High FSH, low AMH - is it worth going through IVF..

[SAH86]

Hello there,
Has anyone with high FSH and low AMH ever had an indication of success rates of IVF? It feels like I'm just being put through to IVF by the private clinic I am with yet have not been given an idea of good (or bad) the success rates are - what I know from the research I have done myself is that the chances are very low. My last FSH level was 15.8 iu/L (previously was 22.5) and the last AMH test showed 2.1 pmol/l. I recently had my AFC test which is 8 - the only response I was given from the clinic was that 'this is still low but better than zero...?!' not sure what to make of the information they have given me so far. Anybody been in the same boat who can share any experiences? I don't want to go through the whole process of IVF if success rates are less than 5% which seems to be the case from the online studies I have read. Thanks.

Hi @SAH86
I’m in a similar position with AFC 5 and AMH 2.4. Doctors have said I may not have as good a reaction to the IVF stims as someone with a higher AMH but also haven’t given me odds... I’ve found some positive stories on here tho of success!
The lister has a pregnancy calculator on their site which gives some odds based on their actual patients - ranging from 25-100% success based on AMH and number of cycles of IVF the patient has had. I think low AmH reduces the odds of success, but in general IVF seems like a gamble for many people. Feel free to message if you want to chat! X

Hi,
FSH 15 and AMH 6, AFC of 7 over here - currently 15 weeks pregnant with baby from first round of IVF.
Quality over quantity! Only got 4 eggs - all fertilised, all grew, two transferred on Day 3 and now baby girl is growing perfectly.
Try not to listen to statistics - I was given a 20% chance of success maximum. Take your age, health etc into account more id say.
Happy to chat about my protocol if you need x

Also check out @winging_twinning on Instagram if you can. Her AMH was 2.5 and she had IVF twin boys from her only two eggs collected. Just over a year later she had a natural pregnancy and had her daughter. Definitely worth a follow x

Hey @DrearyBarlow congratulations, hope it all goes well :) thanks for the tip.
@Beckybee83 thanks I'll try the calculator. Are you going ahead with IVF?x

@SAH86 My numbers were similar to yours, slightly worse (I think my FSH was around 18). AFC was 6.

I was advised by our clinic the best chance of success was to use donor eggs as I was not expected to produced many decent eggs at egg collection.

We ended up doing 5 rounds of DE IVF (1 on NHS and 4 in Spain), all failed and we didn't have a whiff of a BFP.

We were told to stop trying and began looking at adoption. This year I found out I was pregnant naturally and am currently 30 weeks pregnant!

Happy to answer any questions you might have - good luck x

Age 41, last year AMH was 1.1, AFC 4, high FSH. Initial tests showed mild hypothyroidism, so they put me on levo. It took 2 or 3 months to get TSH under 2.5.

I've fallen pregnant twice naturally since, first cycle each time. Rollercoaster two years!

I followed 2ed It Starts with the Egg.

oh, the fertility clinic where we had the tests didn't recommend IVF, they were more concerned with thyroid issues.

@SAH86 yes we will try as I think I’m perimenopausal (mum had early menopause) so it feels like the last chance saloon! I had my last miscarriage in October and since my cycles/ovulation have been a bit erratic so TTC naturally isn’t happening. Doctor has been really positive and hasn’t discouraged us at all, but I’m on the fence whether it’ll actually work. Is your AMH the reason you’re opting for IVF?

@Livingmagicallyagain yes It Starts with the Egg has been great! Did you take DHEA?
@jemimafuddleduck how old were you when you had your AMH test, if you don’t mind me asking?

@SAH86 I did before most recent pregnancy. 50mg daily, so two tablets. Good luck! But, as I said, it was my thyroid so ensure your TSH is comfortably and consistently under 2.5.

@Livingmagicallyagain could I ask where you got the DHEA? Have ordered from USA but no sign as yet!

@Beckybee83 Biovea website! Arrived quickly!

How old are you? That is likely that o be the biggest factor. My amh was 1.44 but I had two babies out of 4 rounds and never harvested more than 6 eggs. I was early 30s both times so quality of eggs was good. It's definitely a case of quality over quantity.

@Beckybee83 I was 32 x

so happy to hear this! I am 40 with amh 3.8 and fsh at 10. just went through 3 cycles of egg batching and ended up with 9 embryos. all failed after genetic testing. now was told best chance with donated egg at 65%. so heart breaking. I have cried every day since got the news 2 weeks ago. x

@DrearyBarlow were your odds of success low due to your AMH?
I’m a bit worried my age is against me in this (37) and I’ve had 2 miscarriages in last 18 months, indicating egg quality isn’t great... but I don’t want to regret not trying everything later on - not sure how sensible it is tho- IVF is expensive 😬
@Farangees2020
I’m so sorry to hear of your experience 😞 how are you? Would you consider trying ivf again and not testing? X

@Beckybee83 Yes they were low due to our length of trying to conceive and my AMH. I also had a miscarriage before going for IVF.
We had a plan that we’d do two rounds of own egg IVF and then go to Donor Eggs abroad. Luckily, we only needed one round of IVF for this one. Sibling will most likely be a much harder road.
I’d say speak to a consultant - they will tell you if it’s worth it or not. Mine said to give it a go for a round and see what happened. He had been doing it for 30 years so I trusted his judgement.

@DrearyBarlow that’s fantastic you were successful on round one 😊 How old are you if you don’t mind me asking?
We are at a Care clinic which seems really good, but they haven’t really talked about my odds of success (aside from saying that Ivf is only about 35% successful) did you go to a clinic that specialises in low Amh patients? X

I’m 29, almost 30 - ovaries of a 43 year old though!
No we picked them based on their success rates and the length of time the consultant had been practising. I also spent three months preparing my body and mind for IVF which I believe helped enormously - Zita West IVF diet, zero BPA/nail polish/paraben free everything, lymphatic massage for hormone balance (I’m peri menopausal so hormones are up and down), therapy, zero alcohol or caffeine, fresh juicing daily and DHEA/Zita West Vitamins/Melatonin. It was full on for a while but worth it obviously!

Thanks @Beckybee83! The treatment so far cost us 30k and taxes to pay in January so I have no money :( but Im considering Chinese medicine for the next few months (they promise an increase in AMH with herbal remedies) If no luck may try IVF again but will always go for genetic testing. Xx