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

@VenusStarr thanks for providing all the details. Really looking forward to getting over tomorrow it seems like the biggest hurdle in the process. Hope you are not feeling sore today. X

That's brilliant @VenusStarr! All fingers crossed for your trio. Glad you've recovered well from EC.

@jolly86 I found EC fairly straight forwards too, just to reassure you. In quickly, out like a light for the whole process and was feeling fine within 30-60 minutes of waking up. We went home and I just took it easy that afternoon + ate what I fancied. Went back to work the following day as I felt fine. Hope everything goes smoothly for you too.

@MGee123 @VenusStarr thank you.
I am back from egg collection. I was 8.30 slot but I think it was almost 9 when I went in. I thought I was lucky to be first as it would ve been stressful waiting there longer!! 7 eggs retrieved. Hope they are the bigger ones. We are having ICSI and I ll get a call tomorrow morning to hear about fertilisation results. As you both said process is very easy itself it’s just the anticipation that is stressful!
@VenusStarr did you get any update and do you know when you re having transfer? X

Brilliant news @jolly86 glad all went well. Hope you rest up today ❤️

Thank you @MGee123 🥰

No updates today, just a call in the morning to confirm transfer for tomorrow or push us back to Saturday. Just had my pre-transfer acupuncture, just in case. I'm trying to visualise the embabies growing. Its weird, one part of me wants to have one back now, but on the other hand, I want to make a 5 day transfer xx

@VenusStarr great to hear you have 3 embryos. Keeping everything crossed for you. I hope they call early, the waiting is agony isn’t it? I think there are pros and cons to a day 3/day 5 transfer.

@jolly86 7 is what I got so hoping you get a really good fertilisation and development rate too. Look after yourself. I had a glass of wine on day 2 to celebrate getting that far!

Transfer was a breeze for me, just like a smear test, maybe better. My tip would be arrive with a half full bladder as you may need to wait a bit and you don’t need to be absolutely desperate for a wee!!
@MGee123 so lovely to hear your pregnant! Have you managed to feel chilled about it after the 12 week scan? I do think it’s much harder if you’ve been on such a long journey to get there.

I’m only 4 days past transfer and already inpatient to find out! The endless waiting in infertility is so tough.

Just had my day 3 call, all 3 are doing well, grade 1 quality and 8 cells. In complete shock and absolutely thrilled. So we're booked for a day 5 transfer. Just hope they keep going. Feel like my heart is in there with them. So proud of our little embabies 🥰

@jolly86 hope you get some positive news today.

Thank you @39andabit I'm pleased we (hopefully) get a chance at a 5 day transfer 🙏

@VenusStarr how wonderful is that!!! 3 out of 3 and they all progress. They must be really good ones.

I am getting anxious as no call yet for me.

@39andabit I can't celebrate yet too nervous about the call today :( Thanks for the tips. I already have incontinence problems so full bladder will be tough for me.

Keeping everything crossed for you @jolly86 xxx ❤️

@jolly86 hope you have had your call and more positive news. I found the morning waiting the worst!

@VenusStarr that’s a great result. Keeping everything crossed for you. Would you have 2 transferred?

Just having one back @39andabit I think partly due to my history and I have fibroids and an arcuate uterus. But it's also my nhs round, so not sure they would do 2.
It feels do surreal, I didn't allow myself to believe we could get this far x

I had my call and 6 eggs fertilized, transfer booked for monday. I just can't believe it. They must have done ICSI very well as I think the lab and embryologist really matters in this case, I am so grateful! I don't think I'll get any more updates till then (the embryologist didn't say so), which maybe is best as I find these calls too stressing.

Fantastic news @jolly86 they kept you waiting! But so pleased you've had great news ❤️ I agree, it is so stressful. I was already shaking and crying confirming my dh's details! X

@VenusStarr thank you yes I know the feeling luckily he didn't ask me all those details !! Such emotions. So hopefully all goes to plan and we also have our transfers 2 days apart :)

Great news @jolly86 amazing result.

