What does high fsh mean ?

[Littlemissnutmeg]

Hi there. My husband and i have been trying to conceive for 2 years with no luck. Recently i had some hormone blood tests, routine ones came back clear. I had an appointment with my doctor today who told me i have a high fsh and then advised me i should be on HRT. I heard the word HRT and sort of panicked and didn't take anything she said in really. She said something about being high fsh and borderline. Any suggestions please ?

[Littlemissnutmeg]

I'm thinking of doing a Natural IVF cycle. The clinic i spoke to recently won't give me any drugs as it's unlikely i will respond with a high FSH, 20.5. Don't know what my AMH is, not good i'm guessing.

[Shellster52]

You ask what made me do the test at 34 Chatycat78. Basically I had been trying to conceive unsuccessfully and my cycles were always irregular so I was convinced that it was a problem on my part and got referred to a reproductive clinic. The doctor then did a few of blood tests, with the AMH being one of them. I am in Australia so my system might be different to where you are.

Also to answer your other question about diet. I am doing a high protein low carb diet... well, trying! 1st IVF my embryo disintegrated before day 2. I then read a study where women who had poor IVF results were put on a high protein (>25% daily intake) low carb (less than 40% daily intake) diet for three months and their next IVF showed improved results. Since then, I always have a protein shake for breakfast. Second IVF my embryo's made it to day two transfer but poor quality. Getting fed up, I then went all out and even though I was vegetarian since age 14, I am now eating 1-2 tins of tuna for lunch every day on top of the breaky protein shake. 3rd IVF, I had a great embryo but it didn't implant (blaming the hospital having a trainee do the transfer who had no idea!).

So basically I have seen a gradual improvement with each of my IVF's which gives me a bit of hope to continue. I can post up the links to the websites showing the studies if you like. Although then you hear many storries like Teds posted above that she great before 1st IVF but it failed. Was then naughty and 2nd IVF worked!

[Lauren83]

If anyone is cycling private I have loads of spare meds to donate, could save someone £1,500 if that's the protocol they are on

I got my full drugs but my cycle was cancelled so never used them

Admin if I'm not allowed this post please tell me and I will remove, I'm not trying to sell them just donate them

Lauren x

[Lauren83]

Thanks girls that's really nice to hear, and congrats on the success stories!

I had short ICSI in Sept, got 4 eggs, all mature, all fertilised and were 8,9,9,10 cell on day 8

Its mad how I managed that in sept now its all over, I have accepted the DE news and have a sense of relief now I won't be worrying about the numbers game and cancelled cycles

Lauren x

[Chattycat78]

Hi girls,

Does anyone have tips about diet building up to IVF? I m already taking so many supplements I rattle (co enzyme, wheatgrass, zita west vitamins, frolic acid, vit b6, agnus castus). It's also very hard to completely change diet when you're working full time and don't really have the time!

Shellster- can I ask, what Made u do the tests at 34? I went last July initially when we had only been ttc for 3 months and I actually conceived the next month but had a mc. In a way I,m sorry now that I opened this cans of worms because now I feel like its never going to happen. Practically everyone I know is also currently pregnant or already had a baby, so I m finding all the baby talk/pregnancy talk hard to handle. How do u cope?

Teds thanks for providing some hope!

[Teds77]

Oh and was uber healthy and took loads of supplements from about 6 months before first go. Had a 'naughty' month after failed cycle and as second cycle started sooner than thought was probably not quite as 'healthy' second time around if that makes sense!

[Teds77]

First time was standard long protocol - sniffed the down regs (can't remember drug but think you can only sniff one?) then 400 (ml??) gonal f. Second time was again long protocol but started with very slow down reg - two weeks on pill then injected tiny doses of down reg drugs (theory being injecting allows you to control that tiny dose) and then think it was 300ml and it was definitely Menopur. It could have been the different drugs but lister consultant made case that with such low yields it was impossible to make judgements about the quality of my eggs. You need to see 10-20 eggs before you can start to so that so I could have plenty of 'good' eggs it may just be that I have less eggs. If the second go had failed I think they would have tried a short protocol. There was someone on a thread with me at the time with very similar situation to me and her successful third cycle was with a short protocol I think. Hope that helps.

