please Help an ignorant dad with some basics

[manfromCUK]

I know I'm probably going to get flamed (and deserve it) but ho hum. We are TTC our second - have a lovely DD 2 yrs old. DW is 42 and I am 48. We have just finished a round of tests. DW had ultrasound scan and the dye injection test - tubes and ovaries all fine, but a blood test indicated that although she ovulates as regularly as clockwork she has low level of a hormone required for fertility. In view of this consultant says there is no point in IVF and our only hope is to keep trying. I wish to further research as DW is convinced this is the end, no hope and no further point in TTC. I am not syaing she's wrong, but I'd like to know more. Unfortunately, I don't know the name of the test or the hormone and I can't find anything that looks right by searching here or Google. The names get bandied around and I didn't think to write anything down. If I ask her it will cause WW3 (again) - can anyone point me in the right direction?

Toni Weschler's How to take charge of your fertility is an extremely good book

High dosage Vitamin B has also proved useful

Good luck

Hi there

was the low test the AMH test?

I had a very low result (2.4) and was told that IVF may not work as I would be a poor responder to the fertility drugs. I am due in December after successful IVF earlier this year and though I wouldn't want to tell you it can definitely work your doctor may be wrong.

Have you investigated private IVF?

also - do you know if she had to have the test on a particular day? if not then it is likely that it was the AMH test as that can be done at any point in your cycle.

am happy to answer any questions you have about IVF.

Thanks I'll look it up - and thanks for not flaming me.

DuelingFanjo - thanks - test was a on a specific day in cycle (day three I think). We would have been doing IVF privately anyway as we don't qualify for NHS (and to be fair there are way more deserving cases). The test had a really long name - OTH your result and DWs sound about the same. Thanks for you response.

man - please ignore the test result showing low fertility, it was probrably the test that my doc refused to do as it only does what it has with your wife, that it make it feel impossible to get pregnant. Truth is that whilst it is more difficult, it is not impossible. If a woman is ovulating, then it is still possible to get pregnant.

The question is : is your wife able to cope with the idea of the pain of trying and it not happening or it happening and miscarrying? Because it takes so much emotional energy to ttc. The risks are higher at our age.

If she wants to try again, then please don't put pressure on her trying to "fix" things like so many men do (sorry about the generalisation!). Just give her the love and support to do whatever she feels is right.

I'd have thought it would have been follicle stimulating hormone.

absolutely what galwaygal said. if it was the day 3 test then they shouldn't refuse you IVF

If it is the FSH test then the whole point of the IVF drugs is that they stimulate the follicles and encourage more eggs to be released so they can be collected. IUI would also possibly be an option.

she may be a 'poor responder' but I managed to get pregnant through IVF even with only 6 eggs collected.

if you or she are not already on there I would suggest reading through some of the info on the fertility friends forum. They are really helpful.

galwaygal- thanks - good points, well made. I am far more relaxed about the idea that out DD will be our only child than DW. DW wanted to be pregnant in within a narrow particular window in the plans she has in her head. We were very lucky with our daughter in that she was conceived really qucikly and easily. I am not trying to pressure DW in any direction, but neither I am taking her word, or the doctors that we are wasting our time as gospel. In the end, if she chooses to give up, that's ok with me, I have a wonderful daughter. I just want to be clear in my own mind.

I think, tell her you have been doing some research and that you don't thik all is lost. hope it works out for you.

There's the option of 'natural' IVF for older women - ie they take the egg that would have popped anyway. Create health do it. It's cheaper than IVF with drugs etc. but sometimes they don't get the egg/the follicle is empty.

www.createhealth.org/

Thanks all - most helpful and encouraging. I will do some reading based on your responses and then pick a good time to mention what I've found.

OP why not ask for copies of your and DW's medical reports?