Extremely high FSH

[Rosequartzz]

For the first time in this 3 year journey of IVF and trying naturally I was found to have such high levels of FSH and so the cycle was not able to go ahead. Has anyone here been able to reduce their FSH, went ahead with IVF with high FSH and went onto have a successful pregnancy. If so, what was the protocol and what did you do to help bring this down.

I have changed acupuncturist who has prescribed herbs and believes she will fix this problem with high FSH considering its the first instance and has already reduced since July (Day 2)

July
Day 2 FSH 32.3

August
Day 2 FSH 22.9
Day 10 FSH 69.3
Day 18 FSH 81.5

Hi @Rosequartzz
Sorry to hear about this! My FSH was 23.9 in April 2022 and I started taking DHEA 3x25mg daily because I was worried I might not respond to fertility drugs.

In August 2022 my FSH came back at 12 and it must be a result of that.

However, that was all self-medicated so you should approach it with caution. You're supposed to first test your testosterone and if it's low then perhaps start DHEA (I didn't and I still haven't). I think 3x25mg daily might have been too high for me because I developed 2 new fibroids spotted in September 2022 an ovarian cyst in November 2022. No idea if DHEA is responsible but fibroids form due to estrogen fluctuations (which can happen after starting or adjusting DHEA) as we as cysts.

Since September 2022 I've been taking DHEA at 1x25mg because it is supposed to improve egg quality and that's what I'm most concerned about. I haven't tested FSH since last summer but I have been responding to fertility drugs over 4 cycles.

AMH also went up a little bit, from 3 to 3.9, and DHEA has a direct effect over the cells that surround the follicles and produce AMH.

Hope this helps! Xx

This is so helpful thank you. I am on DHEA 3 x 25mg and also ended up with fibroid and cyst too in the last monitoring cycle. I think I will reduce it and then continue with the DHEA at lower dosage.
Where are you with treatment now ?

Hi @Rosequartzz
Sorry to hear you are already on DHEA! That leaves changing the diet as the next most powerful thing to do, we are what we eat after all so tweaking it can have a dramatic effect I believe. I don't have advice from personal experience though, I'm sure Google will help.
I'm with Create and I have done mild IVF cycles.
I suppose you have read It starts with the egg? That was my starting point about everything I needed to consider and look into before treatment. Which clinic are you with? How are your other hormones?

Its time for me to re-read 'It starts with the egg' and also research how diet can help. I'm doing everything dietary relating already, now need to concentrate on hormone regulation.
E2 is slightly elevated but not concerning, its the FSH of concern. I do have low AMH which has gone up and down too and I have a good number of follicles

@Rosequartzz can I ask which clinic are you with? I believe at Create they would proceed with natural modified IVF if you have good number of follicles as they don't start stimulation until CD 5 and aim to collect 1-2 follicles anyway.
Best of luck xx

@Summerishere83 I'm at a clinic in Bulgaria, I moved away from the UK one at the beginning of the year. Do you know what they see as a 'good number.'

@Rosequartzz did you go there because of the ovarian rejuvenation the do there? Does it mean you would have stayed there for the duration of the treatment?

In Create they'll collect only one egg if that's what you have and you're happy to proceed.

@Summerishere83 I chose the clinic due to many diff options the have for IVF that no one else has suggested. They also asked for specific testing, they did mention ovarian PRP only if required.

They will also collect just the one egg if that's what you have which is completely fine for me.

Hi Hopefully they explained FSH can change monthly. My highest and first ever day 2 result was 48.6. NHS said perimenopause no point in IVF.

We went private FSH was 22. Clinic advised needed to be below 16 to start stims. I had oestrogen patches to supress initially in day before cycle due. First 2 cycles FSH was 2 and then 1...yes you read that right!!

Then we had a few months it fought back 19, 21, some months where it was suppressed but no folicles or response to stims.

Our last cycle...we were doing freeze all and aiming for 4 embryos... we changed protocol after months of unsuccessful cycles which meant we had to wait for a naturally low FSH month. It took 2 months.

Just sharing as based on my first result I thought that was it, but with good information, advice, lots of patience, crying and heartbreak on those high FSH months.

I was also on DHEA, prescribed by my clinic CRGH, mild stim for first 2 cycles (1 embryo per cycle on 2/3 eggs collected, last cycle 2 embryos from 2 eggs collected). I also read it starts with an egg took most of the vitamins incl COQ10. My AMH was super low, i think 2 but can't remember what number so will check, and I had in average 3/4 folicles at baseline, which usually reduced to 1 dominant folicle by next scan and tiny ones.

Every cycle needed longer stim as the folicles developed slowly and every cycle they advised to cancel but we decided to proceed, even in our first cycle where we only had 1 viable folicle on trigger day after extra days of stimming.. this embryo is now my 1 month old.

I hope this is helpful and wish you all the best. Xxxx

Just went to check AMH which was 1.4, but saw my FSH was actually 11. So my first 48.6 result was in Nov 20 and in Aug 21 it was 11. I also went to another clinic in the July 21 which is where I got my 22 result. At this stage I was not on DHEA so this is an example of natural fluctuation of FSH. Hope this is helpful to you xxx

@SPR40 thank you so much, was there anything in particular which helped lower the FSH or was it a waiting game to see when it was at the correct level ?

I've never had the FSH level until the most recent 2 months which meant we were not able to start treatment.

The info in my 2nd pist is before I started any treatment so that us just a natural fluctuation of FSH month to month.

I had IVF for just over a year so had back to back monthly FSH results, some with oestrogen patches for suppression and some natural. Supression lowest was 1, but even on the suppression months I could have an abandoned cycle due to other factors such as folicles not there or not responding. That's why we switched to natural FSH for last cycle so we could see the impact it had on other factors, first month was too high, second month was below 16 so we could start.

Hope that is a bit clearer. 🙂

This is really helpful, given I haven't had high FSH in the past I will push for them to wait for the FSH to come down. I don't even know what its been because its never been a concern, On one cycle as we approached trigger they Dr said it was 13 or 14 and that was the only time they highlighted it to me, but it dropped by the time we triggered. Shall wait and see

My advice is to ask them what they are looking for and when they measure. I ahve only had FSH to start stims of day 2/3, it needs to be low for the meds to bring it back up to stimulate the folicles. So if they are measuring during the cycle you would be best to ask them why and what the measures are they are monitoring. I asked so many questions during my IVF and wouldn't be brushed off....its too important...and expensive lol xxxx I hope you get a naturally low FSH soon but also ask them about oestrogen priming to supress FSH and their views/approach xxx

Thank you @SPR40 I had the initial FSH check on day to start stims and it was super high so they had it checked every 10 days as well. All will be revealed this week when I have my meeting. Will check with the regarding the oestrogen priming