Low AMH and awful hospital experience?

[Annie105]

Hi all been TTC for 20 months now. My GP instructed bloods (fsh) and scans (trans) last summer. No issues apparently ovaries etc all good. All normal. Hubby no issues. I then got referred just prior to Christmas to the same local hospital in London for fertility treatment investigations. Then re ran all the bloods and I had another ovary scans but they couldn't locate the left due to stomach gas and also did a HSG. I went back last week for the results of HSG even though during the HSG treatment the doctor said all looks all good here no tube issues. They said to me no need to bring your partner to you appointment in Thursday. When I went back on Thursday they decided to do another my 3rd transvaginal scan to get an image of the left ovary. It turns out and contrary to my original scan in august 2014 my left ovary is so small it doesn't produce any follicles and my right only several follicles. That was bad enough but the doctor who was so unhelpful then dropped a bombshell. Apparently one of the bloods I had done was amh and it was 3.50. He said sorry we can't help you any more here you have no chance of conceiving a child perhaps try private but it's unlikely. I literally went into shock. Im 36. I wasn't expecting any of that. I hardly remember leaving there. I'm so angry with them for telling me not to bring my husband and for not helping me understand what all this means. I've been crying non stop since Thursday. Has anyone else gone through similar experiences? We can't afford private so I am devastated. X

Oh annie your post has really upset me. I'm also angered by the way you have been treated by such insensitive health professionals. I'm so sorry you had to go through this. Your post brings back some unpleasant memories. I was also told that I had low AMH. The Dr said my ovaries were behaving as though they belonged to a 40 year old! She said I was very unlikely to conceive but they would offer me only one IVF round on the NHS. Thankfully I conceived naturally the next month. DD is now 2. There is every chance you can conceive. If private treatment is not an option is there any chance of challenging the NHS decision? Look online for info re this.

We are now ttc #2 and I have started taking coenzyme q10 as it improves the quality of eggs produced. I only started taking these this cycle along with maca which is a fertility superfood. Whether any of this helps only time will tell but I would like to improve my chances.

I hope some of this helps. Good luck.

I forgot to add we were ttc for 3 years.

DizzyMerry thanks so much for responding. That has given me a little bit of hope, feel really low right now. They were so insensitive, the nurse even yawned looking straight at me and put her chin on her hand and tested it on the scanner whilst standing beside the doctor when he was telling me this news. They wouldn't write any of it down for me and said id have to come for a follow up appointment in two months time to discuss further. Awful people. I don't think I could go back there again. I'm going to take your advice and buy some of these supplements. It can't hurt to try! I just hope I fall lucky like you xxx

Ps good luck with your second time around xx

Thanks Annie. I remember that blow and the way I felt afterwards. I cried and cried after I was diagnosed with low progesterone and then after this I thought there was no hope. I also have endometriosis and had to have two laparoscopies. I know exactly how you are feeling right now as I have been through it but the treatment you got is out of order. I think some people are in the wrong professions and these two certainly lack any form of compassion. Makes my blood boil.

I know it's hard but try to keep positive, you will get there. It only takes one good quality egg. You have nothing to lose my trying the supplements but just bear in mind that it can take up to 3 months for these to have an effect.

Ps I am on the 'Bumsnet' conception bus. Join us if you like as there are ladies there who are very knowledgeable and we are all going through the ttc journey. Hope to see you there

Hi Annie, I just wanted to say I'm sorry you were treated so badly and insensitively. I understand how you feel, when I was given similar news, I was devastated.

I was told I had very low AMH at the age of 33 and was unlikely to conceive naturally. We began preparing for ivf privately, as despite ttc for 2 years, we were stuck on a long nhs waiting list and I was aware they may not treat me due to my low AMH. I also started taking co enzyme q10 to improve egg quality which was recommended by my fertility clinic in large doses to improve my egg quality.

The month we were due to start ivf, I got my BFP. We were in shock as we truly thought it would never happen naturally. Sadly I miscarried that time, but I fell pregnant again the next month and am now 12 weeks pregnant. Still v early days. But I am hopeful. I wanted to post so you have some hope that it can happen with low AMH.

I guess like the PP I wanted to say, do not give up hope. It really does only take one egg to conceive. Look into various supplements, there is load of info on the forums on a website called fertility friends which has whole threads dedicated to people with low AMH. I found these so interesting to read and get advice. Might be worth looking on there. From what I read, an AMH of around 3 does not mean it's impossible so take heart from that.

Oh Annie I'm so sorry you're going through this. I remember so clearly having similar news delivered to us in a terrible way and being so completely and utterly blindsided. I don't think I'll ever get over you shock and devestation of walking into that room thinking "oh they'll probably just give me some clomid", to walking out thinking we were never going to have children. I had low ovarian reserve/ was thought to be peri menopausal at 27 and my husbands count and motility were rock bottom.
Do you know what your FSH number is? Do you have regular cycles? I would push very, very hard for a second opinion. We ended up getting one as we moved areas, and the new consultant was totally non plussed by my numbers. We ended up with a BFP (having collected 10 eggs) from first cycle of ICSI.
I just want you to know there is hope.

Hello, sorry to hear you are having a rough time. You can still have success with an AMH of that level, my nhs clinic lets you cycle if it's over 2, mine was 2.2, it's when your FSH goes up things get a little tricky. We moved to donor eggs once my FSH shot up. Private clinics let you be more flexible with levels but I wouldn't think an nhs clinic would refuse 3.5? I often found most of the info I got over the years was from my own research, I got bad news with my partner there and without, and often just by post. It gets easier once the shock wears off I promise

I took the weekend off the web as was obsessively googling! It's so lovely to come back to more experienced and kind replies.

Dizzy totally agree. To be in that profession should mean you are committed to being as kind yet honest as you can be, not blunt, hard and unwilling to answer questions.

Genni that's wonderful news. Really heartening, I've got to keep PMA and hearing how even when it's poor there still a chance. I hope it all goes smoothly for you right up to due date! I've gone out and bought all the supplements you have mentioned plus royal jelly capsules and maca!

Little talks yup exactly like you. I was so relaxed then boom!!! However what an amazing outcome for you another positive one!! My cycle is 28 /29 days. It's bang on and my FSH is 4.8 u/l. I've no other other symptoms although I've been vitamin d low so on supplants for that. My thyroid is a little toward low but not enough to be a problem.. According to my GP anyway. I'm 100 per cent going elsewhere now for second opinions and an informed answer session. I phoned my hospital clinic 12 times today to request an earlier appt.. But no one answers of returns calls so I'm
Going go pay private.

Lauren yes you are right the shock has worn off now and I'm just wanting to now focus on getting answers a second opinion and get as healthy as I can.. Even though I am doing all I can! My nhs say you need a level of 5 I order to cycle. We can't afford to go private so it's devastating to know we won't have that option if all else fails naturally.

Thank you all once again so kind xxx

What was your tsh (as my clinic wanted under 2.5)
Our upsetting news was low count and that was also a huge surprise.
Our 2 private cycles only cost £10k (though i didnt need much stims)
It certainly seems strange your scans were so different. The number of follicles on scan can vary.
(One cycle i only had 3 eggs growing - all other cycles i had too many due to pcos)