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Conception

When's the best time to get pregnant? Use our interactive ovulation calculator to work out when you're most fertile and most likely to conceive.

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Original poster

High FSH, low AMH, any success stories?

16 replies

farfallarocks · 21/07/2014 16:46

I am 34 and have just had the devastating news that my FSH is 10.9 and AMH 4.3, all indicative of reduced ovarian reserve.

We have a lovely DD who is 21 months, conceived naturally but after two early MCs so maybe I already had problems then!

Feeling so deflated and devastated at DD potentially being an only child, I am one and I hate it!

Need to convince my DH to even consider IVF but I don't think he will be keen and not sure at these levels if it is even worth it.

Any success stories out there?

OP posts:

Shroomboom · 21/07/2014 21:24

Please don't be disheartened - my FSH was 11.1 and my AMH almost non-existent at 0.2. We did do IVF and got lucky on the 5th round. Dd is 6 months old today.
I was devastated when we got our results, and thought we would never have a 2nd dc. I couldn't find any examples of anyone getting pregnant and carrying to term who had as low an AMH level as me. My doctor said to me during all our fertility treatment that the AMH is just a number, and does not define what the outcome was going to be. I believe FSH can be improved with diet etc. It might be worth researching this.
Good luck, and feel free to PM me if you'd like

Original poster

farfallarocks · 22/07/2014 11:17

A congratulations on your dd shroom, wow 5 rounds, that must have been tough, but so worth it!

I have cut out coffee and booze (Apart from a glass at the weekends) and trying to follow the Zita West plan to lower FSH. Thinking of doing acupuncture too.

Which clinic did you use if you don't mind me asking?

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BubaMarra · 22/07/2014 12:29

Your FSH and AMH do not sound bad at all. Maybe they are not ideal, but they are far from being insurmountable obstacle to even natural conception. It MAY take you longer than you would want, but a conception is not impossible.

Do you mind me asking, was there any particular reason why you had your hormones checked (I ask this as they don't seem to be routine tests).

Also, there should be a big highFSH/lowAMH community on fertility friends with many positive stories you may want to check.

Dietary changes and (high doses!) CoQ10 are beneficial for egg quality. DHEA also seem to have success with that, but you need to be under medical supervision for that.

All in all, I think it's not end of the world for you, not with those numbers :)

Shroomboom · 22/07/2014 14:53

Thanks Far Yes, it was definitely worth it! The IVF wasn't too bad at all physically, but it's the emotional roller coaster that's the tricky part.

Acupuncture sounds like a good plan, it's great! Are you drinking enough water too? I cut out caffeine for years, and only drank bottled water as our water is very hard and the pipes are old so I was worried. To be honest it's worth trying anything in the hopes it'll work! I also took DHEA as Buba suggested, although as I wasn't under medical supervision I only took the minimum amount each day as I was a bit worried.
I was thinking about your post last night, and had I had my brain more in gear I too would have said that your results aren't that bad! In fact, I would have been relieved to have got what you got, compared to what we did get

I live in Belgium, so used a clinic in Brussels for the fifth round. The other rounds were somewhere else in Belgium, but they wouldn't do what I thought they should (after researching it a LOT!) so I moved after a friend recommended it. She had twins girls through this clinic, and since dd's been born I recommended it to another friend, and she is now 10 weeks pregnant after one round with them! I don't know where you are, and whether you would consider it, but it's a clinic that has a lot of patients from overseas, and it is absolutely brilliant. We had almost given up tbh, so imo the doctors there literally made a miracle happen
If you'd like the info then let me know.

Have you spoken to your dh about IVF?

Shroomboom · 22/07/2014 14:55

Oh, I also took Co-enzyme Q10, high doses of folic acid and Royal Jelly capsules too. I rattled when I walked

Original poster

farfallarocks · 23/07/2014 09:50

Thanks bubba and shroom you are giving me hope!

bubba don't mind at all. We have been trying for 9/10 months and during a regular gynae appointment I mentioned having some basic tests done just for my reassurance really. The consultant helped me immensely first time round when I was having chemical pregnancies and found the cause of the problem (a clotting disorder) which I think enabled me to carry DD to term. I wonder if has panicked me unnecessarily, I might get a 2nd opinion.
I agree, the FSH is only slightly elevated but apparently an AMH below 5 is very poor? The consultant said he likes to see it about 20 however my own research suggests 10 is the average for my age.
You are giving me some reassurance that all may not be lost!

I had a scan yesterday and apparently my ovaries look ok in terms of AFC, 10 in total with the right ovary 'particularly enthusiastic'.

I managed to speak to DH and he was actually great and is fully on board with IVF if required. I think my plan is to get DH tested, if his swimmers are normal, carry on for a few months. If not start the ball rolling on IVF.

OP posts:

Shroomboom · 23/07/2014 16:58

10 is great far! Try not to worry too much, I think there's lots to be hopeful about
Will you let us know about any developments

Davidtennantmistress · 23/07/2014 17:00

Not sure on my amh but my fsh was 14.2 I'm now 9 weeks with no 3 after miscarriages granted but all naturally. :) there's hope.

Davidtennantmistress · 23/07/2014 17:02

Ooh yes I had 1 x royal jelly 1x wheatgrass juice 1xiron tablet 1x pregnacare to balance hormones took 2 months

Davidtennantmistress · 23/07/2014 17:05

Also see if you can get chlomid first a lot of ladies conceive on that so I've heard.

Original poster

farfallarocks · 24/07/2014 15:15

Congrats david and sorry to hear about your MCs, I know how grim it is to go from high to low so quickly! FX for a healthy baby!

shroom will keep you posted, we are going to give it 3 more months subject to DH sperm test and then go for it.

OP posts:

Davidtennantmistress · 26/07/2014 15:17

Thanks, honestly 10 really isn't that high I'd say although some doctors say you're only as good as your highest score.

Original poster

farfallarocks · 30/04/2015 13:33

I just wanted to update this thread and thanks to all those who replied when I was devastated.
My AMH went on to get even worse, less than 1.
However, after an unsuccessful IVF round (producing 2 eggs on max stims) I started taking co enzyme q10 and DHEA for 3 months and conceived naturally twice. First was a chemical pregnancy and I am now 9 weeks pregnant. Obviously very early days indeed but we have seen a heartbeat and all seems to be progressing well.

So it is possible , don't give up hope

OP posts:

Lamaitresse · 30/04/2015 21:09

Hi Far, it's Shroom here with a namechange. What wonderful news! So lovely of you to come back to update, both for those of us who've been thinking of you, and for those who may read this thread for hope in the future.
I wish you a happy & healthy rest of pregnancy, and if you get chance will you keep us posted with more updates please?!
Congratulations

Original poster

farfallarocks · 01/05/2015 09:58

Thank you, I certainly will! Thanks again for your help at what was a dark time :)

OP posts:

TTCbabyBurns · 20/01/2022 20:12

I just want to pop on and say thank you so much for updating this thread all those 7 years ago!!! I have just had my hormone results back at FSH 9.9 and AMH 6 not the best results and I have been advised to take coq10 ubiquinol and DHEA and the fact you naturally got pregnant while taking these has given me so much hope!! Ordered the supplements yesterday so giving them 4 months until moving on to IVFxx

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