OLDER WOEM AND RAISED FSH .......CHANCES OF PREGNANCY?

[jeddah]

Hi

just had my appointment with my fertility consultant and has refused to consider me for IVF as I am 43 and had 3 miscarriages in the last 18 months. However, I also have a raised FSH level of 10.2 (age related he said)

Basically he said the best thing we can do is try ourselves and hope it happens!

Has anyone has a FSH level like mine and got pregnant???????

I JUST NEED SOMETHING POSITIVE TO KEEP ME GOING!

Hi Jeddah

Have you found mothers35plus.co.uk yet? I think that it's a lovely supportive forum - I found it when having ds1 when I was 38.

There are general discussion boards, but the main topics do tend to focus on conception and the early months. I left when mine got a little older and came here! (Not suggesting that you have to do one or the other - you can be on both) They do charge - I think £5 per year - which they introduced a while ago - but you can browse for free and you would probably find a number of people who could answer your question.

We had a few mothers ttc who were 45 plus, so you wouldn't be the oldest.

Best of luck to you.

My level was 10.9 when it was first tested and then when I went for DI a few months later, it had dropped to 8.6. I have no idea why it dropped but I'm now 35 weeks pregnant after a miscarriage last year.

If it had stayed high, they would have given me FSH/ hMG injections rather than clomid to stimulate my ovaries.

So - not all clinics have the same rules regarding FSH levels. Would you consider going elsewhere?

I'm 43 too

thanks so much girls!!!!!1

sazzybee......oh my god you are 43 too!!!!!! this is just fantastic... I just feel like I have no hope left. Yes we are going for a second opinion ...private!

notsoquitetiredmum......thank you so much for the site info! will give it a try.

but will also start an older site here to see what happens.

sazzybee....what is a DI?

sazzybee....hope yo dont mind all the questions... but I am so thrilled to find someone also 43 and pregnant!

Were you going to recieve FSH because your FSH was high?????

Glad to be able to give you some hope

I have to say thought that they were amazed when I conceived first time. So was I though

DI - donor insemination. I don't have a partner so that's why I did it. I don't know how that affected the outcome - it is super sperm so I guess it must help but if you're going for IVF it will have less of an impact I'd imagine.

I've just had a look at my notes - when I tested 10.9, they recommended Puregon injections which as far as I can remember stimulates the ovaries directly and is FSH/hMG (whatever that means - you might have to google).

When they tested me the next time my FSH levels had dropped so much I just took Clomid tablets.

There was about 4 months between the two FSH level tests and in between I stopped drinking, smoking and seriously improved my diet. Not sure if all that helped but I just wanted you to know that FSH levels aren't constant - I was amazed there was such variation.

Good luck I'm happy to answer any more questions. I feel so lucky

god sazzybee......! I am so so pleased for you!

was all this treatment/investigations....within the NHS or private?

All private. The NHS wouldn't treat me because I'm too old.

Thanks sazzybee1

Jeddah

10.2 is not high as such. It just means that your ovaries may be more difficult to stimulate if you were given stimulation drugs. In fact I'd say that 10.2 is good for your age! As one of the other posters commented, FSH can fluctuate month by month.

I'd get a second opinion if I were you. Where abouts in the country are you? the Lister aren't hung up on FSH like some other clinics. ARGC require it to be 10 or less and the ACU at UCH 12 or less.

I think the fact that you've gotten pg 3 times is really positive. I know the m/c must have been heartbreaking. (Have you had blood clotting panel done for the m/c?) It's all about getting the chromosomally normal egg and you will have some.

If I were you I'd keep going for it naturally and seek out a second opinion as well as there are a range of assisted techniques that may help.

My fsh was 10.2 on the first test and then 10.9 on the second test. The way I understand it is that the levels can bounce around but they consider you only as good as your highest fsh level - so 10.9 in my case. I seemed to get a different reaction to the one you have got, though.

I am 35 and was told that these are not the levels of a 35 year old. We were told that this was probably the reason we had not conceived successfully in over a year (one m/c and one chemical pregnancy) and we had 5-10% of achieving pregnancy naturally, despite the fact that I was ovulating. So the recommended course for us was IUI whilst taking Chlomid, and not to waste any time. I was devastated and felt like an OAP coming out of that appointment.
However, 4 days after hearing this we did find out I was pregnant, so I am deeply, deeply thankful that we have not had to have the treatment (although I am only 6 weeks now).

I think a second opinion might be a good idea. I was at the Barts clinic and they didn't seem worried about me going on to IVF with my fsh levels.

Good luck and I am sorry to hear about your miscarriages.

