FSH, AMH, AFC

[MrsT8509]

Hi all!

Had referral to fertility clinic through NHS. Had day 3 bloods and TV ultrasound.

Results:

AMH 2.4
FSH 13.4
AFC 8
Age 38

Consultant said very low to no chance of conceiving with donor egg ivf. I'm ovulating each month comfirmed with bbt, and opk's. Got pregnant last year but ended in early loss about 5.5 weeks.

Any info, opinions, success stories will all be welcome! I honestly don't think donor eggs is a route either me or my husband want to go down.

Hi @smashedbanana, just thought I'd check in and see how you were doing? I hope you're OK. Thinking of you.

I'm still waiting...Day 30 now!

Xx

Hi @smashedbanana How are you? I've been thinking of you, hope everything is OK. I'm currently Day 38 of my cycle. I'm definitely not pregnant but I'm definitely fed up! The clinic and my acupuncturist think it's delayed due to stress of waiting/being in the ivf process, which may be the case. Feeling a bit hopeless at the moment! X

@GingerRCD hello. Sorry haven't been very active on here recently- been feeling very detached from the TTC journey and feeling hopeless. I had my last period during the last week in April and currently no signs of anything happening down there - not ovulation or period. The clinic have offered to put me on Provera to induce a bleed but I'm feeling quite low so the thought of more hormones right now doesn't feel right! I'm just going to wait it out I guess.
Sounds like you're in a similar boat, have you got cramps or your usual PMS signs at all?
Im realising my body feels more and more like it's perimenopausal, I have lots of the symptoms, long cycles being one of them but also hot sweats, insomnia and weight gain! Oh joy!!
How are you copy mentally? Have Create suggested Provera to you?
I have been thinking of you - Provence sounds really lovely!!! You lucky things :) hope you have other nice things planned. Sending love and lots of good wishes xxxxx

Hi @smashedbanana, I hope you're having a good weekend.

Please don't feel you need to apologise, I understand how hard it is at times and needing to take a mental break from it all (as much as is actually possible to). Have you got your period yet? The wait is horrible isn't it. I'm currently Day 42 and I don't feel one way or the other. I've decided I'll do one more pregnancy test and then call the clinic tomorrow to get things moving. I think I will opt for taking the progesterone pills because I'm fed up of the wait and wasting time.

I can understand your reluctance, though, as the hormone shifts are not nice at all. I suspect I'm perimenopausal, as mine used to be like clockwork. I've felt very low at times with this wait and I can feel that it's very hormone-driven if that makes sense.

I hope you're hanging in there and make progress soon. Sending my love and good wishes too. Be kind to yourself xxxx

Hi @smashedbanana

Just to let you know that I finally got period yesterday after 43 days (ugh) so I'm en route to the clinic today. Very mixed emotions, I have to say.

How are you getting on? Thinking of you xxx

@smashedbanana Well, that's another cycle over before it's even begun. Ugh. Large cyst (30mm) in one ovary and nothing in the other. The consultant has prescribed me the 21 day pill to try to control my hormones and hopefully stop growing this cyst/others.

@GingerRCD

I’m so sorry to hear that. Is it the same cyst from last cycle that might need removing maybe or a new one? Do they know why this might be happening? Are you working today or can you take some time to yourself for the rest of the day? Hope the clinic were supportive.

My period will arrive tomorrow/friday I think (usual period cramps) but I’m actually away (without my partner) the week after next when we’d need to be “trying” so I’m not sure what do to. We’ve had this week booked for 2 years so I’m loathed to miss it but I can’t wait another 2 months so thinking I’ll come home early or arrive later depending on what my CD8 day scan says.

I’m still feeling very detached from it all. I think I’ve come to terms with only having one child. I’ve started a gratitude journal recently and that seems to be helping me cope with the situation better.

I know today must be hard for you. I honestly thought you’d have good news today when I saw your message this morning. Sending love and my best wishes xxx

@GingerRCD how are you today? Been thinking of you xx

@GingerRCD my period just started. Will start the injections on Sunday evening and then scan next Thursday. Will keep you updated.
How are you doing? Xx

Hey @smashedbanana

Sorry for my late reply. I kind of took a day or two away from it and then I've managed to get poorly in the meantime, too. I think it may be covid as I'm feeling rotten!

That's good that yoh finally got your period. What usually happens after a scan? Do you start injections straight away? Have you made a decision about your holiday? It's hard isn't it, because you still have a life despite all of this going on, and you want to enjoy the things you've been looking forward to and not have everything overshadowed by TTC. It feels like it takes over everything at times. I hope you manage to get away, even for part of it. You deserve it ans it will do you wonders.

