High FSH Low AMH ... HELP!

[ffiffi123]

Hi

Hoping someone can help.

We have a beautiful two year old daughter already.

However, we were told yesterday that my second fsh test showed higher levels than last month but also my amh result was so low, 0.8, that it would be egg donor only, if we wanted to conceive a second. I also have a small uterine polyp which hopefully will still be removed. Obviously it’s all very upsetting, I’m 36 due to be 37 in a few months.

As a side note I also suffer with hormonal epilepsy (controlled by medication)

My question is, has anyone had any success stories with these type of low numbers? The nurse just sounded very grave and said there wouldn’t be much of a chance! Am I clutching at straws? I’m hoping once the polyp is removed it may give us some hope?

Also are there any hormone balance/egg quality supplements, tips etc I should look at?

Thank you 😊

Anyone??

@ffiffi123 I had success with own egg IVF. My AMH was 1.0. FSH was only taken a couple of times but highest was around 19. Unfortunately the statistics are not great with these numbers but age is still on your side with egg quality. Do you know what your follicle count is?

Thank you for your reply, no I don't but I'll ask the question next appointment

I've researched into supplements & lifestyle changes which I'm doing, weight is fine for my height although I've started to eat better & lost weight.

I'm hoping once I get this polyp removed we'll have better chances, IVF wouldn't be an option apparently as the FSH level is not great, which I'm hoping to lower.

Appointment this week so hopefully I'll get some questions answered

Not to drip feed but my cycles are regular like clockwork so hoping this is also a good sign x

My cycles are also like clockwork, however they are on the short side! I asked about follicle count because sometimes AMH and follicle count don't quite match ie you could have more follicles than your AMH would suggest and therefore may respond to IVF better than expected. Unfortunately mine was between 2 and 5 on any given month.

Do you have to do ivf?

Studies have shown that low amh as an issue by itself has no impact on natural conception - look it up. It’s only Ivf where it becomes more problematic.

My amh was 2.8 age 34. I was given the doom and gloom story but got pregnant 3 times subsequently- twice naturally and once with ivf.

No, she said the only option would be donor egg, as my FSH was high & AMH low (0.8) but I also have a polyp in my womb, stopping an embryo from attaching.

Everything I've read so far is saying it's quality not quantity, so with a few life style changes I could possibly get pregnant after the polyp is removed.

Hopefully they'll still remove it now though

Hi ladies

I just got my FSH result from CD 2 which is 22 and I'm freaking out.
To start with, GP marked this as normal but of course everything I've read so far is absolutely clear - low ovarian reserve and failing ovaries.
I'm 38 trying for a first child and as it turns out, NHS wouldn't even fund an IVF cycle with such high FSH.
I'd really appreciate it if you could share your advice and experience, at odds where to start from and what to do if first thing first I'll have to 'fight' for a referral with the GP.
Thanks and good luck to all!

@Summerishere83 ... try wheat grass and DHEA. Lots of info on google. I managed to reduce my FSH from 15 to 6.6 in two months ... but also be mindful that FSH does fluctuate naturally each month ... my last readings have been 15, 6.6, 9.8 and 10.7 x

Hi @firefly37 thanks so much for your reply!

I did come across DHEA but it's on prescription only so I'll have to wait and see what the GP says next Thursday. Will look up wheatgrass too.

That's really great improvement with your FSH levels, have you has AMH and follicular count too? Have you seen a fertility specialist? Apologies if you have already talked about this earlier, since yesterday I've read a ton of stuff.

Thanks for the reassurence, indeed levels fluctuate, it just a long way to go in my case so it seems unlikely FSH can go below the NHS cut off point to meet eligibility for IVF.

Trying to stay positive though, hoping with that much stimulation I'll ovulate in a couple of days.. You never know!

Thank you again and please keep us posted with your progress! X

A word of caution on DHEA. I was told by the consultant to take it on one of my cycles, however my levels were never checked and that was the only cycle where I had empty follicles. You really need to be monitored if you are going to take it.

@ffiffi123 sorry to hear about your test results. I have low AMH of 1.3, FSH is about 13 last time I checked, but I have only about 4 follicles across both ovaries, plus I have either really short or really long cycles. I think the follicle count and the cycles are maybe the most serious indicator something isn't right. I'm 35 and we've been trying for 3 years, only had 1 chemical naturally, did 2 rounds of IVF, both time got only 1/2 eggs and 1 day 5 blast but didn't implant.

We've now decided to move into Donor Eggs, however I had to go through the process of trying to get the point where I felt sure it just wasn't going to happen with my eggs. I've seen other women with lower AMH get pregnant, it just isn't happening for me and I don't want to spend my whole 30's in this ttc nightmare.

