IVF Advice / Experience needed

[starmoon167]

Repost - I’ve previously posted this on another thread and posting here as more appropriate.

—-

Hi ladies, my partner and I have embarked on the IVF journey. I am 40 and have a low AMH of 4.

Cycle 1 was cancelled. On day 8 after taking 300 Gonal F (FSH) and 75 Menopur (FSH and LH), followed by Ganerlix from day 6, I had one dominant follicle and two much smaller. The consultant’s advice was to trigger and cancel this cycle in hope to achieve a better result the next time.

Cycle 2 I noticed a change in my period and symptoms (shorter and heavier, with hot flashes). The same stims protocol was used. Day 5 scan showed the follicles hadn’t grown much, stims were continued and scans taken on day 9 and 12, to see if there could be any progress. Unfortunately the day 12 scan showed the same result - no follicle growth. I understood from this that my ovaries had gone to sleep and the stims weren’t working effectively - cycle cancelled.

I’ve now been recommend to stop Gonal F for the next cycle and have a higher dose of Menopur (300), followed by Ganerlix from day 6. The focus is to collect one egg. Treatment is on NHS. Has anyone followed a similar protocol and had success? Has a reduced dose worked better? Appreciate each body is different. Any suggestions are welcome (even if it’s just some positivity) it’s a tough process and I’m trying to hang-in there.

To note, I’ve been taking supplements as recommended by a nutritionist, eating a Mediterranean diet and having acupuncture.

Thanks for reading x

Hi, I’m younger than you but have a lower AMH (2.4 to 3.3pmol when I was 32) I’m now 34 and have stopped checking. I’ve had 5 attempts at collection between ages 31-34, 3 successful collections and 2 cancelled due to poor response, so I thought I’d share my experience as I’ve reacted differently to different medications and round to round dramatically.
I’ve taken 225 of fostimon and 225 of meriofert/menopur with buserelin on three rounds: two successful (5 eggs each time resulting in 2 embryos) & one cancelled round. Then I took 225 of bemfola and 225 of menopur with cetrotide on two rounds: one successful (12 eggs making 5 embryos) & one cancelled round.

All my cancelled rounds were the same as you - no response despite it being on the exact same protocol that had worked on other rounds! One thing that caught me out was vitamin D, I’d been taking supplements but even then I was just above the lower limit so ended up doubling my dosage, easy to check through a finger prick test at home kit that you send off.

so my take away is - it’s a bit of an art not a science, just because one round doesn’t work doesn’t mean it’s game over.

Hi @Zypig. Thank you for your response. My consultant alluded to the fact that each cycle can have a different response with the same protocol.

Out of curiosity what strength of vitamin D did you take? I take a multivitamin, which has vitamin D, though quite likely I need to top it up.

Hi OP, I was taking 400iu (10ug) but now take 800iu (20ug) during winter and then the smaller dose during summer. I occasionally check my levels via Superdrug test which I think is about £40 and I’m now generally in the middle of the normal range.

best of luck with your next round!

Thank you @Zypig