Success with ivf 39 plus

[Hieveryone18]

Is there any ladies who can share ivf success stories aged 39 and above. How was your journey and did you use PGS or not. All experiences I would be grateful to hear.

I had 2 cycles of ivf last year (2019). First was short protocol at the age of 39, one blastocyst, BFN. Second was long protocol about a month after my 40th birthday, including down regulation with nasal spray, and ended up with 2 blasts - one resulted in a BFP and she’s now nearly 6 months old and the second is a frostie. We choose not to do PGS for either cycle - it wasn’t pushed on us by the clinic so we took our chances and it worked out for us.

My AMH levels were 5 and egg collection was 8 first time round and 7 the second. I was lucky in terms of not finding the cycle process too difficult or invasive. My consultants were very open about the lower success rate, to the point of being pretty negative about it, so I had no doubt I’d get a BFN the second time round and was astounded to see the faint pink line emerge on my test date.

I had 2 cycles aged 41 leading to my daughter who is nearly 2 now. First cycle had 14 eggs, 3 transferred, chemical pregnancy and one frozen. Second cycle had 8 eggs, 1 transferred and one frozen (daughter).

Obviously it's easier for most people to conceive at 25 but 39 isn't too old in IVF terms. I'm now 44 and looking to try again - now that really is madness !!!

Best of luck with it. Xxx

@LucyCC @Janefx40
That’s brilliant I love hearing these fantastic stories it gives me so much hope. I have one daughter (now 4) through ivf but I’m absolutely desperate for another. I had an operation so that held me back from trying sooner and covid held me up a lot to. So I recently had a frozen embryo transfer which sadly ended in a MC. Now I’m 39 and terrified because I want this so badly, but hearing your stories have really lifted me so I thank you so much. May I ask if you followed any diet or took any vitamins please. Any information would be great.

@Hieveryone18 I'm so sorry for your loss. I miscarried at 9 weeks in August following an FET. It's so hard. Now having to start from scratch at 44 which isn't great.

I did start a diet and supplements before my successful cycle but to be honest it hadn't had time to take effect yet. I was following the diet and plan from It Starts with the Egg. This time I am doing the same but really only taking coq10 plus regular vitamins. We have to delay IVF as DP has had some negative results that have to be sorted so I have a little longer to prep my body. Going to go back to the book and see what else I can do.

I'm also on DHEA but you need to get tested by a Dr before taking that as it can mess things up otherwise. It's worth asking your clinic about tho

X

@Janefx40
I’m so sorry for your loss but thank you for inspiring me to keep strong.
I was debating getting the book so thank you for making my mind up. Did you buy the main book and the cook book or is there enough information just in the book itself.
Also regarding the Coq10 what mg did you buy I’m was looking and didn’t know what to go for.
Sorry for the questions, and thank you very much.
Wishing you luck xx

The only supplement/diet change between cycle 1 & 2 is I started taking a liposomal 1,000mg vitamin C supplement, because I’d read it had clinical research in improving skin ageing rather than anything to do with ivf. Absolutely no evidence to suggest it made any difference but at the very least, I’ve got better skin because of it!

@Hieveryone18 I initially just bought the main book. It will tell you how much coq10 to take. It is pricey because it's important to get the right form of the stuff. I pay about £50 for a 2-3 month supply. I currently take 300mg which isn't actually enough. I should be taking 400 but the dose depends on your age and situation so you'll need to check.

I bought the cookbook recently which is quite good for better understanding the diet although I haven't actually done any recipes. I'd start with the main book I think.

@LucyCC like the idea of better skin! May try that!

@Hieveryone18 yes, IVF can definitely be successful after 39. I had two rounds at age 40, no PGS testing and AMH was 10.4. First round we had a double day 5 transfer, but BFN and no frosties.Then took 3 months to prep for next cycle which resulted in another double day 5 transfer (which are now 19mo twins) and two frosties, one of which I'm currently 13 weeks pregnant with having just turned 43 this week.