They're not sure whether it's the same cyst as last time. Apparently, cysts are symptomatic of women with DOR. I think they can be caused by us producing too much FSH.

I know what you mean about starting to accept you may just have one child. I'm finding it difficult to believe that I'll have another one now, just feels like I'll need a miracle. I'm considering seeing what happens with Create in July, and then having one or two rounds of duostim elsewhere.

Let me know gow Thursday goes. Wishing you all the best as always xxx

@smashedbanana p.s. thank you for being so thoughtful - it really does mean a lot xxx

@GingerRCD
So nice to hear from you. Sorry you’ve been poorly, are you better now?
I have my scan on Friday now (one week after the period starts), I have been taking 37.5 gonal f since Sunday, a very low dose compared to ivf but they’re just wanting 1 egg to mature for ovulation induction. I’m waiting until Friday to make a decision on the holiday, I’m fully expecting the cycle to be cancelled again. I’m still planning on going away regardless for part of it at least, you're right if I'd been letting TTC rule my life I wouldn’t have done anything for 3 years!! It's actually 3 years next month since we officially started trying for baby2. I can't quite believe that.
Good news is there’s no side effects of the gonal f compared to Letrozole which made me feel awful. The injections are simple too - I don't know why I was worried.

Do they want to remove the cyst? How do you stop it being there next cycle or if it is, what can be done? Have you had a latest FSH result done recently? I remember you got yours down by loads previously. Is the cyst stopping other eggs maturing? Hope the clinic is giving you answers.

That’s interesting you’re considering other clinics - have you got any in mind? Create don’t offer duo-stim right?

I hope you’re ok. Thanks also for the support. It really means a lot x x Sending lots of good wishes

Hi @smashedbanana

I'll reply properly later, but in the meantime, I wanted to wish you all the best of luck for today. I'll be thinking of you and keeping everything crossed. Let me know how you get on.

I'm currently waiting in the doctors surgery with a suspected chest infection, which is why I've been missing in action on here!

Chat later xx

@GingerRCD oh no, that's rubbish. Hopefully you get antibiotics and can rest up over the weekend.
Thanks, appointment is this afternoon. I started researching about it last night and realised I'm on a really really low dose, literally with my AHM and AFC it seems pointless putting me on the entry dose. My clinic are very conservative I think and just textbook put me on the lowest dose to start with. Maybe if there are any follicles today they might up the dose. Let's see. I've really had to advocate for myself with them.
I'll update you after xxx thanks so much for sending that message, means a lot

@GingerRCD just come out of the scan. Seems like I've responded well to the gonal f:
Left ovary: 5 follicles on one side, 2 at 8mm and 1 at 18mm.
She couldn't find my right ovary.
They want me to trigger tonight and then BD for the next 3 nights. Which works out well with my holiday plans so I'll only miss the first night.
I still feel apprehensive as I'm CD7/8 today so triggering now means early ovulation and probably a crap egg.
That's the update for now anyway.
How are you feeling? What did the doc say? Xx

@GingerRCD just wanted to see how you're feeling now. Hope you're ok.
I'm waiting to test later this week but I never got a positive OPK this month and knowing my body that's not a good sign (I always get very dark tests for several days at ovulation).
I asked the clinic what will be the protocol for next month and they've said it's their policy to have a month off between cycles - I feel pretty annoyed by this. My cycles are sooo long it could be October/November before I can try again.
Thinking of you on this crazy TTC rollercoaster - hope you're well and feeling better xx

Hi @smashedbanana, I'm so sorry for my late reply. I've only just for better in the last couple of days and we've been having some really challenging behaviour from my 3 year old, which has zapped a lot of my energy!

How are you? It sounded like you had a great number of follicles, especially on a mild stimulation. When can you test? I'm keeping everything crossed for you and have been thinking of you.

Did you manage to go on your holiday? Where did you go? I hope you enjoyed the break.

I came off of the pill on Monday and got my period today l, so I'm on my way to the clinic. I'm not expecting a great number of follicles, as they told me that the pill suppresses follicle growth etc, but I'm hoping that the cysts have gone. We'll see... xx

Hello @GingerRCD
So nice to hear from you again xx

Sorry you’ve been having a hard time. Pleased to hear you’re feeling better though :)

I was meant to wait until the weekend to test but I think my period has started today and the tests I’ve done so far have been VERY negative. It’s ok, I wasn’t expecting it to work for some reason. I never got a positive OPK so had an idea something wasn’t right.

Yes holiday was great, just a weekend in Norfolk with friends. Feel very chilled and refreshed this week despite the dreaded period arriving!!

