problem with my FSH Levels? - I dont understand!

[Sassy2131]

I am 22yrs old and have been told since age 13 I am "highly unlikely to conceive naturally"
at age 15 ish - (cant really remember being so young at the time and not fully understanding the importance of these tests)
I went for scans and blood tests to see if I could have my eggs frozen on the NHS! - eventually I was told my FSH levels were too high for them to try getting any eggs out of me?
I have no idea what this means - does it mean I am not producing any eggs or does it mean it wasnt generally the right time to be trying to get eggs from me?
all my reports say are "unable to conceive naturally" - and do not explain anything about why they couldnt take eggs from me.
please can someone explain simply what this might mean?
all I have been told for conceiving in the future is "IVF may be an option but to explore that when I actually want and am ready to have children of my own" - but I am worried it may be too late when I actually am in a position to begin IVF treatment, as in when I have a secure job etc before even thinking of bringing a child up too.
(doctors have only told me IVF looks like the only option for conceiving naturally, but we havent even checked my partner's stuff to see if he is ok!)

Hi Sassy I'm not an expert in any of this but I am about to start IVF so I know a tiny bit about FSH levels in relation to egg stimulation. My understanding is that if you produce a lot of FSH naturally, it's harder for them to stimulate the maturation of multiple eggs which you need for IVF. It could also indicate a low ovarian reserve which again makes it harder to coax enough to grow to make IVF viable.

Do you know what your FSH levels were? They should definitely test them again though as they can change quite regularly.

no, cant remember what the levels were - I shall have to find my report out from wherever it has been hidden.

and also - because of my condition - I am now on HRT (at 22yrs old, and have been since I was 15yrs!)
I was wondering if you can still have "bleeding" or periods while taking HRT?
doctors say you shouldnt be bleeding but I am every month now, so thats making me wonder.
and can you still conceive while taking HRT?

just lots of questions - I have asked the doctor all this, but it seems like they are avoiding the questions. - all I seem to get out of them when I ask is "it's better to discuss this when I am ready to start trying to have a family"

FSH is the hormone you normally produce to tell the ovaries to get an egg ready for release (ovulation). As you get older you would normally produce more FSH as your ovaries need more and more of it to trigger the egg maturation process. It is usually used as a marker of how close a woman is to menopause. A high FSH level indicates that the ovaries need greater stimulation to produce an egg. Eventually they wont respond to FSH at all and will stop producing eggs at all.

WRT the HRT you are, it depends what kind of HRT regime you are on. If you are on a regime that gives you Estrogen for the first 14 days (or thereabouts) then Progesterone for the 2nd 14 days then yes you will bleed as estrogen will build up your uterine lining and the progesterone will sustain it until you switch back to the estrogen and so on and so on. It really depends on the regime you are on.

If i was you i would insist on a referral to the fertility/GYN clinic and speak to an expert about it. If your FSH levels are really high then it may be a very good idea for you to seriously consider freezing eggs now rather than wait until you are actually ready to conceive. It may be by then that your ovaries are completely resistant to FSH and so unable to produce any eggs.

If you are in London and can possibly afford a private consultation, i can thoroughly recommend Raj Rai at St Mary's hospital in Paddington. The man is amazing and after 3 miscarriages is the only reason my DD survived to birth. He has an NHS practice too at Hammersmith.

I have already gone to see if I can have my eggs frozen, thats when they told me my FSH levels were too high for it to even work.
and the HRT thing makes more sense now!
thanks,