High FSH, low estrogen...

[hopefulgum]

Hi. I?ve recently had a diagnosis of high FSH and wondered if anyone has some suggestions about how I might improve this, and my chances of getting pregnant with my result.

I?ll give you some background:

I?m 44. I had my last baby at almost 42, after 7 months of trying after a vasectomy reversal. My husband and I have never had trouble conceiving the previous 4 pregnancies.

In the last 12 months I have miscarried twice ? in December 2010, at 9 weeks. My baby boy had trisomy13. In June I miscarried again, at 9 weeks. This time there were no obvious chromosomal defects ( the test ruled out trisomy 21, 13 and 18, but it could have been another one).

After the second miscarriage my doctor ran some blood tests ( I am in Australia). She found I was a little low on vitamin D, and my DHEA was 3.7 umol/L (normal is 1.0 ? 7.0), and testosterone was on the low side : 0.3 (normal is 0.3 ? 1.8 nmol/L).

My FSH was 2, LH 1, Oestradiol 210 pmol/L (normal is 200 ? 800), progesterone 35 nmol/L (normal is more than 11). Test was done 25 days after the miscarriage. It took 70 days before I had a bleed.

Since then my period has been extremely light ? less than 3 days and not much more than spotting. So I had day 3 blood tests recently, and they came back:

FSh : 11, LH 5, Oestradiol less than 100 ( which is considered peri-menopausal), progesterone 1.

My doctor said with the FSH this high and the estrogen so low, I?m not ovulating, so can?t get pregnant. However, I have been charting and have had a positive opk the last three cycles, and an obvious temperature rise, with a 13 ? 14 day LP.

I would love to hear what others think. Am I still ovulating? Is it impossible to get pregnant with these numbers? Is there something I can do to improve my estrogen and FSH numbers?

I started taking DHEA (25mg) this cycle. I also take nettle capsules (I found the infusions too strong, and gagged on them). I also take maca, royal jelly Co q 10 and aspirin.

I have acupuncture, and my practioner thinks I am probably just readjusting after the miscarriages, and that it may take about 6 months to get back on track. I?m so worried that it is all over for me. I really did hope to have one last baby.

Sorry for the long post.

Forgot to say : Donor eggs and IVF is not an option for me.

I'm no medical expert and hopefully someone who has had these tests themselves will be along soon.
I'm afraid it does rather sound like your age is the issue though, and complementary supplements won't change that. Unfortunately the statistics of getting and staying pregnant at that age are not at all reassuring. Obviously plenty of women do manage it, but if you don't have viable eggs anymore then it isn't going to happen.
Obviously you must have been ovulating recently or still be ovulating now as you have recently been pregnant twice. if you keep trying you might hit on a good egg but you would unfortunately have to be prepared to take a 50/50 chance on another miscarriage. I don't think acupuncture etc can change the quality of your eggs but lots of people find it helpful when ttc so if you enjoy it then stick with it.

I'm sorry about your miscarriages and hope that if you decide to keep trying, the next one will be a sticky one.