Low AMH high FSH

[Eireblue]

Hi, has anyone ever had experience with high FSH 15.7 and low AMH 0.7 . 31 years old and still in shock from these results looking at next steps. Is IVF just a waste? Or is donor egg the only option? Really confused right now.

As far as I’m aware, FSH and AMH relate to how many eggs you have left but not the quality. What measurement is your AMH in, pmol? You may have fewer eggs but given your age they should be decent quality! You never know until you actually try but remember it only takes one :)

Thanks for your reply. 🙂 just trying to figure out if IVF is the right option. Need to get some consultations but don’t know where to start as I think I find a good clinic then find bad reviews 🙈 so worried if we will waste what precious time and eggs we have then it’ll be too late.

Hello

I’m sorry to hear that you’re going through this, it is totally shit

I was in my 20s when I was told I had an AMH of 2.6 and an FSH of 40!

I was told that, although IVF can work with low AMH, if your FSH results are high then the chances of IVF working are practically nothing (5%ish). This is because the IVF drugs make you ovulate by mimicking your natural hormones - if your FSH is high it means your body is desperately trying to ovulate but to no avail, so IVF drugs are unlikely to be successful at the same task.

That being said, it does only take one etc. I was told this but tbh I dismissed it - you always hear the success stories, not the vast majority of ‘failures’ (hate that word, we haven’t failed at anything!)

We decided not to torture ourselves with failed rounds when the odds were stacked against us and decided instead to use an egg donor - a year later we have a beautiful baby and no regrets.

If you want to talk about the egg donor process at all just let me know. Or if you want to talk about low AMH - I found my diagnosis very hard to process, it was a very dark and lonely time due to being so young, so if you need an understanding ear I am here!

Good luck on your journey!

I should add - it is ofc still worth speaking to a clinic about using your own eggs if you want! Everyone is different and a clinic May feel that they have a protocol that will work for you

Hi @Eireblue my AMH is 1.0 (I have found that FSH seems to fluctuate with each result so that hasn't been tested for a while). It does need to be looked at in conjunction with AFC however it is an generally an indicator of how well you will respond to IVF (ie how many eggs you will get). I have produced eggs and embryos with conventional IVF however unfortunately none have resulted in a successful pregnancy. Prior to COVID-19 lockdown I had started on natural modified IVF which focuses on quality over quantity and is an option for very low AMH ladies. Not sure where you are based but have a look at Create which specialise in this area. The good news is that you are young so hopefully your egg quality will be good

My AMH was 2 and FSH 9 when I was in my 20s, I tried own egg IVF then moved onto donor egg as my FSH jumped to 19 and they wouldn't treat me with own eggs with an FSH over 10 or AMH under 2. I did have a baby with donated eggs and then went onto to conceive naturally a few months later

I'm 31 with an AMH of 5 and FSH was 11 when last tested. I'm sorry you're going through this too, it's such a shock at our age. The afc scan should give you a better idea as this doesn't always match your AMH. My first round of ivf failed but I did respond well to the meds. Sadly it looks like I have a quality issue too but this is not common at our age. I hope you get some answers. X

It’s awful when you get told you have a low ovarian reserve. I will never forget the shock.
I was 37 and thought there was no hope. My amh was less than 2, fsh 17. I don’t know if I was just incredibly lucky, although my consultant was never really that surprised, but a long IVF protocol worked on my first attempt. Only got one day 5 blast. Then when that baby was 6 months old, I was pregnant naturally. God only knows what my fsh was then. The main thing is that you are young (best indicator of success) and we have no idea how many women out there get pregnant with low amh/high fsh. Although it’s true that response to ivf drugs maybe blunted. Good luck but it’s possible to be successful!

My amh was 2.8 age 34: my fsh was 12. Same as you I was in shock and thought it would never happen. Advised to do Ivf ASAP but also told that the chances of it working were Very low. I then got pregnant naturally (before the ivf): sadly was a miscarriage. We then did ivf- I responded really badly and only 2 eggs were produced. However; one of those became an embryo and then a bfp. He is now 5.

When the ivf baby was 8 months old I decided we had better try again (naturally) if we had any chance at all of having a second. My expectations were super low. I got a bfp 2 weeks later and now have two boys with 16 months between them.

Moral of the story- it really does only take 1: also natural conception is totally possible with low amh, especially if you are young.

My amh is under 1 and fsh 14 and was told I have 1-5 percent chances and more chances naturally than via ivf and much higher with donor eggs. Trying to think positive and keep going but we are realistic and going through egg donation after lockdown. Which clinic did you use @Lauren83?
You guys are much younger so despite the low numbers you have higher chances of good quality eggs and it’s harder but happens so I would try. Create is very positive in trying even with low amh results unlike other places that use amh as ivf success indicator.

Ladies, you have no idea how comforting your messages were to read. My husband and I have been together for 11 years (married for 2) and there was so much sadness that we had missed our chance. Also we hadn’t been telling anyone except for one close friend. I am so thankful for your words of advice, comfort and for you sharing your own experiences 🥰.

