Very low AMH

[Kamiros]

Hi. Earlier this week I went for fertility testing at GCRM. We had been trying for 2 years then just after booking the appointment became pregnant in September. Sadly I miscarried at 6 weeks and we decided to keep pursuing IVF options. I just got my results back last night; my AMH is only 0.5 and I have only 2 follicles. The report says ivf not recommended with own eggs but we don't have our appointment to discuss the results for another week. Is there any hope for us (DH results are normal) or is it time to start thinking about donor eggs? I was not expecting this so soon after actually conceiving and have no idea if low AMH and MC are related. Really feel like I've hit a wall. Thank you.

Clinics push donor eggs because it boosts their success rates and they throw the option around likes its such an easy decision to make despite it coming with lots of ethical and moral implications. You'd be better speaking off to a clinic like Create which specifically specialise in treating women with ultra low AMH that other clinics won't treat.

Hi @Kamiros

I think iVfbeenbusy may be a PR person for Create as they posted something very similar on my post about low AMH. Apparently Create are the only good ones for low AMH and everyone else “pumps you with hormones.”

If you are going to GCRM I can assume you’re in Scotland so Create would be lot of travel. I would wait until you have spoken with your consultant before you make any decisions as they are the experts.

My plan is to try IVF with my own eggs to see how that goes. I am not considering doner eggs at the moment, I will cross that bridge if necessary when i need to.

It is a huge shock to receive the results of low AMH, but it’s not the end of the road. Talk things over with your clinic and see what the options are.

Hey- I'm sorry you got such crappy news. I found out about my low AMH/AFC a couple of months ago and it was a real shock. I am hopefully starting my first round of IVF next week and then depending on how that goes I may look at moving to Create. As @ivfbeenbusy has said, they specialise in natural/mild IVF which can be good for women with low AMH that do not respond well to regular IVF. I wouldn't give up on trying with your own eggs until you have looked into it more. There are lots of positive stories out there of women with low AMH having success. As long as you are ovulating then technically all it takes is one egg. Sending lots of hugs your way. I know how much of a shock it can be xx

@Pumpkinspice77

I'm not a PR person for Create! I just had a good experience there. They are well known for what they specialise in. I've seen several times on these boards that people have spoken to Create and other clinics and have been given completely different suggested protocols - ie Create low dose drugs and the other much higher drug doses - so it is premised in truth that Create's ethos is low dose drugs whereas most other clinics favour pursuing a maximum quantity of eggs approach which requires higher dose drugs 🤷‍♀️

Thanks everyone for your input. I certainly feel less alone. DH is great but it was hard hearing we may end up with a child that's biologically his but not mind. Obviously if that's the option then I'll do that but its just difficult to take in.

I'm definitely focused on still trying this so will look into the various options. Thank you.

How old are you OP?

My amh was 2.8. I’ve been pregnant 3 times since then and had 2 live births- one ivf birth and 1 natural conception birth (one miscarriage also).

It’s not an “absolute” for the end of the world. Studies have also shown that low amh has no impact on natural conception if it’s the only issue at play. Look it up.

IVF clinics these days publish success rates per embryo transferred rather than per cycle started so the success rates argument doesn't really work.

I'm 38. I'm keeping hope with knowing we conceived recently. I know I had thyroid issues which they think may have contributed to it taking us so long and the MC

Hey @Kamiros - I’ve just signed up to this forum as have been given the same harsh prognosis as you (36yrs > amh is 0.6 pmol/L > fsh is 16 and afc at the time was 5). I’m about to embark on the private route and just looking for any other ladies in the same boat, same figures as me. I’m also thinking that same worry about donor - I would do it, but not yet ready to. How has your journey been since your post, if you don’t mind me asking? 🌺

Hi @LuLuN3T So I've had a bit of a journey since then. My amh is 0.3 - I did a cycle of IVF in April on flare protocol. 2 follicles responded and I got 1 egg. My 1 egg did amazingly well and made a 4aa blast, which we had transferred on day 5. Unfortunately it didn't take.
I've since discovered I have hashimotos which is causing the thyroid issues and may be affecting implantation. I'm waiting to see an endocrinologist before I start cycle 2.
I wouldn't put too much worry on the amh to be honest, you only need one. I'd focus more on doing everything you can to get good quality eggs - for me it was focusing on good diet, taking supplements and DHEA (don't start that without speaking to a doctor) and acupuncture.
I'm not yet convinced about moving to donor eggs as if I do have an implantation issues or possibly even NK cells donor eggs would make very little difference but I wouldn't rule it out.

Hi there. Have just received the devastating diagnosis of primary ovarian insufficiency. AMH is 0.36 and FSH varies between 13 and 77. One period in the last 6 months and I was on the pill before that. I'm considering options including create fertility but haven't got much hope of using my own eggs. Are you ladies still having normal periods?

Hey Kamiros,
Thanks for the response x
Sorry to hear the journey is still going and that you didn’t get the outcome from the last transfer. It sounds like it’s going in the right direction with getting eggs and good ones - such a big achievement in our situation! I hope they find the missing link for you soon and get that emby bedded in x 🌺

Hey Whirling D,
I do have regular periods (1 every month), but they range between every 28-33 days and o let last 2 days. I have seen posts from other ladies who were not regular, but meds caused them to start having regular periods. This month I actually had a period that was more akin to my younger days (timing, symptoms, flow, duration etc). I credit it to the supplements and acupuncture (don’t know if it helps or not!). So make sure you are getting the right nutrients and perhaps look in to acupuncture if you haven’t started already x

@LuLuN3T I'm having acupuncture already. I enjoy it. I'm taking fertility vitamins but haven't ventured into any herbs yet!

