IVF and perimenopause

[dragonwind]

I'm 35 and I'm pretty sure I'm hitting perimenopause. I know I'm young for it, but my periods are thinning out - very watery and they only last a day, and my cycles are shortening (25 days). I fill 2-3 pads for my whole period. My AMH has recently plummeted, too.

I had 2 rounds of IVF a few years ago, back when AMH was higher and periods were more normal, both unsuccessful (it's a male factor issue, so it was ICSI with my partner).

Then moved onto donor sperm - lots of rounds of IUI, all unsuccessful.

During the time we've been doing all this, I have got older and I feel like my fertility is starting to decline. I'm devastated.

We've just come to the top of the waiting list for a potential third round of IVF, this time with a donor. It feels like a really big deal.

Please can anyone give any advice about doing IVF at the start of perimenopause, how you found it, whether there was anything you did to help or any supplements that helped, any medications you were prescribed?
(For women who don't have other underlying fertility issues)

Thanks - struggling with preparing myself mentally and I'm freaking out a bit because it might be our last chance :(

Is it with donor eggs?

Hi @SarahJTin No it is with my own eggs and donor sperm. I don't have any known fertility issues (other than AMH having dropped which I think is normal with my age).

I am just getting a bit concerned because of the peri symptoms I'm having. I suppose they will investigate it all before they do any treatment.

Yep, this is me. Started fertility treatment 4 years ago (age 33) and diagnosed with severe male factor, everything ok on my side. Several rounds of ivf and no success and everything has plummeted on my side to the point where it is certainly now a factor and I wonder whether my eggs were already declining and poor quality was a factor in some of our earlier failures too. To answer your question re supplements, I tried DHEA, coq-10, NMN and resveratrol. Not sure whether it did any good or not but it’s comforting to know I tried everything. I’d also get your thyroid checked as that may be sub-optimal and could affect your chances. Good luck.

@Sunshinebytheseaside Thanks for replying, so sorry to hear you're going through very similar issues. It's so hard isn't it - it just feels like time is slipping away and I'm getting frustrated at the process taking so long. We started this journey when I was 31, so 4 years ago now.

I'm already taking coq-10 but haven't heard of the others you mention so I'lll definitely look those up, thank you :) Had my thyroid checked not long ago and everything was OK, although they only seem to tell you that you're within a normal range. I often wonder if I'm right on the low end of normal for these things and it's having an impact.

I'm not the healthiest person and I'm a bit overweight (BMI around 30, trying to get it down before treatment) - I'm hoping this will help.

How are you getting on now? (If you want to share?) Are you still having treatment/ further rounds? All the best if so xx

Hi @dragonwind we reached the conclusion that with our combination of problems we were never going to be successful with our own eggs and sperm so any future treatment will be with donor eggs. Just read your reply to another poster above. I wouldn’t necessarily assume they’ll do any tests, if you’ve got specific concerns I’d raise it and insist on any tests you want, otherwise it’ll be a case of waiting to see how you respond. I’ve found that most clinics follow a paint by numbers approach and don’t look at anything that’s not immediately obvious.

Thanks @Sunshinebytheseaside - everything crossed for you for wherever you go with it next. Sounds like it's been a gruelling journey for you guys too. I totally agree on the paint by numbers approach - I've had so many frustrations trying to explain things to my clinic/ get them to see me as an individual.

The problem is I do have some concerns but don't really know if they are valid/ what tests I might need - I feel like I need someone to tell me, but the answer just seems to be 'you're within normal range, so let's see how you get on'.

Sigh.

Hi Dragonwind,

Very similar here - I'm 36, had 2 rounds previously (last one 2021) and now back in touch with the hospital for final one.
We have unexplained infertility but like you, feel my time is running out. I found the cycles extremely emotionally taxing and took me a long time to recover, then various life events in between have caused the delay from the last one until now. I don't even know if we'll be allowed the last one since left so long in between but will cross that bridge when we come to it x