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?

Thank you @Itonlytakesone not really. I had no change at my scan, so my ivf has been stopped. I've booked in to see a counsellor, and they are giving me another consultation. They said I can try for donar eggs, but I'm not sure. Pretty devastated at the moment. xxx

@Sarah110683
I understand and you will be upset. Please don't loose hope. Another month eggs might be there. You still get a period and you wouldn't if there was nothing left. I feel so bad for you but you can't give up yet.

If you decide to use donor eggs there is time to look into that for the future, but right now I'd consider looking into your own still via private ultrasounds at the start of the month after your period. It's at least worth a try to see if another month you can see follicles. Mine changed drastically from one month to the next you see and it was interesting after I'd looked at the difference between all 3 I'd had done on different months. You still have options but completely understand why you are upset 😢 I hope you are ok

I'm popping in this chat as I'm likely to be doing ivf next month and have high fsh and low amh too. @sarah110683 I'm so sorry, it must be hard to get your head around everything and you've got every right to feel utterly devastated. It is shit. When I found out about my low ovarian reserves I was in bits. I want to try my eggs first but am aware I may end up on the donor egg route too. I'm also 34 and it feels crazy to be in this position at our age. Anyway, I've got a lot of comfort from the docu One More Shot (on netflix and online). The couple have similar issues and they're very inspiring. It made me feel better to see others in similar position who worked through it. Anyway, it may not be what you need right now but thought I'd let you know about it. Big hug x

Thank you @booksandbath1 that means a lot.
I'm just numb. Its not even something I thought would happen.
My DH has been great and my mum. I'm very glad I told my parents about it.
We're away to book a holiday - escape from it all for a couple of weeks.
Good luck to you. I really wish/pray ivf happens for you. You don't want to feel like this.
Yes - you always think you have heaps of time left! Lol
I'll go look into that documentary. Thank you again. xxx

@Sarah110683 I'm so sorry you're going through this. I'm in the same boat too - FSH of 17.4 and AMH of 3.4. I'm 32. It's devastating isn't it? And I can't imagine how you must feel about this cycle not working.

We've been told we have such a low chance of own egg ivf working that we're going straight to donor egg. Hoping to start in the next couple of months.

Also - if you're unsure about donor eggs have a look at Amanda Dawn on YouTube. She's great and really made me feel better about the donor egg situation. You CAN be a mum, maybe just not in the way you had imagined x

@Jemimafuddleduck thank you for your message.

I don't think i realised when i was told i had a low ovary reserve that ivf wouldn't work. Totally devastating. I always thought having a child was the easiest thing in the world. How wrong was I! haha

My DH has been quite good with the donor egg he's said it's more about how you bring your child up etc, not if it's your's by blood etc.

Are you doing the donor egg through the nhs? Is it quite a long process?

Thank you again. xxx

I hope I will be - we had funding for own egg ivf but our amh levels and fsh levels mean we don't qualify so our consultant has applied for donor egg funding, we should find out ASAP (but dr said it should be fine).

The way I look at it is this is a way for me to grow my own baby, be pregnant, and give birth to it. My blood and my nutrients will be feeding it and growing it.

Clearly I'd rather it be my own egg but it'll still be mine. It's tough though!

Hi Sarah,

I know how you're feeling because I've been in the same situation. Donor eggs are an amazing option and we are lucky to live in a day and age where they are even an option however I feel like it's early days for you to be considering them. A low ovarian reserve (AMH) doesn't mean you cant conceive your own child. It just makes IVF a bit trickier as the IVf odds are based on having higher numbers of eggs.

Despite having an AMH of less than 0.1, I was able to conceive through ivf after 8 attempts. However it cost a lot of money and took quite a few years which obviously isn't for everyone.

If your goal is to have child as soon as possible and without having to spend a small fortune on fertility treatments then donor eggs could be your next step. However I would urge you to give yourselves six months (Read the book It Starts with the Egg) and get your eggs in great shape and perhaps try a few cycles of IUI before maybe another ivf round.

