POF - lost - long post

[KristieP2018]

I've been on birth control most of my adult life. I recently came off and my husband and I started trying to have a baby. I hadn't had any bleed since June so I popped down to my GP. She told me to wait at least 3 months as it's probably just taking time to get the birth control out of my system. So we wait and still nothing. In the meantime, I'm doing my basal temps and notice it doesn't look like I'm ovulating.

Back to the GP with swelling and pain near my right ovary. She ordered bloods and a scan which I'm still waiting on. Results came back with an FSH of 66.1. Taken on a random cycle day but that's still way too high. She ordered a full round of all hormones and I went back yesterday. FSH is now 54.8. I've been taking vitex in the hopes it would help.

She said this looks like premature ovarian failure (perimenopause). She's referring me to a fertility clinic now.

I'm 42, newly married and no kids. She's put the referral in as urgent but it can still be a 9 week wait. I don't know what to do! I'm so mad at my body and hurt and lost. I don't want to give up! I've fought my whole life and I want to keep fighting.

Does anyone here have any advice? Have you been through this? I just need some light right now.

I’d suggest you need the amh test. FSH can fluctuate esp if it’s taken at a random time. Maybe you can see if the referral can be speeded up. Did she say what the fertility clinic would be able to do?

Also I Would have thought you’d have some symptoms if it was pof- hot flashes etc.

Do you know when your mum went through the menopause? It usually follows a pattern, and supposedly as a rule you’re infertile for around 10 ish years before the menopause.

Someone else mentioned the amh test. I'm going to ask my GP next week about getting it. She didn't say where but I'm assuming it's the larger one in the next city. Mom went into perimenopause after having me. She was 37. I've had zero symptoms. It's so strange. I really don't understand at all.

Peri menopause is the run up to the menopause and technically it’s still possible to get pregnant as long as you’re ovulating some of the time.

Tbh I would say your biggest issue is likely to be egg quality, which declines as you age and definitely drops off after 40. The problem with the amh test is that it only measures number of eggs- not their quality.

There are lots of people who do get pregnant with low amh, so it is possible.

As for the fertility clinic, I’m guessing they won’t suggest ivf to people over 40. They might have some other suggestions however.

Based on the latest guidance here, I don't qualify for Ivf. They raised the cut off age to 42 but it has to be completed before you turn 43 and as slow as things move here, that won't happen.

I'm hoping to get some kind of medication. I feel like I'm wasting daylight waiting on the referral to happen but I don't have a choice.

Thank you for answering

Hi @KristieP2018! Glad you found us here!!

If you aren't keen on waiting, you will get some options by going private. You may or may not be a good candidate for ovulation induction (using drugs like clomid or gonal f). But first things first: you need to find out if it's perimenopause.

I'm wishing you all the luck in the world!!!!

Thank you for telling me about this place @physicskate! I think we're going to go ahead and call around and see what kind of cost for private. We don't have a ton of savings at the moment but I like options. I want as many tests as they can throw at me!

@KristieP2018 have you thought about IVF treatment abroad? We are are going to Reprofit in czech republic and including flights and accommodation for 10 days it will cost us around 4k. They offer IVF at a much older age than UK and as you can see it's a fraction of the cost

Like pp said you need to consider AFC and AMH too, your AFC is your potential for egg numbers for IVF, your AMH a measure of your ovarian reserve (not sure your GP will do it's as it's quite specialist but it's about £90 privately) your FSH is also a measure of your reserve as it raises when your body is struggling to ovulate, it affects your chances with IVF more than natural conception as the meds used for IVF are also FSH 'follicle stimulating hormone' so if your body is kicking loads out itself you likely won't respond to the FSH meds, natural/mild IVF is often suggested for ladies with high FSH where the aim is to collect 1 possibly 2 eggs, if your AMH is low but FSH low too an aggressive stimulation is often a better bet. I was diagnosed with POF at 29 and had 5 cycles of IVF including 3 with donor eggs. So hard to get your head round the news I know

www.medichecks.com/tests-a-z

I’ve been using this for some bloods. Quite straightforward, but you need someone able to get the blood out of your arm!

Luckily my veins have cooperated so far and my anceticubital (inside bend of arm) has been the go to spot 😁