How did you scan go today? Hoping the cyst will have gone. Thinking of you.

Wondering if to try one more month of timed intercourse (will be next month now, they want a break in-between annoyingly) and then try a month of ivf… they originally said I wouldn’t respond to the ivf medication because of my high FSH but I did respond well on this low dose...

All this said but also coming to the conclusion that somethings are just not meant to be xxx

Hey @smashedbanana, I'm sorry to hear that it seems as though your period has arrived and that the ovulation induction wasn't successful. I'm glad to hear that your holiday has done you good and that it's helped you to take this in your stride.

I agree that the positives that have come from this is knowing you respond well to the stimulation and your AFC. My advice would be that if you feel you want to try ivf, do it (on a good month) because you don't want to look back with any regrets).

I had 4 follicles today - although one had an irregular shape. Their advice was to do another natural modified cycle, but I think they're just conservative and that's their "party line". I've actually decided to make it a mild cycle starting tonight. My next scan is Monday so here's hoping xx

@GingerRCD

Thanks for your message. You sound in good spirits :) I’m ok too thanks, I think I ovulated on CD8 this cycle (judging from when my period started) so maybe the medication matured my follicle too quickly resulting in a bad quality egg? I asked the clinic about this but they were non-committal. That would also explain why I didn’t get a positive OPK as I wasn’t testing before CD9. Anyway, as you say, some lessons learnt!

4 follicles is great news!! You’ve started in the medication then! What dose are you on? Great news the cyst was gone too, all sounds very positive! I don’t really know much about ivf what’s the difference between mild cycle and natural modified?

Fingers crossed for Monday, bet it’ll seem like a long weekend waiting! Will look forward to hear in the update :)

I’ve asked the clinic about trying IVF and waiting to hear back. They have always started me on the medication without a scan at the start of my cycle so they don’t seem to consider “good months”.

Are you still thinking of changing clinics? X

Hi @smashedbanana, I hope you've had a good weekend in this sunshine?! We had a BBQ yesterday and it tipped it down just as my husband started cooking! The weather did improve later on, thankfully.

I was pleased about the number of follicles and being able to actually start a cycle for once! So, natural modified, which Create specialise in, is low dose stimulation starting on day 5/6. That approach is focused on getting "the one good egg". Mild is stronger dose medicine starting in Day 2/3, with the hopes of getting multiple eggs. They never recommend it there for women with low ovarian reserve as they don't think it will make a difference, but i've read enough stories on here and had similar stories shared with me by my acupuncturist to think it's worth a try!

I've been feeling quite anxious the last couple of days and have had difficulty sleeping. You can't help it playing on your mind, can you?

Why don't you ask your clinic if they would consider mild ivf, but scanning you on day 2 to see if it's worth it that month? They must understand that women like us want to try on our best months for emotional and financial reasons. If they won't, perhaps look at other clinics who do that or duostim?

I'm still going to enquire again with the other clinic as I'm really keen to try duostim xx

@GingerRCD I'll reply properly later. Hope you slept better last night. Just wanted to wish you good luck with the scan today! Xx

Thank you so much! Xx

@GingerRCD

Hello! How did it go today?

We’ve had such a nice weekend thanks - also had a BBQ here and I feel much better overall now my period has started properly (bloody hormones!) and we got some good weather.

How are the injections going? Thank you so much for explaining the difference, that’s really helpful! Basically we were told pretty quickly after our initial results that ivf wasn’t for us so never really researched it much. Clinic have replied and said we can do another consultation to discuss my options so I will ask about Mild IVF definitely. They are very old school so doubt they’ll do Duo but I will ask - thank you for reminding me.

Hope today went well! I’ll report back after the consultation. Thinking of you xx

Morning @smashedbanana, sounds like you had a lovely weekend! I'm glad, we have to remember to enjoy life whilst all of this is going on. I've definitely allowed myself that a lot more now if that makes sense.

When is your consultation? I'll happily tell you what I know if it helps/you have questions afterwards. I think conventional ivf isn't a great route for women with low ovarian reserve as it's very aggressive and expensive, and won't yield the high egg numbers that it might for other women. Mild ivf seems to be the happy compromise.

I'm en route for another scan today. Feeling pretty anxious, as I'm only CD 7 and my large follicles was already 16mm on Monday. There are four others that are 4-5mm. I'm really hoping they've grown and that the big one hasn't gotten too big, because Create may push for an early egg retrieval which I obviously don't want. The injections are OK, thanks. I don't like the cetratide though, as you have to mix it yourself which worries me!

Eeeek, fingers crossed for today. Xx