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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

Low AMH Level - anyone had success with IVF?

113 replies

Sarah110683 · 04/07/2018 11:12

Hi there,

I'm on the waiting list for IVF treatment, and about to start it soon, but i got the letter regarding my AMH Level test.
It said it's below 0.5 and that i had to be aware that IVF might not work because my ovarian reserve is very low, so they may need to abandon it.

I'm absolutely devastated. I was praying that my levels would come back medium at least, but low, and the thought of abandoning IVF has just left me numb.

I had never imagined a future without children. I'm only 34. I just totally feel broken at the moment. (sad)

Has anyone had success with low AMH Levels and IVF?

OP posts:

Original poster

Sarah110683 · 15/07/2018 13:21

@Itonlytakesone
OMG!!! I am so pleased for you. That's great news. Bet you must be feeling so relieved.
I am sooo glad it's worked. Yay!!! lovely to hear good news. Xx

OP posts:

Itonlytakesone · 15/07/2018 15:44

@Sarah110683 @Iwantaunicorn
Thanks so much I'm absolutely made up so proud of my little eggs! - I won't know if it's one or both yet..Find out in 3 weeks at the hospital that did my ivf x

Itonlytakesone · 20/07/2018 22:03

@Sarah110683
Hi hope you got on ok this week the start of your treatment any questions i will help you it is very daunting

Original poster

Sarah110683 · 21/07/2018 18:06

@Itonlytakesone thank you for the message. Have just started the nose spray. So only a few days in. Will definitely get in touch with questions.
Is it ok for me to pm you if I'm struggling/needing advice? Xx

OP posts:

Itonlytakesone · 21/07/2018 18:51

@Sarah110683

Yes of course. I'm off work not up to much so will have time to help yes pm me any time x

Itonlytakesone · 16/08/2018 11:21

@Sarah110683
Hope you are getting on ok with your ivf, just looking back & saw this post and wondering how you are getting on?

Original poster

Sarah110683 · 29/08/2018 17:45

Hi @Itonlytakesone sorry for taking so long in replying. I have been feeling pretty low - The nasal spray totally knocked me.
I've had my baseline scan and things were looking good.
Just onto the injections now. I'm a bit worried no eggs/folicals will grow - but trying to remain positive after the baseline scan.
How are you? You must be a good bit along now. All excited? xxx

OP posts:

Itonlytakesone · 29/08/2018 19:09

@Sarah110683
Great to hear from you hope you're doing ok now and it's finally time to do the injections. You will be too busy now to worry too much just concentrate on doing the best you can, you'll be fine.

I'm now 11 weeks and have a scan tomorrow so really nervous but excited at the same time. I wouldn't be here now though if I'd not done all those injections so keep thinking positive (I know how hard that is though)

Itonlytakesone · 29/08/2018 19:13

Also remember you are only 34 that's still a good age, iam 35 and age is definitely a big factor. They found an egg that worked in me, even though i hardly have any left 😢 some of the eggs will be ok, you've just got to find them 🤞🏻xx

Original poster

Sarah110683 · 30/08/2018 10:05

Hi @Itonlytakesone

I can't believe you are 11 weeks! Wow! That is exciting. I'm so happy for you.
What a journey it is. That's so exciting. I hope your scan goes well.

Thank you - you really have helped with your positive words.
The spray had put me on such a downer, and i was so stressed for the baseline scan, but after having that i do feel better now. I almost wished i hadn't know about my low levels, i think that's what makes it all quite scary/stressful.

How quick did egg transfer etc happen after you had your injections?

xxx

OP posts:

Itonlytakesone · 30/08/2018 21:23

@Sarah110683

Really quick! I did my injections for 11 days then egg collection was scheduled for two days later 😳I was stunned how soon, it just seemed to come all of a sudden. 5 days after egg collection was embryo transfer!

How many little eggs did they find on your ultrasound? I saw only 6 on mine before stimulating.

Glad Iv helped you stay positive, it's because it's all so fresh in my mind and i understand completely what you are going through

My scan went really well so i am really pleased, it's amazing my egg has shocked me totally how well it's doing considering what Iv put my body through. Totally worth the injections 🙃

Original poster

Sarah110683 · 31/08/2018 09:11

Eeek @Itonlytakesone - i didn't have any eggs, or they didn't show me any eggs. They just checked my lining was looking like it should and that there was nothing blocking my ovaries.
I'm worried now, i thought the eggs came on/started to grow when you started the injections?

That is very quick, that's good to know. Fingers crossed i manage to get some eggs. 6 is pretty good.

Aww that's amazing. I bet you can't wait to share your good news with all your friends and family. Bet it'll be lovely when you start getting a bump, and thinking of that little person growing inside. xxx

OP posts:

Itonlytakesone · 31/08/2018 09:58

@Sarah110683

I had 6 to start with but then 8 were found on day 9 of stimulating at full pelt so don't worry too much just trust your doctors. They might just not have said too much - I find i really need to grill them they tend to just do their job and then you leave thinking ...why didn't i ask more questions!!

Original poster

Sarah110683 · 31/08/2018 10:07

@Itonlytakesone yeah I've had so many different stories from the nurses/doctors - i have been left quite confused about things. One said to me to watch with exercise and not do too much around egg time, and the other said it's fine if i usually do exercise.

