When to TTC #2 with low ovarian reserve.

[Rosieposy89]

I am 33 with low ovarian reserve and have a 10 month old dd. DD was conceived naturally after 2 years TTC. I was diagnosed with low ovarian reserve in 2020 (AMH of 11.5 and FSH 11.3). We did IVF due to this and I was on max stims and got 8 eggs (6 frozen embryos) DD was conceived before we were due to start a FET.

We are cautiously thinking we would like a sibling for dd. We are not keen to use our frozen embryos if possible because of the stress/money involved. DH would like another when DD is 3 or 4. I am very nervous about my ovarian reserve and leaving it too late (mum had her menopause by 45). DH doesn't seem to understand that my ovarian reserve is poor because we have 6 embryos in the freezer. I would like to TTC when dd is around 18 months, definitely before 35. I can't tell if I'm being overly anxious about it. I also feel guilty because I feel I should just be focusing on dd not stressing about this.

Any advice from people with low ovarian reserve who have been in this position? Did it take you as long to conceive number 2?

[Rosieposy89]

@Ilikeviognier oh wow that was quick for the second. I think you're right, we can't focus too much on the age gap. I think I need to try and make DH see it's better sooner rather than later if we don't want to be doing FETs. He is just such an optimistic person whereas I am a bit more realistic and know my ovarian reserve is against us. I am dreading TTC again, it was so traumatic but I take heart in the fact I already have my miracle. Thank you x

[Ilikeviognier]

Also on the menopause - rule of thumb is that you follow your mum and rough guide is to expect to be infertile approx 10 years before the menopause - not an exact science but it worked out like that for me as my mum was 47 when she went through menopause and I conceived my last child at 36.

[Ilikeviognier]

Me. I did ivf age 35 due to low ovarian reserve. Mine was much worse than yours with an amh of 2.8: I responded really badly to the ivf and only got 2 eggs but it somehow worked anyway.

I was very worried like you about the low reserve though, so as soon as my period came back when the ivf baby was 8 months old, we started trying immediately. 2 weeks later I was staring at a positive test. There are 16 months between my two boys- it was a shock but i suppose it shows that out never know.

you are right to be cautious - I absolutely wouldn’t wait too long if you’re armed with the low reserve knowledge- all you know for sure is that you’ll run out of time quicker than other people so I’d be cracking on if it was me rather than trying to get the perfect gap. It might happen straight away like me / it might not.