High FSH

[Carty76]

Last week I was sent for bloody tests as I have had irregular periods since having my LO who is now 14 months old, plus one very odd period that was mostly very dark brown discharge. We have been TTC #2 for 2 months so GP decided to run some tests as I'm 39. Just back from Dr's now to be told that I have high FSH levels. I'd only gone to the GP as I'm currently having a really difficult time at work and experiencing awful anxiety and panic attacks. He just sort of dropped it in there and started talking about IVF not being an option.

I walked in the surgery already feeling low now I just feel devastated. I have no idea if this now means I'm unable to have another child. Anybody have experience with high FSH?

Hey Carty, sorry you're going through such a tough time. It's amazing how some gp's can be quite insensitive when it comes to talking about fertility issues and even more so, it seems, with us "older birds" (I'm 40, ttc #1). It might be worth pushing your doc for more blood tests. I've just found out that FSH should be tested on day 21 of your cycle, and that ideally it be tested for a few consecutive months to get a clear picture. Mine were low, so were are re-testing.
Have you also thought about talking to him/her about the panic attacks and anxiety. You might benefit from some counselling for it also considering the extra stress and pressure that ttc puts on you.
Good luck to you

Thank you ?? Means a lot to hear some friendly and supportive words. I was signed off today for 2 weeks to start off with for the anxiety. They are retesting on day 21 but my periods are so irregular I doubt they will get a true picture. I literally felt like walls were tumbling down when I walked out. Going back tonight with hubby to see a different dr. I have no idea how people can just throw things like that at you! And this is coming from an employee of the NHS within mental health services!! He explained nothing to me, just starting telling me that I wouldn't get IVF!!

I can't help but think the traumatic birth I had with my daughter and how ill I was afterwards is the underlying factor here. That just seems to be brushed under the carpet.

Lots of luck with your tests ??

Hi guys, sorry to interrupt, and even more sorry to contradict lovesapples- but FSH should be tested on days 1-5 of cycle. This is because if it is raised early in the cycle when the follicles are being recruited, the implication is low ovarian reserve. This is because it shows that the body is having to work harder to recruit follicles to grow because there are fewer remaining. The reason ivf isn't a good idea is because is you have fewer eggs, you will make fewer in an ivf cycle, which often relies on large egg numbers to be successful. However. This doesn't mean that it's impossible to conceive because conception relies on good egg quality, not good egg quantity.

Ah ok, I've been reading about it all day and keep on reading contradictory things which is no help whatsoever. So it's not impossible to conceive naturally?

I would say no- but it's supposedly more difficult simply because you have less eggs left. I would find out how high your number was if I were you- and also when it was tested. If it wasn't on day 1-5 of your cycle then the number is meaningless.

I'll ask when I go tonight. The difficult thing is my cycle is totally irregular I have no idea as to what is what which doesn't remotely help matters.

Just a point of caution- I don't know who you are seeing, but a lot of GPs don't understand High FSH very well. When I got my result back, my gp told me it was "fine" but luckily I knew that it wasn't fine and insisted on being refered to the fertility clinic.

ahh, thanks Chattycat...sorry, didn't mean to confuse you Carty. I'm now rather confused, too as my FSH levels were very low last time of testing and have been explicitly told to re-test on day 21 of the cycle. I'll call the docs again to check. Good luck all

Loves- you have to check progesterone levels on cd21. The cd21 test will tell you if you're ovulating- it's not this test you mean is it? Definitely not FsH levels- if your gp have told you to check FSH on cd 21, ask them what this is for. If they are checking ovarian reserve, the test must be done on day 1-5 of cycle. IF they tell you otherwise then they don't know what they are talking about (refer to my above point about Gps not understanding fertility tests). If you don't fancy taking my word for it, have a look on google or ring your local fertility clinic.

Thanks for the advice Chatty. The GP thought to check ovulation after 1st mc earlier this year. When I had the second mc just now, they said that my fsh levels were quite low at the first test and that they wanted to test blood again at day 21 of my next cycle. I'll check what they're checking. Thanks for the advice.

Loves- sorry to hear of your mc - how awful for you. Were u far along? I think if you're looking for answers relating to mc I must say that I'm not sure what help checking whether you are ovulating or what your FSH levels are would be.. I think you can get specialist tests for things like high nature killer cells and the like. But I'm guessing that you'd need a proper fertility clinic for that.