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Infertility

Our Infertility Support forum is a space to connect with others in the same position, discuss causes, treatment and IVF, and share infertility stories of hope and success.

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Original poster

Natural Cycle IVF after 5 rounds of IVF

24 replies

Lillylooks · 18/05/2017 16:10

Hi ladies just finished my 5th round of IVF. Unfortunately only one was collected and didn't fertilise properly. Had my follow up appointment at ARGC today and was told that as my AMH is only 1.7 and I am only 34 that I shouldn't do IVF again. I was advised to do a natural cycle IVF cycle asap and if that wasn't successful I should consider using donor eggs. I'm pretty crushed as I wasn't expecting to hear that I thought I'd keep trying unti I was 40! If anyone has any success stories or can offer some help and support I would really appreciate it. Has anyone done a natural cycle with a low AMH and had a baby?

OP posts:

Chattycat78 · 19/05/2017 12:33

What happened during your other cycles?

Can u try naturally? Low amh alone doesn't prevent natural conception.

I would focus on improving your egg quality. You only need 1 good one.

My amh was 2.8 age 34. Despite this, ivf worked for me. I also got pregnant naturally. All is not lost.

Original poster

Lillylooks · 19/05/2017 14:41

I had 2 fresh cycles that were positive but had chemical pregnancies -early miscarriages. The second 2 were frozen cycles and both negative. The last one they only collected one egg and it didn't fertilise. Yes I'm going to work really hard from next month to improve my egg quality. I can't conceive naturally as I had 2 ectopic pregnancies which both resulted in me losing my tubes.

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Chattycat78 · 19/05/2017 20:14

Ah very sorry to hear that.

It's good news you had 2 cycles work though, even though I know they didn't work out.

I only had 2 eggs collected from my ivf cycle. I embryo. It worked. Definitely work on the quality.

Landy10 · 19/05/2017 20:21

Were all your cycles at argc? It sounds like you got more eggs in prior cycles as you had Frosties? Some ladies whose cycles don't work out at argc go to serum in Greece and have success. Would it be worth contacting them?

Original poster

Lillylooks · 19/05/2017 21:42

Thank you for the positivity. Yes I am looking into how to improve my egg quality.

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Original poster

Lillylooks · 19/05/2017 21:43

No I had 4 cycles at Hammersmith and 1 at ARGC. I've never heard about that but will look into it. What do they specialise in? Do they have good results doing natural cycles?

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Landy10 · 20/05/2017 06:59

Serum do treat a lot of older ladies and I think they do quite a few extra tests so have a look into them. I don't know too much about it as I had success at argc with Frosties so didn't do too much research on Serum.

eurochick · 20/05/2017 07:21

Create specialises in natural and mild ivf. I went that way because I hated pumping my body full of hormones. I did four cycles (two natural, two mild) and had two bfns, one miscarriage and one live birth. Like all clinics they have their faults but in your circumstances I'd give them a try.

Original poster

Lillylooks · 20/05/2017 11:42

So you would recommend create over ARGC ar this stage?

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eurochick · 20/05/2017 14:37

Yes. Friends who used Argc didn't have great experiences.

Original poster

Lillylooks · 20/05/2017 15:24

I spoke to them today and they said they don't treat immune issues as I have raised nk cells and high cytokines may have to stay there

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eurochick · 20/05/2017 15:27

I had a test that said high nk cells. I had no treatment for it during my successful cycle. I'm a bit sceptical about the blood tests and not sure they reflect well the nk cells in the womb. A friend had a successful cycle at argc with all the immune bells and whistles. The had a surprise natural conception, no immune treatment and a healthy baby. But you have to do what you feel is right.

freya1982 · 20/05/2017 15:51

Hi Lillylooks

I just saw your post and wanted to send a little bit of hope your way.
I'm also 34. My AMH is 0.6. I also have rheumatoid arthritis and thyroid problems so these things work against me.
I was told by 2 doctors to use donor eggs and that IVF woukd only give me about a 5% chance. I was devestated. They also said I woukd need large amounts of drugs to stimulate me as I only have periods every 3 months. I was not happy with these opinions so I went to the Create open evening in Birmingham last Thursday.

I was impressed so booked a consultation on the monday. When I went in the consultant scanned me and I had a follicle that was just about to ovulate...I couldn't believe it! The doctor said to just go for it...so...on the Wednesday I had egg collection...1 egg was taken and today they have implanted a very healthy embryo!

