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 ?

[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]

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]

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.

[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!

[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!

[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

[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

[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!

[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.