Low amh / 3 lead follicles - need some hope!

[VenusStarr]

I'm doing my first round of IVF, this is my one and only nhs round. I have low amh (5) so was warned they weren't expecting much from me. I have had 4 naturally concieved miscarriages and am following an immune protocol but worried about my low numbers.

I've been on stims since Thursday and had my first scan today. I have 3 decent sized follicles: 2x12mm, 1x10mm plus 5 smaller ones all about 5mm. The nurse seemed happy but thinks that the smaller ones won't come to anything. Follow up is Wednesday and looking at egg collection sometime between Friday and Monday.

I'm on another thread and everyone has loads of follicles / eggs, so struggling not to compare. Due to my low numbers, we've already discussed a day 3 transfer, but I'm worried we won't even get that far.

Please share any positive stories. X

@strawberrysummer19 so sorry to hear that - hopefully you'll get some much needed answers during your appointment ❤️xxx

I'm sorry @strawberrysummer19 💐

@strawberrysummer19 thinking of you and hope you can get some good feedback for your next cycle X

@strawberrysummer19 hoping for the best for you! agree with the ladies it could still be anything!
@jolly86 @Scirocco here in NL they prescribe progesteron also up until the testing day only.
This week I have been at the clinic and have found out that at FET they don't prescribe any support at all!

The consultation didn't go so well as the doctor just could not understand all my worries and the idea to first do another stimulation to collect more embryos and then do the FET. I had a long list of questions but could not ask all of them since her reaction was so weird. I asked if we could do the stimulation privately and she still said no! She didn't want to listen I wanted to think about potential child n2.
She also kept insisting on how in the NL they provide only scientifically proven treatment, that day 5 transfer is not proven bla bla bla... It is really hard to talk about this stuff when you read a lot and know the statistics and also know the studies but you are not a doctor and she just doesn't listen and tells you otherwise (I tried mentioning we could not be sure in the quality of the frozen ones when they are day 3 and she just looked at me in disbelief).

She also didn't allow to go into FET this cycle... According to her, one month of rest is needed in between cycles for ovaries to come to a normal size, etc.

@TheDutchess3 sorry that you got frustrated with your consultant. May I ask why you are having treatment in NL? I presume you live there? Day 5 transfers are standard all around the world I thought nowadays. Only thing I don't get is in the UK mostly they wait for day 5 even with 1 or 2 embryos.

@strawberrysummer19 so very sorry to hear that. Take of yourself and I wish you all the luck for the next round. I don’t think there’s anything to say to make you feel better but there’s every reason it may be more successful next time.

@TheDutchess3 that sounds really hard, it must be really frustrating not to be listened to and some of the opinions do seem out of touch with research. Can you change clinics? I’m the same re wanting to start with a full cycle next time and leave the 1 embryo in the freezer as I’m nearly 40 and time is precious, I was told the same re a month off in between too though.

@Luan82 good luck with your scan today.

Thank you everyone

This group has been great and given me such good support

I'll update once I've had my consultation

May shed some light to help others also xx

Thank you @jolly86, @39andabit
I am indeed treated in the NL because I live here now but I am looking into other possibilities already... I just feel they follow their own path here, not in line with the rest of the world while keep claiming they are! I know it is very similar in Germany (where they still sometimes have the transfer on day 2 and also don't do genetic testing of embryos), and it is just so surprising considering the overall high level of medicine both here and in Germany!
Day 5 they keep saying is not proven for all cycles including FET. I don't know why they are so behind the rest of the world...

I already did change the clinic once! In that other one they actually switched to day 5 transfer a year ago, but the rest of the treatment was not going well, there was horrible planning and an absolutely absent-minded doctor. The treatment only yielded 1 blastocyst so I switched to my current clinic and was myself not so sure anymore about day 5 in the situation of the few embryos. But now I feel like it can be such a waste of time and energy to do day 3 embryo transfers not knowing if they can even live up to day 5...

It is so hard in these waiting periods! I did know they don't do stimulations back to back but was hoping the FET in a natural cycle could be done in the next month (like in some clinic abroad). But no, apparently not here! So extremely disappointed with this clinic too and the absence of even trying to understand me and my state of mind.

Just a quick update especially if anyone is reading in the future. Had my scan today (7w,1day) and all looks good. Baby is measuring a couple of days behind but had a really strong heartbeat and all looks good. Early days but feeling so much better.

@jolly86 how are you coping with the wait?

