed for Annie me and Cosmo. x

[donttrythisathome]

Posts overlapped. Thanks onlyaphase - how is your IVF going? Hope it all works out for you.

Did hear about that AMH test - may consider it if its not happening for me in the next few months...if I can wait....!

[ThursdayNext]

For what it's worth, I didn't try and do anything to bring down my FSH as I wasn't convinced it was neccesarily indicative of anything for me

I did read 'take charge of your fertility' which I found helpful as it confirmed to me that I had a pretty normal cycle.

Good luck.

[donttrythisathome]

That's true Annie. Healthy living, feeling in control and thinking positive does have a good effect.

I delayed my oving last month solely through stress so am trying to persuade DP into hypnotising me into positive thoughts this month (on the basis of him reading one Derren Brown book...)

[donttrythisathome]

Read that too Thursday - what an eye-opener!

I'm a small bit worried about 3 days spotting before AF, and tiny bit for about 2 days afterwards, but LP seems ok so cautiously accepting its normal...

[Cosmosis]

I'll just repeat; acupuncture

[donttrythisathome]

My progesterone result was 44 though, which is supposedly ok, and I seem to have 10 days at least before I spot for 3ish days. Still, is concerning...

Only been charting recently though.

My friend did say her clinic wants progesterone to be over 60 really

Y'see Cosmo I'd have to "believe' that acupuncture would help my problems and I'm not convinced. Not saying its doesn't work, just not sure what it would for me in particular.