[Shellster52]

Teds77, sorry to bug you when I know you have your hands full, but I too have low AMH, hubby has abnormal sperm and I only produce very few eggs with IVF. So I am very interested to know if you did a different protocol the second IVF to get better quality embryo's and what protocol you used? What drugs did you take and what dose? And did you personally do anything different for round two to produce better embryos such as diet or supplements? Or was it just luck that second round worked better?

I am waiting to commence round four and while I have seen gradual improvement in embryo quality each time, it's getting pretty tiring. I know what worked for you might not work for me and IVF is not an exact science, but would love to know the answer to these questions if you have a couple of minutes.

[Teds77]

I was short on detail yesterday - apologies. My DH has v v low count so ICSI was our only option. We did two cycles, both produced only three eggs and only two embryos each time. First time awful quality (seems to confirm poor quality eggs etc) second time 'perfect' embryos that became our gorgeous twins. Lister clinic always very positive they would get us pregnant (1st round was our NHS go at Guys).

[Shellster52]

To answer your question Chatty78, I had an AMH of 2.5 at 34. I am now 36 with 3 unsuccessful IVF cycles under my belt. Planning IVF again for cycle after next and this time adding Viagra to thicken lining in hope this makes the difference. I don't get many eggs and hubby has 100% abnormal sperm morphology to top it off. That's my story in a nutshell. Happy to give any more details if you would like to know as you embark on your IVF journey - just trying to keep it short as I could write a novel if I gave all the details.

PS - I second your thoughts on admiring Lauren for her attitude and battling all this at such a young age and agree IT'S NOT FAIR.

[Happiestinwellybobs]

There is always hope. With a FSH of 25 and AMH of 0.7 at 32, I have still gone on to be a mum of the most amazing little girl.

I may have gone down a totally different route from what I planned, having always just thought I would give birth one day, but adoption was obviously meant to be for us. If we hadn't considered adoption, then we wouldn't have DD and I can't begin to imagine that.

Different journey...but so worth it.

[Chattycat78]

Hi guys! Thanks for the welcome. it means a lot to talk to people in a similar boat. we are trying naturally but we re signed up for IVF after my next period in about 5 weeks time. If that doesn't work we ll be looking at paying for private treatment. BTW I hear that natural cycle IVF could be good for people like us. Might be worth considering.

Shellster- what's your situation?

Lauren- can I just say you seem very level headed about all this and I admire you, especially hsving to deal with this at just 30. Life is very unfair is it it? i have really struggled in the last few months with all of this. when will u find out about your donor funding?

Teds - did u do your successful IVf with the Lister clinic? I have looked at them already and might contact them in the future if we don,t get anywhere with the Nhs cycle.

Also one final hope story for all. my best friend received a similar diagnosis to me almost a year ago. However, she got her bfp just before starting IVF. So there is always hope xxxx hugs to everyone xxx

[Shellster52]

Hi Chattycat78. Nice to meet a few ladies on mumsnet who also have the low AMH/high FSH diagnosis. Are you still trying naturally or in the process of starting to get some medical assistance?

So you got a recent FSH test too Lauren. I get my result next week too. We may have to bring out the tissues together. I really need to have a good number to give me the motivation to continue as I head into another IVF but after reading of so many women on here younger than me with high FSH's, I am feeling like I am over the hill and it will be high.

[Lauren83]

Hi Chattycat!

Congrats Mooney :)

I took most of those supplements and more and my situation still got worse, glad I tried at least though

Be interested to see what mine comes back at next week, getting my thyroid checked too

Lauren xx

[Chattycat78]

Hi girls,

Please can I join? I have high fsh of 12 and amh of 2.76. I just turned 35 and my husband and I have been Ttc for a year now with one miscarriage to show for it so far. I too have been devastated by the diagnosis and scared of what the future holds. all our friends it seems are also currently pregnsnt or have babies which makes things a lot harder. sorry to hear some of your stories but at Least we can share experiences on here. if it helps anyone I ve been doing acupuncture for a few months now and I believe it can help. It's good to hear some of the success stories too. Keep them coming!