If you do IVF I would advise doing Natural Modified, check your FSH at the start of your cycle and don't do it if it's higher than 18, just try again next month as it does vary, this is advice from my consultant, she said doing a round with FSH higher than 18 will likely ruin the egg anyway so it's a waste. Personally DHEA never didn't anything helpful for me, but again other people have a better experience.

I think the problem is we're all different and what works for one person doesn't work for another, so there is no definite answer, the only way to know is to try and see what happens and give yourself a cut off point when you've had enough. Good luck xx

Just a point on reducing the fsh as a solution - FSH is an indicator which suggests low egg reserve. Reducing the FSH doesn’t mean you can Improve your egg count - it’s impossible to increase the number of eggs you have left unfortunately.

Best bet is to improve the quality of the eggs you have left - various ways of doing this - vitamins, diet, not sure about DheA as I never got that far.

Also look at the research that shows that low egg reserve has no bearing on natural conception (apparently) if this is the only issue.

Thank you for the advice @MabelG! It is something I'll discuss with the GP during my call next week, he's not a specialist so unlikely he'll prescribe it right away. It's a shame your follicles were empty on that cycle, didn't realise that might happen too.

Hope otherwise your treatment is going well!

Good luck to you too @Dbop100! So much hoping FSH is not detrimental to the remaining eggs..

Hi @Ilikeviognier
That's what I'm hoping for too, that there's still a chance of a spontaneous healthy pregnancy.. :)

Thank you all for your insights, it's much better to discuss this with people who know what you're going through, wishing lots of luck to everyone and a happy sunny weekend too! X

Hi guys. You all seem very knowledgeable so if anyone could share their thoughts on my results that would be great. FSH 9.6, AMH 18.6 and AFC 13. The consultant has suggested we give it 6 more months before moving to IVF. We’ve tried for 12 months so far. I think this is mainly because I have two children already both conceived within the last 5 years so very unusual that it’s not happening this time 😔

Just to give you some hope, I went through ivf with low amh, resulted in early miscarriage. However when considering out 2nd cycle a year later my amh was undetectable and decided it was game over. The next month I fell pregnant naturally … the only thing I did different was have Accupuncture for menopausal symptoms … I am now 35 weeks and still in shock. So don’t give up hope even from what the doctors say, keep trying xxx

Hi ladies

I got my day 21 progesterone result, it's 6.22ng... GP has again commented 'normal' so didn't receive a call or any guidance. Google says it's low so it seems I'm not even ovulating.. Is it a lost cause with these results? Still kind of a shock to me, I expected issues but also thought I must be ok with assisted reproduction..
My GP is useless too :( the best he could do was to refer me for a video call on the 19th July.. Just ridiculous :(

@Furmummy congrats! Against all odds good news :)

@Summerishere83 sorry to hear about your results. I find GP's are pretty useless when it comes to fertility, it might be that if you wouldn't qualify for NHS treatment anyway (I didn't as my AMH was under 5) that you will have to go private. I'd avoid waiting lists and go straight to that and get a full assessment and some advice from someone who knows far more what they're talking about. Good luck xx

Hi @Dbop100
Thank you for your advice!
Yes I did an antral follicle count privately at the start of this cycle and I had 6 which is not too bad I guess but they found a polyp and a fibroid. So I'm waiting for an NHS scan appointment to remove it on the 31st May.
FSH this cycle was even higher, 23.6, so I had decided after the scan to go to Create Fertility for a modified IVF cycle. But now reading what your consultant said about FSH above above 18 damaging the eggs is really disheartening.. are there any options for me left then? And I don't get it,if such a high FSH damages the eggs,how does IVF even work if they must give you a huge dose of it in conventional IVF to start the follicle development?
There's a fertility fair this month in London and I'm planning to go to get more information about the clinics out there.
And you are right, I'm not going to wait for NHS for IVf so once the polyp is removed I'll start it privately if I still have a chance..

@Summerishere83 glad you've spoken to a clinic and I hear create are really good for low AMH. Good that you're getting the polyp removed on the NHS too.
Sorry to hear it's so high, I've even told that it can fluctuate from month to month so one month might be lower and could be a better time to try? I honestly don't really know about the FSH just repeating what my consultant at Care advised. You could get a 2nd opinion there? She's called Dr Hall.

Thanks @Dbop100 !
I'll contact Create to see whether there's any point booking a consultation before the NHS appointment. Can't wait to speak to a specialist finally as I'm driving myself mad with googling and second guessing. But yeah it's a fact if I still have a chance I really need to start asap.
Good luck and please share how things go with you!

Good morning ladies, hope you have a nice day :)

Hi @ffiffi123 how are things going with you? Hope all is well!