The changes I made in that three months include:
High dose ubiquinol/CoQ10
Vitamin D spray and Omega 3, 6, 9 oil supplements
Zita West IVF prep vitamin supplements
Increased protein intake
Healthy exercise regime and daily fertility yoga (maintain BMI between 20 and 25)
Meditation practice and work stress reduction
Endometrial scratch cycle before EC
Regular acupuncture with a Zita West fertility specialist
Testosterone gel for one month prior to egg collection (this has to be prescribed by your clinic but I believe it has a positive impact on both the number and quality of eggs collected)
Changes to stims used to slow down the speed of the egg maturation as I stimulated too quickly in the first cycle (this has a negative effect on egg quality)
I hope some of this is helpful to you - I think the ubiquinol, acupuncture, protein and testosterone in particular were important. Good luck with your journey xxx

Hi I had my first egg collection on short protocol a few months before turning 39. I think it was 22 eggs collected resulting in 12 day 5 embryos. I’ve had four transfers, the second resulted in our 20 month old and am 18 weeks pregnant with twins after the fourth transfer. I didn’t take anything apart from folic acid during stims. I did do acupuncture/ take Vit D/ folate instead of folic acid etc for first FET but not on the most recent transfer. Wishing you lots of luck on your journey for a sibling x

Oh and no PGS testing

@Lemongrass1 - OMG congrats on your pregnancy - I think we both had our FETs cancelled around last March/April due to covid and were on that thread together for a while but my username was Critter Tamer back then 😊

@SamoyedFan123 may I ask how many mg if Ubiquinol you are/were taking? I started off with 600mg a day but that that was too much (and expensive!) so I'm now down to 400mg a day.

@sabtom i was taking 600. It is expensive but you could try a good quality CoQ10 instead which is a little cheaper. Your body will convert the CoQ10 into ubiquiblnol.

@SamoyedFan123 so would you recommend I go back to 600mg? I've only been taking it about 6weeks and It's only the last 2 weeks I dropped to 400mg. For a while now I've been on high vit D, Vit C, folic acid and vit B complex. Because of the current situation acupuncture is not possible at the moment, I don't drink, don't smoke, I drink 1 defcaff coffee in the morning, exercise regularly and my BMI is 23. I should be starting IVF within the next few months, I can't think of anything more I can do 🤷🏻‍♀️

@sabtom I'm not a medical professional, and they are cagey about giving out advice on ubiquinol as it's still considered an alternative therapy by most, but when i questioned my consultant about it he did say it might help at a high dose. When I did my own research I found that the fertility studies that have been done with it (admittedly were on rodents) used doses of 600+

@Janefx40 @Lemongrass1 @SamoyedFan123 @LucyCC thank you, I certainly have plenty of research to be doing and lots of vitamins and supplements to be buying.

Thank you for keeping me going it’s really helped. If at any time you think of any other things that may help please include them.

I just love hearing these stories

@Janefx40 @sabtom @SamoyedFan123
Please can you tell me where to purchased ubiquinol Coq 10. Some websites look fake and others just don’t do it in the form. Thank you because I would really like to order but don’t want to make a mistake.

@Hieveryone18 I get mine from Amazon.

Qunol Plus Ubiquinol Coq10 200mg... https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0716Q35T1?ref=ppxpoppmobappshare

Hello @Hieveryone18 I buy this one. It's crazy expensive but it's got the Kaneka trademark which is what is recommended in the book.

Ubiquinol 300 Milligram 60 Softgels EAF CoQ10 (Enhanced Absorption Formula Coenzyme Q10 as Kaneka Ubiquinol) https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00U0G1HVU/ref=cmswwrcppapifabcceeucGbXQ673D2?encoding=UTF8&psc=1

I get mine from Nature’s Best

Zita West also sell one

@sabtom @Janefx40 @MF1981 thank you ladies for the help

What a nice thread I've stumbled across. Full of hope.

I'll be starting my 6th cycle soon. I'm 41 and unfortunately not had a baby yet. I still have hope though , and even more now since reading through this thread.

@Lemongrass1 !! - I just spotted your name here.We're were doing FETs at the same time last year I think (?) I can't even keep up with my cycles/what year anymore! Anyway, what I wanted to say was huge congratulations on your pregnancy. wishing you a healthy and happy one.

Best wishes to the rest of you ladies

@NRW39 these ladies have been absolutely amazing and have given me so much hope. They have answered all my questions and have been wonderful.

Good luck to you too and to any ladies that read this.
Think positive always ladies xx

@NRW39 thank you! Yes I think we were doing FETs about a year ago. Wishing you success on your 6th cycle and to everyone else who is having treatment. X