This week has been a turmoil. Tuesday hearing that news then deciding on donor eggs and then starting the journey of researching clinics, looking at our finances ect. Then on Thursday I came across a pregnancy test I didn’t realise I had left an boot dip test and broke down when I saw it but then instead of throwing it away I just used it as I thought I had ovulated this month and I was on day 27 (definitely not in usual for me) and IT WAS POSITIVE!! so many emotions and confusion followed. I kept doubting that I was seeing a faint line. This is the first positive test in two years. I was so unsure. Then Yesterday after my husband went to go and get two more tests as I was still doubting everything we got two big 1-2 week pregnant signs! I’m shocked, scared, overjoyed yet trying to stay so cautious and grounded so not to get our hopes up as this is sooo early. These last four days have been both some of the hardest but most joyful of my life. I’m scared rotten though that something will go wrong but hoping for more great Karma and protection for our little miracle. 🙏🙏

Reading your comments helped so much and we are still looking at clinics just incase. As we know the numbers and statistics for miscarriage only too well. And trying to stay realistic.

@Eireblue wow that’s amazing!!!! So happy for you! What a great surprise! completely understand you as it’s been the same in our case it’s been a silent thing we have been dealing with on our own and has brought a lot of tears until we discovered egg donation. Amazing news for you guys, the numbers indicate the average and the truth is not all of us are average so some may fall into higher it much higher chances and some may be lower. But yours is a true example that it’s possible!

Congrats!! It’s stressful I know but that’s amazing!
Remember u r young! My consultant told me I was at 37 (in his words.. ‘for the fertility world!’)

@Leala20 thank you. My consultant said he has seen some similar numbers have natural pregnancies with numbers like ours, as you seem to have similar. But he would recommend me to a donor clinic rather than IVF as it was 5% change IVF tops. He recommended UKCFA but I hadn’t heard of them and create was the one we were really looking at. Fingers crossed for you. It’s hard telling people as it’s the healthy balance between getting support and then having questions or sympathetic looks but these message strings most certainly help. Fingers crossed for you. 🙏🙂

@Freewanderer thank you 🙂 totally not getting ahead of ourselves though. Really thankful to be in this position and I don’t want to come across as ungrateful because I truly am. Losses are just harder once we have been given my numbers.
I can’t believe they just said “for the fertility world!” It’s scary but it was most certainly a great outcome for you and then a second baby naturally too 🥰 truly fantastic! I’ve heard a lot of people saying they naturally feel pregnant quiet quickly after a first baby having been conceived with the help of fertility treatments. It’s wonderful and brought us some hope when researching for to go done the route of donor egg pregnancy.

@Eireblue what a wonderful update to the thread, many congratulations!

@Eireblue - I know! I didn’t feel young at 37😂 but I kind of understood what was being said!
At 31 u r a spring chicken!! At least the eggs u do have should be good quality. I used to hate it when people said to me ‘it only takes one!’ - but that is very true.

@Eireblue thank you and your stories make it possible to believe things happen. I am 38 so no spring chicken eggs either @Freewanderer. If anything happens between now and egg donation would be amazing but I now we are comparing clinics here and abroad to be ready when they open. This keeps me positive now

A great update - there you go OP!

Fingers crossed it works out for you!! Xx

The update I never wanted to make.
After 7 days of uncertainty and an agonising wait yesterday i went for a reassurance scan to be told that I was, as I had suspected, suffering a missed miscarriage 😭😭😭 baby and pregnancy sack are still there but there’s no heart beat and baby’s growth wasn’t where it should be. I was on day 72 so close to the 12 weeks or so I thought. We are devastated. Having to go through it in the hospital alone due to restrictions on coronavirus was horrible. No I’m going back this morning so medical assistance and I’m dreading it. Dreading once again having to walk in alone. I take my hats off to all those strong brave women who’ve had to do this alone. 😭😭

Dear @Eireblue I am so sorry. Please stay strong. I experienced a natural positive pregnancy test recently and was in tears and in shock as we had been planning egg donation and it happened, unfortunately the tests did not progress with stronger lines but in a way remained one colour. Had tests done and showed pregnancy but needed a repeat to see if it was progressing. I am due to see it tomorrow but meanwhile I have had light spotting and crumps and my breasts are sore. I even started getting nauseous and was looking forward to it (would’ve ever said that but this is a sign) but took another test and it’s now negative so must have been chemical pregnancy, it was heartbreaking to see some of the discharges over the weekend. I have heard there are a lot of women experiencing miscarriages and still managing to fall pregnant and some even right after. I due to my age will try once again but then it’s the egg route. Keep strong and you will be looked after and then your husband will be supporting you at home and you will need some time to yourself. All of us react to this differently, But it’s ok to be angry and sad. If you need anything let us know.

Thank you for your comforting words and thought. I’m currently in the hospital after my second confirmation scans (there’s a lady in the ward next to me in labour which isn’t the easiest but I’m sending nothing but positive thoughts her way). Guess Im starting the next chapter in our child journey.

I’m sorry to hear you’re worried due to levels, spotting and cramps. I’m thinking of you for tomorrow and hope you get positive news. There are success stories and I hope yours is one. Please let’s us know how you get on. 🙂💚

@eireblue, I’m so sorry to hear this. I know it’s devastating. I had 2 losses prior to my baby (and my results were like yours). It seems so unfair. One day, all this will be behind you and the pain won’t be so all consuming. Look after yourself x