I always knew in my heart that even though I didn't have many eggs left at all, I surely had at least one that could become my baby and sure enough it happened eventually. Quality over quantity is my mantra!! It only takes one!

Definitely speak to a counsellor if you're considering donor eggs.

Only you will know what hoops you and your partner are willing to go through on your journey to becoming parents.
There are so many different paths to becoming a Mum these days. Best of luck.

And for what it's worth, when my daughter was handed to me after my c section and I looked at her for that first time, I thought that it wouldn't have mattered a jot if she had been from a donor egg because she was 100% my baby, regardless of where her cells might have originated.

sarah I’m
Just following this thread and I’m really sorry to hear about your cancelled cycle. Just to throw it out there- is natural conception still an option for you? Don’t rule it out if so. My understanding is that low amh matters for ivf but not necessarily for natural conception as you only release one egg each month anyway.

The clinics are very quick to suggest donor eggs I think because success rates are so much higher.

@sarah110683 I’m so sorry your ivf round was cancelled. What’re you thinking of doing next? Where are you two thinking of going on holiday? 💐

Thank you @Chattycat78 @Iwantaunicorn
No natural conception isn't impossible I suppose. I will keep up with my healthy routine, You never know. You do here of people trying for years and it finally happens. Think I'll look at taking supplements and I bought the book it starts with an egg.
I'm not sure. I had never considered donor eggs, but I don't think I can wait another year/2 years down the line for a baby - if I try ivf private. So think that may push me towards donor eggs.
Italy for a holiday. We've always fancied going, and this has made us think let's just go do it. Escape reality for a while and come back refreshed and ready to go again. xxx

Hi @Sarah, I just wanted to say how sorry I’m am you had a tough run. Nothing really prepares you for that. I hope Italy is great and you get a chance to forget all of this for now. Enjoy yourself, reasses/negotiate a way forward that feels right. I hope you don’t mind me joining the thread late it just feels like the right one for me to be on at the mo. Good to have people around who have been and are in a similar place. I’m on day 5 stims (bemfola + menopur) of my 2nd and probably final round of ICSI. I’ve just turned 35 and have an AMH of 2.3 🙃. X

Have you looked into other diet and lifestyle changes, and/or supplementation? Of course, check with your doctor before beginning something new. Here is a nice research article that gives an overview: fertilityresearchandpractice.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s40738-015-0003-4

Hi @AlulaM not at all. It is a very lonely process i find, and it's nice to hear and speak to others. I'll keep everything crossed for you, that this round is successful. x
I think i've probably been quite naive about the whole process. I guess because the doctors just say take folic acid, and have a healthy diet. I've not really looked into other things @ckc45d10. I will now, this not working has shocked me.

Sorry to hear what has happened Sarah.
My first cycle was cancelled before egg collection due to poor response to the drugs. That was long protocol, ie with dien regulation before starting.
I had a further cycle with short protocol and managed to get a few eggs... The cycle wasn't successful but I had been told that was it when the first cycle failed.
I've since been told that short protocolay work better for those with very low (or very high) AMH.

Anyway enjoy your holiday and do push for a follow up and ask what they would do differently, what they think of trying short protocol (even if you won't be having treatment there again you should get some answers to help inform your next steps).

💐

@Sarah110683
Hi not sure if you will even read this but how are you getting on? Another year has passed since we all chatted on this thread. X

Hi @Itonlytakesone,

Nice to hear from you. :)

I'm not too bad, it's weird I'm actually a way to start another journey.

I couldn't go through with IVF as it was discovered I had very little eggs remaining, and I started to go through very early menopause - hence the low eggs.

So have gone down the egg donor route now, so have 14 eggs sitting and waiting, and away to go for my 1st scan next week and start on a course of drugs etc. So keeping everything crossed that something might come of this. :)

How are you getting on? What a year it's been!

