Low AMH Level - anyone had success with IVF?

[Sarah110683]

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?

@Itonlytakesone I'm on the menopur injections.
I feel I've maybe not been healthy enough. I've only been taking folic acid and vitamin c.
I have been too scared to take anything else not advised by my doctors. Eek!! I'm worried now! Lol xxx

I didn't take anything on my first cycle i would have done next time though. Don't worry

Thank you @Itonlytakesone
Just did my 1st injection - Eek!!! Found it slightly emotional and also exciting. [Smile] Xx

@Sarah110683
Excellent! Well done, see you can do it no problem 💪🏻

For all those mentioning supplements, first, you may want to look into absorption quality (and of course, check with your doctor).
Folate/folic acid comes in 3 mains forms (technically more, but this simplifies it): folinic acid, methylated forms of folate that go by many different names, and folic acid. Methylated folates are typically abosorbed better. Some use folinic acid, but check with your doctor.

For CoQ10 (ubiquinol), not all forms are created equally here. Forms that are water and fat-soluble absorb better. Ubiquinol is the reduced, active form.

DHEA can influence hormone levels, and should be more closely monitored by your doctor.

@Sarah110683

Yes me! I was told I basically had no reserve and to look in to other options. I had them tested as I was looking in to donating some eggs to cheapen the cost of Private IVF

I was heart broken.

I then read that wheat grass can help so I chugged back gallons of it over a few months. Went back to a different clinic, my egg reserve was fine and they harvested 13 grade A eggs. Five went to blast stage.

We have two dds from them.

Don’t give up

Really don’t know if the wheat grass worked but I’d take it again in the same circumstances !

@standbyyourmammaryglands wow!!! That's amazing!
My levels are pretty low, and have said the ivf may need abandoned.
I'm on the injections now, so praying something grows. I don't really know what I'll do if they say nothing is growing. I am pretty scared that might happen.
I've never heard much about wheat grass. Will go have a nosey. Thank you. [Smile]

@Sarah110683

Hi how is it going? You must be quite far in to your injections now. Hope all is going ok

Good morning @Itonlytakesone

It's going well now. Saturday's injection i put the liquid in myself, but i think i did it wrong, and it was mainly air! Oops. So got my DM to make sure i was doing it correctly after that, so all going well now.

Friday morning is my scan to see if anything is growing.

I'm feeling awful this week. I have horrible headaches. I'm not sure if that's the injections, or if it's me worrying about Friday.

How are you this week? Have you started to get a wee bump?

@Sarah110683
I was exactly the same lost a bit initially but then got the hang of it, I did it all myself though so had to learn fast! I really hope the medicine is growing you a few little precious follicles remember you only need a small number for it to work!

Friday is so close now so keep going. Headaches are probably side effects from the drugs, I had such bad bloating felt so bad but the nurse told me to up my fluids to 3litres per day and this really helped. Also i did follow a high protein diet too, i piles on the lbs but wasn't bothered.

At 4 weeks pregnant i was back down to my usual weight so you do loose any weight you put on through stimulating. I'm 12 weeks tomorrow and no bump i look exactly the same. I'm trying to be healthy (ish) as i get married in December. (Already had the wedding booked before i found out i needed ivf) I'm embracing the bump on my wedding day i couldn't be prouder.

Aww @itonlytakesone that brought a tear to my eye. Baby will make your wedding day even more special. What an amazing start you will have to 2019. That's wonderful, i'm sure you will look amazing with baby bump come your wedding day.

I'm praying, i really am. I'm not sure if you are meant to feel anything when it's happening or not? I do feel a bit bloated, but not nearly as much as i thought i would. The headaches are a killer, but will be worth it, if there are follicles growing. .

haha yeah i'm upping the protein, which has put weight on me, but i have cut down on exercise too. I've been scared too much high impact stuff, and abdominal exercises will effect the follicles, but not sure if that's the case or not? xx

@Sarah110683

Thank you that's so lovely of you. I feel bad talking about my pregnancy but then i understand completely what you are going through having just gone through it myself. Reading positive stories on here gave me the hope i needed to get through it because i really though my chances were so very low.

Yes ease off the exercise, drink loads of water - they told me at the hospital that follicles are water 💦 based so i then literally drowned myself in fluids daily and ate so much protein. I wouldn't do any abdominal exercises though just because your poor ovaries are working to the max so I'd leave that area completely and rest

@Sarah110683
How was your ultrasound yesterday? Hope you are ok

Good morning @Itonlytakesone
Not very good. Lining of the womb was too thin and I had nothing there.
I'm being kept on the injections till Wednesday, but the chance of anything changing is very slim. I'm clinging on, but think it isn't going to happen. xxx

@Sarah110683
Oh no 😞 what was your amh & fsh? Remember that was just this months cycle. It's different every month please don't loose hope. Keep o your injections you never know one might appear

I had an ultrasound done at the start November and had 4 follicles and it was redone (although later in the month) in January for them to find 17?? When they did it again in June for my ivf they found 6... so it varies every month.

