Low ovarian reserve

[Alysskea]

I’ve been going through routine tests in advance of fertility treatments (I’m in a same sex couple) and I’ve been told I’ve got low ovarian reserves and AMH value is 10 where it should be above 20 for my age - 27.

the doctor was so cagey about what this means and the internet is so full of jargon I don’t understand it (I’ve got a masters degree lol).

Does this have a big impact on my chances of getting pregnant now, in the next few months? I just want to know what I’m up against. I only get 6 cycles of funding.

10 is low for your age but it isn’t terrible. If you know you want to have kids, I would get on with it sooner rather than later whilst you’re still young. You could always make and freeze embryos at a later date.

Thank you or replying. I am planning on inseminating within about 2 months, certainly not waiting around! Do you have an idea of how it affects chances of pregnancy to have it hovering around 10, does it impact it a lot? Sorry if I’m coming across as dim!

AMH gives you an indication as to your egg reserve but it tells you nothing about your egg quality. There are many people which high AMH but terrible egg quality. The most important thing is your age and at 27 you are likely to have excellent egg quality. So there is still plenty of hope! X

Thank you for your help and for reassuring. Don’t need tell you lot here here how anxiety inducing it is having all these tests. Suppose all I can do is hope for now!!! I’m already going to be receiving treatment from the assisted conception so at least if things don’t work out I’m in the right place

Hey @Alysskea

I'm a non-binary afab person currently ttc with my female spouse. I'm trying to carry. I thought I'd drop by to add some thoughts from my experience as an afab person paying privately for same sex treatment (we're in an area where you have to pay for 6 cycles by yourself to prove infertility to get funding).

I imagine the clinic will have strongly encouraged you to try IUI first? My biggest regret so far is trying IUI. My situation is slightly different because I have low egg quality and am paying out of pocket, but I think what I'm about to say is worth considering with your clinic.

IUI is cheaper for the clinic and hence presents a cost saving for them - if they can get you through on that they get their data and spend less. However, IUI has low success rates and depending on the clinic they'll encourage you to have about three IUI before moving to IVF. But IVF has far higher success rates. I wish I had asked for more tests (and with hindsight I would pay privately for this if I was funded for the actual cycles) before trying IUI. After going through IUI cycles it was only then that they looked at egg quality. From what I understand, they probably haven't checked your egg quality? It might be worth exploring that more before jumping in to IUI?

We have had so far a much better experience in Europe - they are more thorough and have better technology imo.

I know this is not what you specially asked but I have found a complete lack of information for same sex afab people and fertility treatments and I think that has negatively impacted my experience of it.

Sending you heaps of good vibes that you have success soon! Xx

@Alysskea I wouldn't worry too much about AMH being 10 but you don't want to wait around too long. There are varying scales on the internet, but yes, definitely on the low side for your age... also not a total disaster.

For insemination, you'll do it when you ovulate. When you ovulate naturally, you'll release 1 egg. Your AMH becomes more important and more of indicator of success when you're having IVF (which I don't think you are at this stage if I've read this right). That's because you're looking to collect lots of mature eggs in one go to create embryos.

Agree with the other poster re IUI. It really has very low success rates in comparison to IVF. With a low AMH, don't spend too long trying that. Get cracking! Best of luck!

Mine was 8.2 and conceived through IVF first time. Hope that is reassuring for you.

Thanks for posting everyone. To be honest I feel more confused than ever haha. We are having IUI because that is what is funded. IVF we will get one cycle if the IUI fails. I also feel like some posts on here have said no not to worry, but then recommended IVF which suggests I should be worrying - since that makes it sound like I won’t be able to conceive naturally. I suppose I could ask them about egg quality tests, but that would delay the process further and wouldn’t result in any more IVF funding.

There is no test for egg quality - the only test there is for that is to see if you get pregnant and/or create healthy embryos with IVF x

@Alysskea no possible testing for egg quality sadly. My AMH was 10.7 and I'm 33 and have conceived naturally this year. The IUI vs IVF is just because notoriously IUI just isn't a particularly successful procedure but that doesn't have any relation to your AMH. Bottom line, get going with something, don't worry about your AMH too much. As I said, AMH becomes most relevant when you do IVF.

thanks both. I really appreciate it x

Hi, My amh was 6.5. I got 12 eggs collect, all mature 3 made it to day 5 one transfered and two frozen. Worked first time. Don't stress too much about it😅