All I can say is that they have so far been absolutely wonderful at create.I can't fault them at all. You literally feel like the only person they have to deal with. They give you so mich time and have answered emails after hours and my consultant even called me at 10pm to discuss things with me. I would highly recommend!
Do not loose hope...I was so worried about egg quality I have done a super healthy diet for a couple of months now which I totally believed helped.
There's an American site called natural fertility info. I used that as my bible and so far...its going well!
Good luck x

Original poster

Lillylooks · 20/05/2017 16:05

Thank you Eurochick. As I've not had successful results I am worried to go forward without immune treatment at this stage. I feel that's the reason why I had early miscarriages. Freya wow that's amazing news and thank you for taking the time to write. That makes me feel very hopeful at this stage. Wishing you the best and a positive result x

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freya1982 · 20/05/2017 16:25

Hi Lillylooks,

I just read your post about NK cells.
I have researched and found that Zita West are meant to be quite good with immune disorders. That's where I was going to go for a consultation after Create...but never got that far!
I am on Anti TNF medication for my rheumatoid arthritis and I believe at Zita they can offer you this kind of medication for immune issues...may be worth looking in it.
I wish you all the luck in the world! X

Original poster

Lillylooks · 20/05/2017 17:14

Thank you for taking a look. Yes I've contacted zita west I've been there for councelling and acupuncture and they are good. I think I need a serious detox as well so maybe zita is a good place to be! Thank you so much!!

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Katy75 · 23/05/2017 19:03

Lilylooks, I had AMH of 2 (at 40) and took ubiqinol as recommended in 'it starts with the egg'. I got pregnant once naturally, which ended in mc, and then on second cycle of IVF got 9 eggs, which became 7 embryos, of which one is now 3 month old DD. There is definitely hope. Wishing you the very best of luck x

Original poster

Lillylooks · 23/05/2017 20:31

Wow that's amazing! It's so hard I don't know what to do. My clinic said don't do ivf again! I'm giving myself a couple weeks off. Then I need to reach a decision as to what our next step will be. Any help ladies would be greatly appreciated. At this stage I don't know who to trust! I don't know whether to work on my egg quality or just take dhea as my clinic suggested and go and do a natural cycle in 2 month. I feel like time is running out. Feeling quite stressed but trying to relax.

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Original poster

Lillylooks · 07/06/2017 10:26

Freya how did you get on?

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freya1982 · 07/06/2017 10:50

Hi Lillylooks. .We've had some very good news and got a very strong positive pregnancy test last week! We have been incredibly lucky. Obviously it's still very early days but so far so good...anxiously awaited the 6 week scan next week!
How are you getting on?
I'm not sure if I said this to you or not but I see you mentioned about working on your egg quality. ..I coukd not recommend this more. I started this a couple of months before we started our consultations etc and I felt my body change and when they found an egg about to be released that is honestly the first time in about a year that I have "felt" that I was going to ovulate. I truly believe the only reason we got a healthy egg was because o changed my diet so drastically and was very strict. I used an American fertility website as my bible and I believe it worked...maybe worth looking into? I'll post link below for you to have a look.
Don't give up hope xx

freya1982 · 07/06/2017 10:51

natural-fertility-info.com/

Original poster

Lillylooks · 07/06/2017 11:22

Congratulations!! That's absolutely fantastic news! Well done you! Yes I've seen this and that was my next plan! Giving myself some time off as I've been so strict and stressed the last 6 months but will get on it through July and August! I've booked an open evening with create and going to an informal 121 at care. Also in touch with zita west clinic. I think these 3 are the top contenders at the moment! So difficult to decide which to choose!

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freya1982 · 07/06/2017 15:39

Sorry I just looked back at my post and saw I had already told you about natural fertility info...im honestly not on commission haha...im just really helped me :-)

I didn't look into at Care much but did a lot of research on Zita West. They seemed really great and I wouldn't have definitely had a consult with Dr George Nukunde (spelling) I liked the fact that he was a reproductive immunologist and them seem to be very hot on immune issues which may be useful to you.
Create have obviously been fabulous with me...I can't fault them..but they did not know an awful lot about my medication etc whereas I read at zitawest they will actually prescribe some of the medication I am on to women with high NK cells etc.
Just get lots of rest, read as much as you can...I always think knowledge is power..especially in this situation.

There's open days at Zita west coming up too...I jist took myself off the wait list...I think it's either this week or next.

You'll make the right decision. ...just go with whatever feels right and you will definitely have your happy ending :-)

Original poster

Lillylooks · 07/06/2017 18:56

Hi! I've emailed them so I'm going to try and go to the open evening there. Depending on how that goes I will decide whether to go for them, create or care. Really hard to decide but if I speak and visit them all I will gain a better understanding as to who I feel can help me. The thought of this being the end is really hard to cope with. Still not sure how I feel about using donor eggs. Thank you for your kind words, advice and positivity. Very much appreciated so few of us in this crazy world going through all this. Keep me posted on how you are doing. So excited for you. X

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