Low AMH - completely heartbroken

[Pumpkinspice77]

Hi all, I was referred for IVF in July due to blocked tubes. Just had my pre treatment blood tests and my AMH has come out at 3.5. I’m only 30. It’s completely destroyed me. They say there’s a risk my treatment will need to be abandoned as I may not respond to the drugs. At my hycosy I had 12 follicles, 6 on each egg.

We started trying when I had just turned 29. I can’t believe my body is like this already, I feel so let down and unlucky. So much for all the reassurances from everyone that I’m “still young” so “have time”.

Does anyone have any positive stories with low AMH and IVF being a success? I need some hope.

6 on each ovary sorry not egg!!

I know lots of people with low AMH who still had babies. I would recommend a clinic which specialises in low AMH though like Create - they don't abandon cycles if you only get 1 or 2 eggs as thats what they specialise in, unlike many other clinics who will pump you full of drugs and the abandon the cycle if you don't have the minimum required 3 follicles for egg collection x

Low AMH levels (associated with a decreased number of follicles, but you still have a good chance of getting pregnant – either naturally or through fertility treatment – especially if you have good-quality follicles)
• Range 1: 3.08–21.97 pmol/l
• Range 2: 2.20–15.70 pmol/l

Does this help? Seems to me that you stand a good chance with ivf. Try not to give up yet xx

@ivfbeenbusy

I know lots of people with low AMH who still had babies. I would recommend a clinic which specialises in low AMH though like Create - they don't abandon cycles if you only get 1 or 2 eggs as thats what they specialise in, unlike many other clinics who will pump you full of drugs and the abandon the cycle if you don't have the minimum required 3 follicles for egg collection x

While I know you've had success with Create, I don't think it's fair to suggest that other clinics just 'pump you full of drugs'.

Op, would you be going nhs or privately funded?

I'm no expert either but isn't 12 follicles quite good? I only had 18 with normal AMH levels

Thanks @ivftake1 where did you see this info? That’s reassuring! I just got a letter through the door with my results so a bit of a shock and my appointment with the doctor is still not for 4 weeks.

It’s NHF funded treatment and in Scotland so get 3 cycles. So my options are private at GCRM or NHS.

theduff.co.uk/amh-levels-ivf/

This website is quite good I think xx

I did think that 12 was pretty average, no one said to me they were concerned about that. So a bit shocked at my AMH levels. A bit worried I have poor quality eggs though because I spot for about 7 days prior to my period which I’ve heard is a sign of poor ovulation. Google is bad for you sometimes!

@Pumpkinspice77

I did think that 12 was pretty average, no one said to me they were concerned about that. So a bit shocked at my AMH levels. A bit worried I have poor quality eggs though because I spot for about 7 days prior to my period which I’ve heard is a sign of poor ovulation. Google is bad for you sometimes!

Google is horrendous. Since starting ivf I've actually stopped googling so much and just asked the doctors/nurses questions instead.

Have you decided on ivf?

Yes we are 100% going down the IVF route. Consultant will go over the plan in 4 weeks. Unfortunately the lab closes over Dec so looks like we’ll hopefully be starting in the new year. 2020 can’t be over quick enough to be honest!

@Pumpkinspice77 my amh was 6.5 which is on the lower side for my age. I had 12 follicles, 10 mature, 6 fertilised, and 2 made it to day 5. One transferred and one on the freezer. Just got my positive yesterday!good luck!

12 follicles isn't bad at all! I am 31, AMH of 6.3 and AFC of 7 at last scan 😢 Low AMH doesn't = poor egg quality. Your quality should be good because of your age, and quality really counts when it comes to IVF. We're starting IVF in the next few weeks (once AF arrives) and our consultant said there was no reason to think I wouldn't respond well given my age. I am on a high dosage meds wise, due to the rubbish follicle count, but I'm feeling optimistic 👍🤞

My AFC was 12 but that was in July. I fear it’s less now 🙁 I do hope my quality is good! Trying to remember it only takes 1 good egg! Not 20 average ones. We don’t speak to our people consultant for weeks which is frustrating. I don’t want to wait anymore.

Wishing you lots of luck! Please come back and let me know how you get on.

12 follicles is good! That’s a better indication of fertility than AMH. I am 31 and just had our second round due to MFI. I had my AMH tested which was 11.68 nearly 2 years ago and was told it was low for my age. My follicle count has fluctuated between 12-34. First round we got 14 eggs and not a single one fertilised!! Second round my partner made lots of lifestyle changes - no hot baths, no cycling, cut down on alcohol, etc. We both took a supplement called impryl. We went through Care and our consultant put me on a low dose protocol (he wanted to put me on 150iu menopur but I persuaded him to up it to 225!). We got 9 eggs this round, with 6 mature. I was disappointed as had hoped for more, however...we had 4 fertilised , all 4 made it to 5 day blastocysts and 2 were hatching. So my point is that even though your egg count may be slightly lower for your age, the chances are at 30 you will definitely have some good quality eggs in there!! Quality is SO much more important than quantity. X

I agree with @ivftake1 I would be wary of going the natural route. It may not work for you. I have done 3 rounds of IVF so far. 1st round on low dose of meds 150 - no embryos. 2nd round on medium dose of meds - 225 + 75 - no embryos. 3rd round 450 max dose - 2 top quality blasts. I actually did a consult with create @ivfbeenbusy And they actually said they wouldn’t do natural modified with someone with my history so it’s not a go to for everyone with low AMH etc.

@Pumpkinspice77 I would try not to worry. There are success stories out there. Key is to not delay. Get started as soon as you can. See how you respond in the 1st round and go from there. It could be a marathon rather than a sprint so be kind to yourself.

Thank you all for your kind words and hope xx

Whilst I think natural modified can be an option for some it's more suitable for those with low AMH and low AFC where the aim is to only get 1 or 2 eggs, patients with low AMH and reasonable/good AFC are often more suited to a more aggressive stim as why wouldn't you aim to get more eggs if your body is capable of producing more?

FWIW I had IVF with AFC of 4 and AMH of 2 with highest dose stim and got an egg from every follicle