This might not be your month but there is an egg somewhere just need to find it. Hope you are ok. Hope the doctors are giving you some good advice.

Hi @Itonlytakesone

My amh levels were below 0.5. I didn't get told my fsh levels. I'm doing my treatment through the nhs, so I won't get another try if this month doesn't work.

I was pretty upset after I found out. I'm ok now. Pretty numb, but clinging on to Wednesday.
Not really sure what to do if the news isn't great. Xxx

@Sarah110683
If i was you, I'd keep hopeful for your next scan. If your cycle gets cancelled, i would follow a strict fertility diet, I would go to get a private ultrasound done ( I had one in November think it was only about £150) maybe have one 3 months consecutively to see what your pattern is and if any follicles appear then you will have an idea what is going on. You could look into taking some supplements too.

Maybe @TheRealMummyPig can offer you some advice too? Her story should definitely give you some hope. Please don't give up if this months doesn't work. There is always something you can do. We will help you on here too. I'm hoping a little egg shows up for you on Wednesday get eating loads of protein and drinking water - lots of it. Three days more stimulating might just be all you need

Thank you @Itonlytakesone

Bulking up on the protein at the moment. Eating an Arla 20g protein yoghurt as I type. Haha

I probably haven't been as healthy as I could of been on the run up to the ivf, so I'll stick to being pretty healthy. Stay off alcohol etc. And look into taking supplements. This has shocked me so hoping something might happen eventually. I will look into that private scan, it would be good to know. I think the nurses were shocked that nothing was there and did ask if I had still been getting periods, and I have been, so it's weird.
Clinging on to hope - fingers crossed. xx

Also @Itonlytakesone where did you do your injections? I had been doing them in my thighs, but after that shock I've been doing them in the stomach. Xx

@Sarah110683
I did the injections in my stomach just below my belly button.

It is strange it's like your eggs are in hiding?? They need to show themselves! It could be that it's sporadic when they make an appearance, but like i say every month is different so don't give up hope xx

@Sarah110683 my acupuncturist told me this morning that if someone's AMH is too low for conventional IVF to be 'successful' or they don't get enough eggs, Create do a natural cycle where they take the natural egg that you ovulate and fertilise that. It's a chance for women who do still have periods but where IVF medication doesn't give lots of follicles.

Best of luck going forward 🍀🍀 x

I'm so sorry to hear you haven't got many follicles showing. It's true that each cycle can be different in regards to egg numbers but if this is your only funded cycle then that doesn't help you. Can you make the decision to cancel this cycle and try again another time when you might get more eggs? You could use that time to take the supplements and improve diet and try acupuncture etc.

It can feel like the most soul destroying experience going through all this. But don't lose hope. It's early days and there is lots you can do. Another option to keep in mind for the future could be doing a self funded cycle of iui which is far cheaper than ivf . You don't need lots of eggs, in fact only one is preferable to avoid multiples. If you can get your eggs to top grade quality then you only need one. Natural Ivf which someone mentioned also only needs one egg but it's still expensive due to the need for surgery whereas iui involves no surgery and could just give you a boost in regards to exact timing of ovulation, preparation of sperm and accurate placement of sperm. If you've got a significant male factor or tubal issues then it won't be an option though.

Thinking of you x

@Sarah110683 just wanted to say I've had experience of an NHS cycle cancelled due to poor response to stims. I don't want to get your hopes up buy my CCG did allow another cycle with a different protocol.
First cycle, long protocol, there were 3 follicles, none of which reached 10mm so cycle cancelled as no eggs to collect.
Second cycle, short protocol, 3 mature eggs retrieved. Unfortunately didn't result in a pregnancy but I was so glad to respond to the stims.

The clinic were surprised at my poor response to the first IVF attempt as although my AMH was low at 2, on the previous antral follicle count scan there had been 9 follicles.

I did as another poster suggested and paid for private scans (in the first few days of a cycle and mid cycle to look for signs of ovulation). I had 7 follicles one month and 8 the next, and they said ovulation had occurred on day 13 which was earlier than expected.

Anyway, I will try IVF again, and just wanted to say to you that 1 cancelled cycle is not the end of the line. Be prepared to ask your clinic for a follow up consultation ASAP if they cancel this cycle.
Also, of course be healthy etc but allow yourself some treats, whether they are food or drink but have things you enjoy.

Thank you @JeNeBaguetteRien, @TheRealMummyPig and @IVFaugust2018.

I'm not really sure what to do. They did mention donor eggs to me when i was in, if things don't change.
The nhs funded ivf will only offer one cycle because i have a low ovary reserve, so i'm guessing if this one gets cancelled on Wednesday, I'm not going to get another shot.

So i guess i'll need to look into other avenues. I wasn't sure about private clinics? Are most people on here private?
I'm not thought about IUI, but that does sound like a good avenue to explore.
I've never really thought of a future with out children.

Thank you again for replying.

Hope you are ok @Sarah110683 x