To go ahead this cycle or not?

[Sandra00]

Hello ladies
i I was wondering if I could seek your advice please.
age 40, amh 4.8
I have 10 frozen eggs from age 37
I was planning to do another cycle (one more after a failed nhs round a few months ago)
My plan is to dethaw the eggs I have and do another round to create as many embryos as possible.
But at my baseline scan the doctor only saw four follicles and I’m aware they may not all grow and have mature eggs. What confuses me is last month I had 8 follicles. He said it can vary month to month.. Do I wait another cycle to see if have more then or crack on and hope for the best? What would you do?
I’n concerned about spending a lot of money if I won’t get good results this month as not sure I can afford another round but also aware my follicle count could be the same or less next month!
is only 4 follicles normal with my amh? I find this all so confusing!
would be great to hear your thoughts.
Thanks xx

On my first scan after starting stims I had like 6 or 7 follicles, but by the time I got to collection I had a lot more and ended up with 12 eggs retrieved. Did he say whether he expected more the develop?

He didn’t think any more would develop no… so wondering if I wait a month or just go with my plan and hope more do! He may be trying to manage my expectations.
Does anyone know if it can vary a lot cycle to cycle? Just having 4 doesn’t really make me feel overly positive about this one!

@Sandra00 The 10 eggs from when you were 37 would be the ones I'd focus on. Statistically there's quite a difference in the odds of success from 37 -40. In your shoes, I'd use the money to have those eggs used.

Hi @Sandra00 I can’t comment on your specific case or what’s expected for your AMH as I have no idea I’m afraid, however I did want to mention that I went in for a baseline scan for my second egg retrieval back in August, and only had 5 follicles on the scan. I also had a large ovarian cyst that was producing hormones so the cycle was cancelled due to that. I then returned in September to try again, and this time there were 15 follicles on my baseline scan! I have no idea if this is common, or if some of my follicles were hiding on the August scan (I also have two endometriomas on my ovaries which can get in the way) but I was so grateful and relieved that I waited for the following month. So for me, it did vary between months, but of course there’s no guarantee that will happen.

Have you spoken to your doctor about your thoughts/concerns? What does your gut say? I guess if there’s no real downside to waiting a month then maybe there’s no harm in it, and there’s a chance there could be more follicles next time? But I’m not a doctor so I definitely recommend speaking to yours about it.

Wishing you all the luck in the world with it! I really hope you have a successful egg collection whatever you decide to do ❤️

@Sara237 Thanks, I was going to do a fresh retrieval and dethaw those at the same time and use together then transfer strongest embryo. But also a bit worried about the effect the meds will have on my body.. would you create embryos from the eggs I have only then and do a transfer with those? Then if they don’t work I guess I can move to another transfer later on. That’s def an option.

@Sunnydaysahead1 Thank you.. that’s really helpful. My gut is saying to maybe wait as not sure the results I’ll get with four at baseline and it’s a lot of money plus toll on the body. I also suffered a family bereavement 6 weeks ago so wondering if that could have an affect on my body too, as been very stressed and sad.

@Sandra00 Yes! OMG if I had 10 eggs from when I was a mere 37, I'd be all over them! I needed ED and the hope was always to get maybe 8 to give us a good chance. You are in a really strong position with 10! Especially younger eggs. I get you wanting to bank more but I would definitely focus on those first.

Just an update here.. my follicle count grew to 7 and I got 9 eggs!! My doctor was very good and checked me throughout and changed up meds.
I also thawed the 10 I have from when I was 37 @Sara237 which felt scary!! Wondering if I should have just seen how this cycle went but I’m putting all eggs together to see how many embryos I get and taking it from there. I am questioning now whether I should have done in 2 separate cycles but saves in lab costs this way and the goal is to get pregnant asap! Just hope it all works out!
also what is ED?? Hope it went well for you?

@Sandra00 Congrats! 19 eggs, what a haul! I see what you mean now about one lot of lab costs, of course. Makes perfect sense. ED is egg donation. Best of luck here's hoping for some beautiful blastocysts!