We were driving to the transfer before we got our d5 call and the phone reception was terrible, luckily I did manage to hear ‘1 top quality blast’ before it died... otherwise that would have been an even more stressful journey!!!

Good luck with the transfers and keep me updated.

I wish I could tell you it gets less anxiety ridden after transfer but I’m now over analysing everything and trying to decide when to test. Clinic says Weds but I’m pretty sure I could do it Monday with an early test. I just think I’d like to know ASAP if it’s not worked.

@39andabit I know every time we think a big hurdle is over more is coming!! It'll be another two and a half weeks with ups and downs. I do believe we will all get there in the end though, even if first time doesn't work which often the case.

@VenusStarr, I just wanted to say good luck and thank you - your thread has given me some hope when I've been struggling to find any.

I'm having IVF at the moment and not responding very well to the stims, so the clinic are saying I'll probably only get one egg at EC. I'd just about given up, but reading your posts and others' posts here has given me a bit of hope that all might not be lost...

I'm so pleased it's helping you @Scirocco ❤️ I'm glad I made the thread, it's definitely helped me to hear from others with similar experiences. There is definitely hope, even if you don't feel it right now.
When is your next scan, feel free to post on here if you want support or share updates. It can feel very lonely at times xx

@Scirocco hi there. It’s bloody horrible isn’t it when you hear that sort of news? We were looking at converting to IUI half way through the stims as my ovaries weren’t responding but after a few extra days they managed to collect 7 eggs and 3 made it to blast so don’t lose hope yet. There’s always alternative protocols or drugs too if it doesn’t work out this time but I know that’s not always possible- we have a limited budget and not much time so can’t do lots of cycles sadly.

I know it’s hard on other threads when people are talking about getting loads of follicles/eggs, you just feel you have no chance but IVF feels a bit like like the Grand National with so many fences to jump, even an outsider with low odds can win!

Look after yourself and feel free to vent.

Thanks! It came as a real shock as my AMH and AFC suggested I'd probably get a good response (AFC was 18 on the baseline scan and my AMH was 23) - but the stims and my body don't seem to be working together properly. My next scan is tomorrow, so I guess I'll hear then what the plan is about EC.

I didn't realise converting to IUI could be an option... I might speak with someone about that tomorrow if there's not much progress, if that might mean not using up a funded cycle (I think where I am a cycle is counted as egg collection, and stopping before then doesn't use up a cycle)?

So pleased for you @VenusStarr and @jolly86 - what great updates!

Thank you @39andabit. Yes I have managed to relax into it. I actually felt quite reassured after our 7 week viability scan, then got a bit more nervous as the 12 week one approached, but since then have felt quite relaxed. I'm lucky I've not had any issues like unexpected bleeding, which has probably helped. My husband has been more worried than me, but he has been more relaxed since the 12 week scan too. Waiting is horrendous, I feel your pain. I had some brown blood the day before OTD so was certain I was out. Shock of my life at 3am the following day when I couldn't wait any longer!

I actually found the morning waiting for a call on transfer day the worst too. I felt sick all morning as our embryos hadn't been growing that well and I was sure it would be cancelled. That morning was vividly the most never wracking!

@Scirocco sorry to hear you aren't responding to the stims as well as hoped, but 🤞 for some positive news tomorrow. Hopefully your clinic can give good advice in terms of what your options are. Definitely worth checking what they count as a cycle. I suspect you're right that if you don't go through with EC, it wouldn't count.

@Scirocco with Nhs my understanding is if you dont do egg collection you should keep your free cycle- maybe depends on each trust! I am sure modifying the drugs etc should give you a better result if you do another cycle, I read that this is often the case. Good luck with it!

A bit of good news today, a couple of other follicles have caught up so we might be able to proceed to EC as hoped! Waiting for a final decision from the team later.

@Scirocco hi, think we've spoken on the other thread and I recognise @VenusStarr - waving !!

I only have the one egg which is anywhere near what it should be. A few others in the running but are small!! I have a scan Monday to see if any of them have had growth spurts!

Such a disappointment when you're told they are responding but slowly! Trying to be positive though but it's at the back of my mind
X

@VenusStarr good luck for tomorrow!