Hi,
I'm 32, and have been TTC for over 5 years now. I have been to 3 different RE's in Alabama. IVFx1, 4 IUI's with Follistim, and all BFN. Today, I went for a DAY 3 baseline with my 3rd RE. My LH was 11, FSH 8, and estradiol was 99. I have regular cycles, although I start to spot about one week before I start every cycle (very annoying). I have an appt on Monday to discuss further options. I just want to try IVF again, but I have a feeling that my RE is going to recommend DE's. Even though my FSH is good, I guess it's my estradiol that's masking my ovarian reserve. Are there others with a similar scenerio out there with good outcomes? I am losing hope!
Amy
Edited November 22, 2008 at 3:58 am
Hi Amy,
My story is I started trying when I was 38. After 6 months, we went to RE #1-my FSH was 7 but my Estradiol was 74 and I was told that was artificially deflating my FSH. I did four chlomid IUIs with that RE-all BFN. I then switched REs for insurance reasons-at which point I was 39. (At the time of my last IUI, my FSH was 6.4 but Estradiol was 133.) The new RE had me take a MIS test-which came back showing a low ovarian reserve. At that point, she told me IVF probably would not work for me because I would not be able to produce enough follicles (they required three for a transfer) and my best best was IUIs but even better was DEs. I was hysterical. I swung back and forth between believing I would never conceive and believing she was wrong. She allowed me to try an IVF and for that cycle, my FSH was 14.6 (you can only do the cycle at some clinics if you are under 15, others under 12, etc.) I produced three follicles but only one was growing, so my IVF was converted to an IUI and BFN. After another discussion with the RE, we decided that since I was fortunate enough to have insurance that paid for IVF, we would try another cycle when I had a lower FSH (it fluctuates monthly). In the meantime, I consulted with two other clinics, one which is the "best" in NY-that doctor wouldn't even see me unless I was willing to go the DE route, and the other was a mini-IVF clinic which just seemed so desperate. I underwent IVF try #2 at my clinic when my FSH was 12. We got four follicles and were able to go to ER. From four follicles, only one egg was retrieved. It fertilized with ICSI and was transferred. But it didn't take. Because of my RE's negative attitude towards my chances and because of other things that happened while at that clinic, I switched REs again. My new RE uses a new protocol, estrogen priming, which is supposed to help women with high FSH. I was also doing accupuncture and against RE advice, taking the Chinese teas. My FSH went down to 11.4. We started IVF 2.5 and I had 8 follicles, five eggs, four mature, three fertilized, two transferred on day 5. I am now pg with a singleton (10 weeks, 1 day). Every doctor placed my chances at slim to none (even my current RE,who I love, only gave me a 15-20% chance), every lay person said it would happen. I think you have to know yourself and how much you are willing to take-emotionally, physically, and financially. Unfortunately, ART procedures do not work for everyone, however, I'm living proof that you can be successful (knock on wood) with a high FSH. Also if you want further encouragement, suggested reading is "Inconceivable" by Julia Indochiva and "Waiting for Daisy"-I forget the author.
I hope this gives you the faith you need. I'm wishing you lots of luck. Remember, a diminished ovarian reserve only means that you can't produce lots of eggs, not that you can't produce the one good one that you need!
Marnie