Oh wow that's great news i hope it goes well you must be so excited and so nervous too. I can imagine Covid has put a spanner in the works too.

Iv been having terrible abdominal pain since June i think it's because my eggs are low so my body is completely messed up also there is a family history of endometriosis so it could be this 🤷🏼‍♀️anyway I'm a bit of a mess to be honest, i just don't feel like me at the moment. I have been having bowel investigations too as it's all in the same area it's so hard to know what's making me feel so bad 😭.

I had my baby in March 2019 a girl called Isla so she keeps me going she's beautiful x

It really did - it's been a long wait, but glad to have some hope again. Very excited, trying not to get my hopes up, so being sensible and taking each appointment at a time. (which is hard!) haha :)

Oh dear @Itonlytakesone, that doesn't sound too good. It's not nice when your body doesn't feel like yours. I'll keep my fingers crossed everything is o.k. I'd imagine Covid hasn't been great for getting that sort of things done.
Its crap, especially when you just want to feel normal again! :(

Awww how lovely. Beautiful name too. :) She'll certainly be keeping you on your toes now. She'll be getting into everything, and wanting to go everywhere. :) So happy for you. xx

Hi there, I found out on friday that my AMah levels are 0.2, I'm 40 and feel quite lost. I was informed it's likely I could only get pregnant via egg donation, that feels like another rollercoaster, getting pregnant, it feels has dominated my very being for years, that and the knowledge the biological clock was ticking.

Is anyone aware of support groups or ways to gain support as to what to do next. I'm caught between letting go of the dream of being a mother, knowing what its like to carry a child and breast feed and perhaps just redefining my dream and not being a mother, everything just feels so sad but the rollercoaster of finding a donor and then it still not happening feels like something too much to bare!

Any insights might be helpful even if it just normalised how I'm feeling right now!

Does your clinic have a counsellor? My clinic does, she does regularly counselling and also implications counselling to help you process your thoughts and feelings around potential donation. I found out I have low AMH and am only 30 so totally heartbroken and can empathise completely. I’ve an appointment with the counsellor for this week.

Thank you for responding. They didn't offer counselling and I didnt ask as things were too overwhelming, but I'm looking into it.

I was told in my 20s I'd have difficulties but because I was wanting to donate, they took it no further action. I'm just thinking of how I can create a new being, theres so much pressure on women to have children, I've questioned my femininity and worthiness as a woman... all a bit crazy. But I know it's nothing I did and more genetics passed down to me. Just perhaps need to recognise perhaps there are other things that I can do that will enrich my life.

I'm really sorry to hear you have a low AMH level, such a young age too! I hope there are people around you for support, though get the my be a sense of loss and immense sadness! With other conflicting feelings.

Here.

Hi @Sarahjane186,

I totally understand where you are coming from. It is completely normal. Please do not feel you are alone in this. (although it does feel like you are). I went to see a counsellor within the hospital after IVF was abandoned, and the only other route was egg donation. She did say that it is like a form of grief, and it really is. You don't understand why your body can't do this - this that is meant to be something that woman are born for. It's heart breaking. Take each day as it comes, be good to yourself, get lots of cuddles from hubby, long walks etc.

I've been on the donor egg list for over 2 years, and during those 2 years I thought to myself should I do this, should I just move on with life, and accept that I won't be able to have children. I tell you when that phone call came through to say they have am egg donor for me, i felt excited - I've not felt that for a long time. (ok it might not work, and I've got to take each appointment as it comes) but it has given me drive, and hope again. :)

If you ever feel you need to talk etc, please keep in touch. You are not alone in this. :) xx

Totally understand @Pumpkinspice77I feel for you. I found out about my low amh at 33/34 and was premenopausal by 35. It's heart breaking, not much i can say, but other than let yourself cry, let yourself grieve.

Hopefully you might go down the donor egg route. It does feel daunting, but hopefully it's something you can think about. xx