@Luan82 hope you’re stimulation is going well

@39andabit amazing !!!!! So happy for you !! 🌈🙏🏼❤️ how are you finding the pregnancy?
I had a good scan today she said one follicle has appeared on my right ovary it's measuring 11 and there are five on my left so another scan 07:30 tomorrow and fingers crossed we are stil on for EC Friday / sat - 6 follicles is ok with me!🤞🏼🤞🏼🤞🏼 xxx

@39andabit congratulations, really happy for you and the little one 💜

Thanks @Scirocco & @Luan82 I’m really happy 😊
I haven’t had too many issues, nausea comes and goes, insatiable hunger, shaking (but think this is low blood pressure) and bloating and tender boobs but this is almost definitely progesterone. The only weird one is the increase in sense of smell.
@luann82 so pleased your scans are going ok. I only had 7 eggs so it’s definitely quality that’s important 🤞

@39andabit that’s great news I bet you are relieved! I am doing ok thanks a bit less anxious then initially but I will be anxious before scan if I make it there. I am also very hungry but should be careful with my eating- they say you don’t need to eat more in first trimester.

@Luan82 that sounds a good number to me and it seems you responded well! The rest will be very quick. Good luck for the next steps.

@jolly86 how long have you got to wait? Hoping it all goes well for you. I was really anxious the week before as my symptoms seemed to disappear for a few days but the last day I just felt quite calm and relieved to get there. Every day closer your chances of a continuing pregnancy are getting better, I kept telling myself that.
I know what you mean about the weight. I have definitely put weight on this last few weeks but I was on the low side before, I already put on half a stone at the consultants advice prior to IVF so I’m probably a stone heavier than last year and struggling to fit into any clothes. I’m trying to be chilled about it and balance not restricting with not over eating - I eat really healthily but can be a bit too controlling with food so I do find it hard to find a balance, especially when I’m doing so much less exercise too. I’m trying to snack on carrots and crackers as well as biscuits and peanut butter!

Trigger tonight ten past midnight ready for EC Friday at ten to eleven - I'm the last on the list !! 😬🙄 x

@Luan82 oh great news! Nothing you can do now but rest and look after yourself. I didn’t find EC too bad but like you was the last in and the waiting was tough. Take headphones and listen to music or a podcast if you’re finding it hard. I was mainly messaging my partner who had delivered ‘the goods’ in about 3 mins and gone off to find food 😂 it’s pressure on the men but he coped very well.
Wishing you all the luck in the world 🤞🤞🤞

The trigger was also fine - I get freaked out I’m going to do it wrong but it really was straightforward.

@39andabit thanks so much!! It's all happened very fast, they are happy with my lining that's thickening nicely and the one follicle on the left ovary has come up to 12 so they will try and collect that one too, the other one is still looking like 5 follicles with a few measuring 17 and she did warn me they might not collect eggs from all the follicles just hoping there are some super quality eggos in there ! Xx

@39andabit thanks for the tips - the waiting wasn't too bad in the end !
thought I'd post the results here as it's specifically low amh-ers, Well EC was today and it went very smoothly !! Unfortunately only collected 3 eggs though so out of seven follicles I was quite surprised, we are now keeping our fingers and toes crossed that they are super quality eggos and OH sperm hasn't any issues - 3 is the magic number ... hopefully !!! 🙏🏼 I was quite emotional coming out, it also happens to be one year to the day I had my mexotrethate injection to terminate the ectopic pregnancy so felt like it was an emotional time anyway despite the circumstances!! Hope everyone is doing well, now got the lovely waiting on tenterhooks for the call tomorrow x

@Luan82 glad it went ok and I completely understand feeling a bit disappointed with 3 but you’re still very much in the game. Keeping everything crossed for you 🤞🤞🤞
That’s quite a coincidence, no wonder it was a bit emotional.
There’s always more waiting right?! Hopefully they’ll call early but don’t panic if not, sometimes there’s less staff on a Saturday so my clinic warned me it may be a bit later. Hope you’re resting up tonight. I did have a glass of wine the day after to treat myself!

@39andabit it's my OH's birthday tomorrow so I definitely will be treating myself to cake and a glass of bubbly!! 😉 early night tonight I was fine after the procedure but this evening am quite uncomfortable and my stomach is bloated with a little red rash - hopefully be better tomorrow x

@Luan82 that was the same for me. Suddenly had some mild pain in the evening once the drugs had worn off but was fine the next day, the positive of fewer follicles.
I had cramping for a couple of days, a day or so after which may have been implantation.
Enjoy a lovely celebration and the bubbly! Sleep well!

@39andabit thank you ! Pleased its not just me then ! 😘 x

@39andabit so I got the call this morning - two out of three fertilised normally so now keeping everything crossed that both make it to day five, if I had one to freeze that would be just incredible but I'll be happy with one healthy embryo to transfer - thanks everyone for your support the past few days it's honestly been invaluable!! ❤️🌈🙏🏼x

Great news @Luan82! Will you get a day 3 call? Enjoy the Birthday celebrations, another hurdle overcome! X