I am on quite a high dose for the injections, oh man i wonder if i won't have any eggs. I did ask the nurse at the time if the scan was to show if any follicles were growing, and she said no that wasn't the case. I wonder if she was just trying to help my feelings.

OP posts:

Si1ver · 31/08/2018 10:15

I'm late to the thread but my AMH was 1.2, I only got 6 eggs in collection and ended up with three good embryos. I'm 19 weeks now and I have two frozen embryos in reserve.

Your baseline scan wouldn't have been to check follicles just the general state of your ovaries and womb. Your later scans will count and measure follicles and also your endometrial lining.

Itonlytakesone · 31/08/2018 10:26

@Sarah110683
Maybe they were just checking your womb lining, and not the ovaries at that time. Every clinic is different. You could always call your clinic and ask. When do you start your injections?

Original poster

Sarah110683 · 31/08/2018 11:09

@si1ver Thank you, that's relaxed me a bit. I was panicking there! haha Been googling away seeing if things were alright.
She did say my lining was looking good, nice and thin etc. That's exciting 19 weeks.
I was a wee bit nervous because my levels are below 1. I almost wish i didn't know my levels are low, because it's just made me worry about it constantly.

@Itonlytakesone - it's funny how everywhere is different. You'd think all the hospitals would be the same. I might do, might put my mind at ease.I start them today, so going to do them every evening. Feels a wee bit daunting the thought of injecting myself. Did you find them o.k. to do?

OP posts:

Si1ver · 31/08/2018 11:38

The thought of the injections is harder than doing it.

The GonalF pens were easy to use and there's loads of videos on the internet you can watch. The cetrotide injections were harder and hurt more, my husband did an injection course and talked me through those.

Si1ver · 31/08/2018 11:39

Oh, also if you haven't started yet with your meds have you considered DHEA supplements? My clinic suggested these and told me to stop them at egg retrieval. Who knows if they really help or not.

Original poster

Sarah110683 · 31/08/2018 12:04

@si1ver - no I haven't heard about the DHEA supplements. What are they for? Are they to help the egg growth?
Did you also up your protein levels? I've been reading online about upping protein for egg growth, but wasn't entirely sure it it actually helps or not! lol x

OP posts:

Itonlytakesone · 31/08/2018 12:25

@Sarah110683
The first day of injections i found the hardest, i was shaking like a leaf! Although it got easier. After day one injections, i called one of my friends who is a nurse to give me some tips about how to prepare the injection (I was crap on day 1 🙈) actually injecting was ok it was the preparation😬 but yes Cetrotide is a slightly thicker needle. I used a numbing cream 1 hour before injecting, I got this from boots/Superdrug.

I suppose it depends what medication you are on and how it is administered. If you are on Gonal F pens like Si1ver says then Iv no experience at those. However if you are on Meriofert injections i can help with tips on those

Also i was going to start taking dhea along with other supplements after a months break if my ivf had failed i definitely wasn't about to give up!

TheRealMummyPig · 31/08/2018 12:33

When I first started TTC age 30 I soon realised it wasn't happening fast enough for my liking so I had basic fertility testing done including my Amh. My level came back less than 0.1. Basically it couldn't get any lower. We were advised to try ivf but not to get our hopes up because ivf success is often dependent on number of eggs. I went on to have seven failed cycles of ivf (two cancelled cycles due to only one follicle) and only ever got low eggs numbers (between 3-6) which resulted in one or no embryos. None of the embryos ever took.

Anyway, I had a break from it (by this stage it had been 4 years of torture) and I read Rebecca Fett's book, It Starts with the Egg and took all the supplements she suggested in all the right doses for over three months. Changed ivf doctor too and undertook cycle number 8. Only got three eggs which resulted in two embryos but amazingly one of them took and I now have a 22 month old who is my world. Quality is everything when you have low quantity.

Fast forward to now, age 36 (nearly 37) and trying for a sibling. First cycle of ivf only one follicle which I had collected (one egg) and then got no embryo from it. Second cycle again only one follicle so we canceled the ivf cycle and converted to an iui cycle so as to not waste that one egg and miraculously I've just found out I'm pregnant again. Again I took all the supplements as well as an egg quality injection drug during cycle called Luveris.

Good luck - focus on quality!!

TheRealMummyPig · 31/08/2018 12:37

Further to my other post, the main supplements Rebecca Fett mentions in her book which I took are: DHEA, Ubiquinol, melatonin, Vit E and Vit C, and folinic acid (more absorbable form of folate)

Si1ver · 31/08/2018 13:04

DHEA is regularly recommended to improve AMH levels and increase egg quality/quantity.

Itonlytakesone · 31/08/2018 13:39

@TheRealMummyPig

Aww what a lovely story and you so deserve your little baby after all that hard work! Definitely effort here is going to massively help, and research, reading books being positive and actively doing something positive to help.

While going through my ivf i bought that book 'it all starts with the egg' from Amazon and it's safe in my draw for now but it helped me during my treatment preparing my plan B so if ivf didn't work i had my little action plan.

Mummy pig just goes to show that if you are determined you can succeed

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