DOR at 31 - what now??

[MGee123]

We had initial investigations today (privately) and I was told I have a diminished ovarian reserve - more like that of a 39/40 year old (I am 31), with only a few follicles on each ovary. I have had an AMH blood test to confirm and should get the results tomorrow + results of my husbands sperm analysis. The Consultant suggested we should consider IVF ASAP.

It all felt very surreal and I am left wondering is there nothing else between receiving no fertility treatment and heading down the IVF route that could help us? I'd love to hear from anyone who has been (or is) in a similar position, and what you have been advised/what treatment you have received. I am not mistrusting the consultant at all, I am sure his advice is sound, but I would just like to hear others experiences. This all feels rather scary and was not how I thought our initial appointment would pan out!

Congrats @MGee123 lovely news. Did you take dhea in the end? The embryo I had on board earlier in the thread was a bfp but ended in a chemical. I've just found out this morning that I've got another bfp from one of our frosties! Fingers crossed this one sticks!

Congratulations! @MGee123 😄 I've been following your post since I found out I also have DOR at age 31 too. I pretty much have the same follicle count as you (7 in total) so your story gives me some hope! Do you mind me asking which clinic you decided to go with for IVF? I'm also based in London but having difficulty deciding between clinics...

Thank you @Betsyboo87. Wishing you well too 🤞

Thank you @Mseddy. I'm so sorry about your chemical but pleased to hear you have BFP this round! All 🤞 for you. No I didn't take DHEA in the end. As it was our first go I decided to follow our consultants advice on everything, and accept he knew best. He advised against it as the evidence is still fairly weak. I didn't change anything from my previous post. Just took folic acid, iron, B complex and D vitamins, and ubiquinol up until egg collection. He put me on a fairly high dose of stims for the cycle (375 units Gonal F daily) and I had a double trigger of Ovitrelle and Buserelin. 🤞 it seems to have done the job!

@ohsheglows no problem at all - we did our cycle with Kings Fertility. I have only positive things to say about them. They were organised, efficient, responsive and very competitively priced. The staff are all friendly and I felt well looked after. I did see a few different doctors over the course of our cycle (for scans etc) but our treatment was overseen by our consultant. I had his direct email, and he was very responsive (within 24 hours) whenever I contacted him. I didn't have an issue with seeing different people, and felt happy placing my trust in them. I think this allows them flexibility with appts and to be responsive to your needs. I did take the approach of less knowledge = less worry and very much just listened to what they said, followed their advice and didn't question things too much. I think it helped my stress levels but appreciate that approach might not be for everyone!

Total cost of our cycle was £5600 including my meds (which were higher end at £1400 due to high dose of stims). We didn't need to have ICSI (additional £900) but the price included use of their embryoscope which lots of clinics charge you extra for. It doesn't include freezing costs if you have any embryos to freeze, but their price list on their website is transparent about that. No additional costs, nothing added to our bill at the end. They are a not for profit too, which I like. I'd happily go back to them again if/when we need to.

Our consultant was really positive that despite our lack of success conceiving naturally and my fairly rubbish AMH/AFC, our age should stand us in good stead for IVF success - I'm sure it would be the same for you 🤞 Happy to answer any other questions. Good luck!

Great news @MGee123 - really pleased for you. Hope all goes well from here.

I too have a positive DOR story (which is hopefully also helpful to others).

You may remember from other posts (here and other threads) that I discovered my DOR at about the same time as you - but I was 38 (now 39) and hoping to conceive my second child. My AMH was very low at 0.9, with FSH 15.9 and AFC of 5.

To my great surprise, I conceived naturally (after 7-8 months TTC) and am now 12 weeks pregnant. All looking good so far. Still very cautious about it, but it shows it can happen.

We got more than we bargained for, though, as it's twins!

Hi ladies hope you don't mind me joining this post. I was told in April after having lots of investigations and tests that I have DOR with amh very low at 0.4 😔 I am blessed to have two children already but never thought this would happen when trying to conceive.
Congratulations @MGee123
Congratulations @CC81 lovely to hear a positive DOR story as we aren't able to have IVF treatment due to the expense and already having children. Do you mind me asking what supplements you were taking or treatments you may have had? I'm clinging on to if it's meant to be it will be but some months are harder than others especially with knowing how low my amh is and that I'm running out of eggs 😔

@MGee123 when are you starting. I am in a fairly similar situation although our main issue is male factor (fuck cancer). My first AMH was 5.8 and second was 6.5 and my mid cycle follicle count was 9 (although they'd expect it to be higher at the start of the cycle).

We are planning to start our first IVF treatment late January (I missed the December cut off by coming on a day too early and they were closed :'-()

Every doctor and specialist seem to think we have an excellent chance of conceiving using ICSI - they don't seem too worried about my AMH and keep repeating how young I am.

I am getting anxious as just want to get on with things. We've never tried to conceive natrually but its been nearly 2 years since my DH's first sperm test results and 20 months of treatments for him with tests every three months that drive me insane.

Just want to get on with it now

@Cjg14 - Thanks - had my 12-week scan today and all looking ok so far (actually 13 weeks). NIPT results were low-risk.

As @Bells3032 had said, quite a few fertility doctors don't seem overly concerned with DOR alone. If everything else is working ok and you're ovulating, you're in with a chance.

Re: Supplements etc

Here's what I was taking and what I did...

• Proceive conception vitamins
• Ubiquinol
• Reduced caffeine (but not eliminated)
• Continued with normal balanced diet and alcohol (at a sensible level)

Also did acupuncture, reflexology and massage with a Chinese doctor, who gave me herbs to make a tea each day.

I have no idea whether any of this made a difference, but the acupuncture definitely helped me deal with the stress and anxiety - which is often thought to be one of the biggest problems (for health generally).

@CC81 Glad all went well with the scan...twins too how lovely 😊
Thanks, will look into some of those. Where do you buy ubiquinol from if you don't mind me asking? Have seen the proceive too so will look at getting some. I did look into acupuncture as someone has mentioned that before. I'm willing to try anything atm!
I'm not sure that I am ovulating regularly as I have just had a really long cycle of 74 days. However I did have some longer cycles before having my son 4 years ago so am trying to cling onto some hope it could happen!

@Cjg14 - B vitamins can be good for regulating hormones (and thus cycles).

Have you also asked your GP for a fertility referral? They may be able to give you something to help you ovulate (even though they won't fund IVF).

This is the ubiquinol I used:

Ubiquinol 200 Milligram EAF CoQ10... https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00LFVDK1E?ref=ppxpoppmobappshare

@CC81 thank you...from reading the proceive vitamins I think the have B vitamin in so hopefully that might help then 🤞🏻
Yes we were referred to fertility clinic where we had all tests and scans done. Everything came back fine apart from my amh level being very low and she said she didn't think I had ovulated the cycle I had the tests done. I did ask about clomid but she said that is not indicated for the use in poor ovarian reserve and she didn't think it would benefit my situation 😔

Hope the vitamins help. It sounds like sorting out your ovulation is the primary concern - fingers crossed for you. Let us know how you get on.

@cc81 Hello, sorry i know this is an old post. I have very similar numbers to you, and secondary infertility. really getting me down, and thinking of starting acupuncture. I was wondering, do you live in London and if so could you recommend where you went for your acupuncture/ herbs? struggling to find someone who does both. many thanks!