Duex..... thanks so much for being so positive! I am in North Yorkshire.

Rubles...oh my god I am so so pleased for you........keep postive!

Hi Jeddah. I think we have spoken before on a ttc thread as I had been trying since about 3yrs ago. I have 2 children already who were easily conceived aged 37 and 38 and then tried again for no.3. After 5mths of trying got preg but had m/c at 7wks. Kept trying and nothing. Was referred to ACU at UCH and started treatment of clomid last Feb when I was 41. My FSH levels measured 7.2 when tested initially. Had once cycle of clomid and miscarried, 3 further cycles of clomid but no pregnancy. In August had FSH tested and it measured 10.2 and started Menopur injections. In Sept I was 42 and a week later found out I was preg. Was preg with triplets, had one reduced, so am now preg with twins, almost 24weeks now. I was told by an ob friend that the FSH levels fluctuate and if I had them measured each month, the average for the year would be my level. Why not try super ovulation before IVF?

bump so Jeddah sees it.

Jeddah please don't give up hope. After 2 mcs i had my FSh measured. teh first reading was 17, then 2 months lateer 13. teh consultant i saw basically said I had minimal chances of falling pg & higher risk of mc if I did.
i cahnged my diet, had acupuncture & basically gave up............. but got pg & had dd at 41.
stay postive - as teh others say 10 isn't that high - my ocnslutnat said that it was over 10 that was the problem.
good luck

Hi Jeddah fear not you are not the oldest (starting to think that I am! Im 44 nearly 45 and TTC 1st ).
Like all the other posts my consultant also says the FSH levels of us older women do jump around a bit and they just have to hit on the right month. Im about to start IVF after a round of IUI. They will test at the start of AF and if FSH is too high we just wait til next month - its a private clinic (cos too old for NHS)recommended by NHS. The clinic likes below 10 but are happy to work within that band with women over 40 cos they understand us! how cool is that .

Forgot to say that I gave up caffeine, alcohol and did reflexology and acupuncuture. Wanted to give it my best shot.

god girls!...there is hope afterall!

I start my accupuncture tomorrow and I have decided to go back to the consultant to discuss further all that you have saud... we are also going private at the same time to get a second opinion!

god.....all these positive stories... have just filled me back with motivation and hope!!!!!!!
For this I really do thank you!

just reading this and wanted to ask bodenbetty and sazzybee what improvements they made to their diet.

I have been doing acupuncture for a couple of years. have been ttc for 3 years. completely changed my diet about 4 months ago....no meat or dairy products plenty of fish fruit and veg particularly juiced. Only downside is have lost weight which was not the intention so am sort of back on the dairy (milk only). Also taking supplements to make sure gettig right vitamins & mineral

I would be very interested in hearing your diet advice and also how you felt in general while on the diet.

I am 38 (39 soon) and basically been written off with a 1-5% chance of conceiving as my fsh has been consistently elevated since april 2005 when I was first tested. Has stayed around 13 but once went up to 20 (am convinced was down to the chlomid I had been taking 3 months prior to testing).

Am trying to stay positive but can't help feeling that the outlook regarding a 2nd child looks bleak. have had 3 failed IUI and clinic wouldn't do IVF due to high Fsh.

dizzy36......please please don't despair.....IT WILL HAPPEN.

The dietary advice we were given was to eat plenty of 'super foods' We juiced everyday and after changing our diet and taking suppliments we got pregnant (3 times!!!)

thank you so much jeddah

what are 'super foods' and did you cut anything in particular out such as dairy (alcohol and caffeine are obvious ones)

Also, what kind of juices did you do. I tend to have just carrot,apple or celery, mainly because can't think of anything else to put in!

Any ideas you could throw my way would be much appreicated

also, to those who changed their diets, how long did it take you to get pregnant once you'd made the changes. and did you notice any changes in yourself and your cycle. For instance I have noticed a definite change (for the better) in my AF, but still get pms symptoms sometimes straight after ovulation....sore boobs, irritable and muscle cramps. Only started getting pms signs about 18 months ago so was hoping these going away would mean my body might be back to its old self.

DIZZY36... the super foods are the antitoxin foods such as all the berry fruits and lots more put super foods in your search engine and it will come up with it all.

Juices.... buy the Innocent juices as your base and add juiced berries such as strawberries, raspberries and blueberries.

There are some good books around... I have just bought Natural Solutions to Infertility by Marilyn Glenville.... she also has a website. I got the book off ebay for £3!..... really good on what suppliments to take!

GOOD LUCK.... we changed our diet in the march and got pregnant in the July!