[Mooney1]

Hi I was advised by dr about 3 years ago when I was 33 that I had a high FSH of 18, I had been TTC for over a year with no luck so once I understood what the implications were I was devastated. However I did lots of research, which resulted in me taking a whole concoction of vitamins, reflexology, acupuncture and cutting down on work stress. I had been referred to hospital for further rests but never had to go in the end as got my BFP, whose now a lively 16 month year old

This is what I did;

Grapefruit juice and wheatgrass daily
Angus Castus
Vit B6
Evening Primrose Oil (before ov)
Iron tablets
Pre natal vit
Pineapple juice and wheatgrass post ov
Cough medicine around ov

Weekly acupuncture and monthly reflexology. I was also quite a big drinker so cut back.

I'm now TTC again it's been 6 months and nothing's happened. I'm planning to get my FSH retested and start my healthy regime again next cycle, with the hope it works again, we shall see!

[Lauren83]

My FSH was 19 then 23 the month after, I'm getting it retested next week, last year it was 8 when my AMH was 2 so dread to think what my AMH is now

Congrats Teds lovely to hear stories like that

If we would afford it I would absolutely try again with own eggs but I need to use my NHS funded cycles to try again and they touch me now x

[Littlemissnutmeg]

Thank you Teds and Congratulations on your twins! Being 37, fast approaching 38 i realise i do need to act swiftly if i'm going to pursue IVF x

[Teds77]

Sorry to be short and sweet - I have hands full of twins. My Fsh was as high as 17 and my AMH just under 2 but I had success with ivf aged 33. I know I was lucky but it is worth investigating places like the Lister in London who specialise in treating older ladies or those of us whose ovaries are a bit more wrinkly than they should be. I know Ivf isn't for everyone and don't want to get people's hopes up unfairly, but I don't think I'm the only person who has had success x.

[Littlemissnutmeg]

I have noticed this too, i never feel as 'sexy' as i used to.

[Happiestinwellybobs]

I'm having night sweats, and then waking most nights feeling like I'm going to spontaneously combust.

My skin has changed. My periods have gone from regular (lasting 5 days with one heavy day). This one is a week late, last one lasted 10 days and the one before only lasted 3, but was so heavy I flooded :(

Oh and my libido is non-existent, which is the worst thing of all and causing massive problems for my relationship.

[Littlemissnutmeg]

What sort of menopause symptoms are you having if you don't mind me asking ? I'm having irregular periods, which i had put down to stress and also night sweats some nights. I thought 37 was way too young for menopause, but after reading yours and Lauren's posts it would seem not. Iv'e been reading about natural IVF but then i suppose as i'm in menopause there would be little point in pursuing it.

[Happiestinwellybobs]

My FSH levels were 25 - 4 years ago when I was 32. I was told that was it and there was no reason to pursue IVF. That being said the levels had been consistently high, over the months I had been tested and just got higher.

I've stuck my head in the sand about menopause - until the last few months when all the symptoms have hit me at once it seems.

[Littlemissnutmeg]

Oh Lauren, i do feel for you. Do you know when you will have a reply then ? I don't think donor egg treatment would be the thing for me. If i didn't have children though and was in your situation then i'm sure i would most definately go ahead with it. At the end of the day, i guess the way you have to look at it, it is just an egg. It's fertilised by your partner's sperm and your body will nourish and nurture that little embryo and grow for nine months inside you. It will be your baby. I'm going to book another doctor appt for the start of my next period, although this will be tricky as my periods are irregular. Iv'e been reading that it's best to take hormone blood a month apart to confirm a menopause diagnosis. Iv'e been googling the past couple of days on fsh levels and IVF. They all seem to come up with the same thing, fsh levels over 15 are bad and IVF won't work using own eggs. Mine was 19 so i guess that counts me out xx

[Lauren83]

Thank you I appreciate your kind words. Yes it is, the CCG have acknowledged my request for Donor egg treatment and a private clinic with an unknown donor so just got to wait now for a reply with a decision, so nervous

Are you thinking of going down the ivf route?

Lauren xx