Yes same - I’ve not started on Chinese herbs, but ai’m taking extra Vit D, Coq10, prenatal vit’s, drinking spirulina and wheatgrass. Plus now eating fish x3 per week and reduced the processed foods, meats and sugars. Where are you based WhirlingD? I haven’t started any real treatment yet - only 5mg Letrozole each month that the NHS prescribed. Has your process started? X

I'm also having periods but anywhere between 23 and 30 days- acupuncture definitely helps! I also really think healthy diet and supplements helped my egg quality.

I think I'll start on herbs if my next ivf works.

@LuLuN3T I'm in Hertfordshire. I haven't even been able to get an appointment with a specialist yet so I'm right at the start of this all. So far I've been told the only chance is donor eggs, which I feel ok about. I'm almost in the mindset of just throwing all my savings at that and giving up on my own eggs. My periods are really sparse and I think I'd be heartbroken to be given hope by someone that's might get pregnant with my own eggs and it not working.

Saying that, ordering DHEA was easy so I've ordered that, but I'm not expecting it to work. I'll give up at first sign of side effects.

I'm not in a particularly positive mood this morning!

Morning WhirlingD,
Sorry to hear that mate - try not to beat yourself up. If you haven’t showered yet then go and have a good cry in the shower and get it all out - works for me on those low/ angry days.
I had my prognosis only a few weeks ago and have my first appointment with a private consultant on 13th July - so I am at the same stage as you.

I’m going to try with my own eggs, because any hope is a hope - and it does happen. You’re potentially a bit further on than me in resting on donor - I’m not there yet (due to loss of genetics) so I feel that I have to try. And hubby is determined to try with mine too. He’s very hopeful about it all - more than me.
Was it NHS who told you best to go straight to donor? It’s a very personal choice and only you know when it’s time to make that call.
I’ve just turned 36 and have led quite a clean life, so I’m hoping (perhaps naively) that quality will not be an issue and that I may still have 1 golden egg in there.
How does your other half feel about donor? x

Fingers crossed for your next transfer Kamiros 🤞🏼🌺

Hi all just wondering where you are with your journey. I had a failed NHs cycle at TVF. They had 2 prominent follicles and 2 tracking, I don’t know the true extent until my follow up but long story short I had no eggs. My AMH was 2.8 in March 2021 and FSH was 4.7. In July 2921 my AMH was 0.6 and FSH 27.7!!! I’m
35! Just so confused don’t know what to do. Don’t know whether to go to argc or crgh or create or what so scared !!

Hi @ThashG So I had a second cycle in September there. Despite relative success in the first round, this time we didn't make it to egg collection. I had 1 follicle on the right that never got bigger than 12. On my second scan I had 3 on the left but by the third scan they'd all disappeared. I have one paid round left, probably start of next year then that's it on to donor eggs for me. My clinic has a 3 year list for donor eggs which I can't even deal with at nearly 40 so I'm starting to look for new clinics either in the UK or more likely Spain. Its really hard to know what to do but for me I just know its time.

You can still fall pregnant with low amh. I had 4 pregnancies but unfortunately lost them all. Although it seemed to be an immune issue primarily. If you have thyroid issues it is worth getting your immunes checked.
I had 3 folllicles when I tried ivf last , I went to argc. Felt surprised they took me on as over 40 too. They don’t test amh but I know a few years before my amh was 6 and I had 7 follicles so assume it was dire. They did short protocol . I was looking for embryos to pgs test. For various reasons didn’t get to pgs and was fresh and I’m in third trimester now 🤞. I also have pgs normal on ice from first try.
I wouldn’t give up hope . They told me they had seen a few women with One follicle go onto have a baby. That gave me courage and confidence.
I did a low carb high protein diet for 6 months, no caffeine or alcohol and dh and I took the supplements in it starts with the egg. You never know what helps or is it luck etc but I wanted to proactively try to improve my chances before we went donor route. Best of luck

@Loveintherain Your story gives me hope, congratulations on your pregnancy. I've been doing all the supplements, diet, acupuncture for a year now. I do think it makes a huge difference as the one embryo we did get was A grade. I'd echo the thyroid suggestion. I have hashimotos, TSH and T4, T3 all under control and clinic don't seem bothered apart from that- I'm not sure there isn't still an issue though. I don't really want to give up with my own eggs, its hard to know when to make that call.

@Kamiros have you had immune testing. I’m sure someone will think I do PR for dr Gorgy but it’s the only pregnancy that got anywhere. I had high killer cells and low antibodies to protect the pregnancies. I have an auto immune condition anyway which makes you more pre disposed as you have an immune system which is on hyper alert anyway. Just something to consider

@Loveintherain I haven't and I really think I need to. I have a review appointment next week before we think about the last cycle and its on my list to ask about. Even if we need to go down the donor route its something that needs to be checked. I'm definitely changing clinics if this round doesn't work so I'm starting to make a list of options. I plans to have a few consultations before we choose- I'll look into that. Thanks