Anyone doing ivf at 40+

[lucieloos]

We're considering doing a couple more rounds of ivf at 40.5 years old. We have 2 children already but still feel someone is missing.

Is anyone else starting or already having treatment at 40+ and would like to share the journey?

Dear @Mari0000 - oooh good luck for the 5 day wait. I hope it works out! I started my first ever IVF cycle today...

One question. I am clearly too late for DHEA (and misteriously I can’t find a doctor who endorses the treatment, although studies on the web seem to show very good results). How does the testosterone gel work? Does that also need pre-treatment or can you just apply it during the stimulation?

Hi all, could I join?
I will start my first round in 3 weeks or so. I am almost 40, my AMH is 33.1 and FSH - 7.5. Follicle count - 14 in one side and 19 in another. Still figuring out what all these numbers mean. I will be on a short protocol.

Unfortunately the two eggs retrieved didn’t develop to blastocysts. First attempt failed.
We are now considering if worth trying again or go straight to donor egg.
I’m 42 in September, I want to be a mother soon, I’m scared trying again will not work.
I was very happy with my clinic in Italy but am also contacting Bernabeu in Madrid.
Any thoughts with this decision?

Hi @Mari0000 - sorry for the disappointing result. I am doing a cycle with a doctor in Belgium at the moment, and if that doesn’t work I will also try Spain. Have heard good things about Barcelona IVF, not sure what everyone else thinks. Meanwhile, i was wondering what the advice on having sex during IVF was. Is there some sort of a risk? On CD4 now.

Hello. Have been told to trigger tonight (CD 13). Have 7 follicles, of which two are 18-19mm and the rest 14-15-16 and one 12. I am concerned it is too early. Does anyone have any experience with this?

@Anxiousbuthopeful that sounds quite promising. Anything over 14-15mm should hopefully be mature. They normally trigger when the largest couple are around 18mm so sounds right. Wishing you lots of luck. Keep us posted.

Retrieval done. 8 eggs. One more than the that showed up in the monitoring process (bizarrely). Has that happened to anyone? Now waiting to find out maturity/fertilization rete etc.

Fingers crossed, 8 is good! let us know how it goes!

Hi @Anxiousbuthopeful - that is wonderful! Well done - really great result. Yes, that does happen sometimes, lovely to have an extra one! Good luck for the next bit of waiting - IVF feels like an endless waiting room!

Hello. Out of the 8 eggs 6 were mature and 4 fertilized via ICSI. I am being transferred with anything that survives on day 3 (Friday).

So they’re in. 4 day 3 embryos, three of good quality and one that’s a bit dodgy.

Good luck @Anxiousbuthopeful - you’ve done all the work now, hope you have a calm wait. Have everything crossed for you!

Thank you @ACAL. Any advice on things to do and to avoid always very welcome. I’ve been told no swimming...

So I know some clinics advise resting as much as poss and others that you should do gentle exercise to help blood flow to your linings it’s hard to know. I’ve had two successful IVFs followed by three failures - and to be honest I don’t think I did anything different in each of them (I opted for the carry on as normal and light exercise). For me it helped keeping to a normalish schedule so that time didn’t drag too much.

hi, just wondering if anybody on here has conceived naturally with low amh? i am 45 and had 3 miscarriages last 3 years but no ivf. I have been told my amh is too low for ivf :( and only option donor egg....very upsetting as desperately want own egg pregnancy...also i have a friend that was turned away for ivf at 45 as her amh was 0.7 and she went on to have a natural pregnancy 3 months later and now has a gorgeous little boy! I'm considering going abroad too for either ivf or egg donation (if i have to) as money is tight! Any tips or info i would massively appreciate as totally confused on which way to go ....thanks to all

Oh dear @jennefer46. I feel for you. I am no expert as just had my first ever IVF cycle. I am 42, low AMH. If you think it might help I can point you to the doctor that treated me.

@Anxiousbuthopeful thanks so much for the message and good luck with your first cycle! How are you feeling and how is it going? Yes please any information at all would be welcome and its nice to be able to connect to someone going through similar. xx

@jennefer46, I think it is possible but very unlikely to concieve naturally with low AMH. I think IVF is not normally recommended if AMH suggests that it wouldn't be possible to collect more than one egg because then you loose the advantage of going through the stimulation process to get lots of eggs - but if you concieve naturally you only need one. And it is reassuring that you have conceived naturally recently even though heartbreaking that those pregnancies didn't survive. At least you know you are ovulating properly. You might just need a few tries to get a good quality egg.

I would recommend reading the book "it starts with the egg" which has some science-based recommendations for lifestyle, diet and supplements to help with egg quantity and quality. Any change would take at least 3 months to take effect so start now... Also if you think you will try IFV with your own eggs I would not wait too long to start! Good luck with everything, and to @Anxiousbuthopeful.

I'm 42, did a successful IVF at 39 and now have a 2yo daughter, since then have had 3 failed cycles and about to start another so I've seen both sides of this process. It is hard going, so good to have some buddies!

Yes! @Giraffeskills nice to meet you. I am one week into my two week wait and a pessimist by nature

Hi @jennefer46, I went abroad to Reprofit in Brno, Czech Republic. They’re no frills in their approach but they definitely know what they’re doing, and they are so much cheaper than somewhere comparable in the UK. I don’t know what their upper age limit of for own egg IVF, at a lot of clinics it’s 42, but they are very popular for donor egg IVF and seem to be very successful. Best of luck with whichever route you choose to take, none of it is easy!

Hi @Giraffeskills lovely to meet you and thanks for all the advice. Yeah i have the book "it starts with the egg" and was taking many of the supplements recommended but not to the t i'm afraid. At the moment i am doing loads of research on the different clinics and its looking like i may have to go down the egg donor route which is terrifying but unfortunately i don't have time on my side. Sending huge good luck to you on this cycle too. @Badgerismyname hi to you and thanks for the info and i'll have a look at that clinic too..x

Hello everyone. Beta hcg test tomorrow. Feel like I am getting my period though so not holding out much hope.

Good luck! A bit of cramping can be a good sign, I had that with my daughter. Fingers crossed!

@Anxiousbuthopeful good luck! You've done so well not to test yourself!