I really hope someone responds to your Q: Has anyone done IVF with high FSH levels? I want to know too...desperately. I am in exactly the same situation as you.
I have searched forums - but can't find much positive news of high FSH'ers having success with their own eggs.
According to my FS levels under 10 are still ok. 10-12 borderline and 12 and over poor odds for IVF success. My first FSH floored me. I had routine baseline bloods before commencing treatment, went home with my esky pack of drugs and was told to wait for their call to greenlight me. Not in a million years did I think I would get an FSH reading of 33! Even the FS thought that there had been some stuff up in the lab and got me back - it was 44, then 32, 23 and then a month later 6 (we did IUI), next month FSH 13 (we did IUI) and January IVF was cancelled with an FSH of 21.
I'm now holding out until Feb baseline and FS is hoping it's under 10 - if it's high he said that he may still go ahead with IVF (short flare) and see what happens. Mainly, b/c he continues to shake his head at what my body does, eg: with FSH at 44 I produced a follicle and ovulated, he rushed an IUI.
I feel very confused about the FSH too. I had a blighted ovum January 2008 and this is consistent (but not conclusive) to high FSH. Technically, I should have hot flushes and not get AF with readings as high as mine. My AF is regular 26/27 days (though getting on the light side). I think the biggest thing with high FSH is egg quality and I read that "eggs are only as good as your highest reading" - well if that's the case I question why my FS would even suggest a cycle of IVF for me? I need to ask more Q's.
Just yesterday, my amazing sister (36) offered me her eggs (she already has a family). I don't know what to do. Do I try with my own or do I go straight down the donor path. I'm 39 this year so I don't have time to be doing cycles which have no 'real' chance of success - success = viable pregnancy, not chem pregnancies. I just wish I could find the info to help me decide. I don't know whether FS is suggesting one cycle of IVF as a matter of process only - even though he knows it won't work??? I will talk to FN more next week. She's good and I feel is honest with me - sometimes I feel FS sugarcoats it and gives me tooooo much false hope.
Deep down I feel like my high FSH readings are a death sentence for having a child with own eggs, but I am trying to stay positive. I'm eat super healthy, do acupuncture twice/week, yoga, exercise and have reduced my responsibility at work - given this the latest reading of 21, really set me back mentally.
I did read a book called "Inconceivable" by Julia Indichova and she had FSH of 42, and after embarking on a health blitz (yoga, meditation, wheatgrass shots, juices etc) had 2 children naturally in her 40's. This book gave be some hope...but I wish I could find more high FSH success stories.
I did drink wheatgrass daily in the month prior to he '6' result, but haven't since. I have started again this month so we'll see if that makes any difference.
Rae, do your levels bounce around or are they constant?
I will keep searching for info and will post if I come across anything, please do the same - would love to stay in contact on this journey - ours seem very much alike.
Sara69 - With what my FS has told me, I would definitely be giving it a go at those readings. He still hasn't given up on me and mine are way higher.
I'd appreciate any feedback and am happy to answer any Q's.
Also, re: flare protocol. My understanding is that some clinics prefer not to do them because they have to run to your bodies schedule and not theirs which they can control by using the pill in lead up. ie: the FS/Clinic cannot nicely schedule all their EPU's for one day.
Just quickly I am with SIVF too, and have just done an antagonist cycle, flare cycles are also available with them as my FS considered them but decided an antagonist one woudl be better for me.
My FSH reading of 9.7 produced three egggs which were of good quality producing one blastie. ET didn't happen since I have to test for a genetic condition and the one blastie unfortunately was affected.
Given that Tigga reports her levels bouncing around maybe it would be worthwhile if you do another test? With the flare cycle they normally test your levels on CD2 and then decide whether to start or not depending on the readings.
Sara69 - how frustrating to get a good embryo only to have it affected. Will you be doing another cycle? fingers crossed for you if you do.
Baby Dreamtime - how have you found your experience at Sharkey's? I've heard so much about it - but never gone there. What's their process & costs? I go to a naturopath and I wonder if it's not similar.
Rae - Hope you are well.
Dusty - Thanks for your post. It's always reassuring to read something and think, "hey, that's how I felt too" - it normalises this crazy experience. I too, never thought I'd be doing IVF. DH & I had happily resolved to a child-free life (after 18 years of no contraception and not one BFP - ever!). Then a surprise BFP, which ended in M/C shook our resolve and world up and here I am a year down the track contemplating donor. I am learning to never say never
Since my last post...My sister offered me her eggs. She's 37 this year - we're going to explore this option - I thought her age would prevent her being a donor but clinic didn't rule her out??? She already has children, youngest is 8 months - maybe that influences their decision. Anyway. I'm not sure yet how I feel about donor - but am processing the idea at the moment. Truth be known, I still have my fingers crossed for low FSH in Feb so that I can at least give it one go on my own. AF is due Mid Feb.
This week, I point blank asked my FN if I'm wasting my time and should I just move on with donor option her response was along the lines of "We only measure the FSH of women who have infertility, but who knows how many pregnant women had elevated FSH levels on Day 2/3". Fair point. I can pin some hope on that for a little while longer.
Tigga: keeping fingers crossed for you that you can do a cycle. Your sister as a egg donor sounds like a very generous offer too. My next AF is due Feb 20 and I'll also do an FSH test and then will see if I can start.
If you are interested in Sharkey's I would recommend only going with Stacey Roberts, as out of the 3 other consultants I have seen she is by far the best. The consult is around $70 for an hour, and the herbs are around $70. They go over your temp charts if you have them, your history, lifestyle, diet, state of mind etc etc and make recommendations as to how to improve your fertility, both you and DH. They mix the herbs on the spot (it is a liquid you take 5ml morning and night), and would be similar to naturapaths however have the ability to put all the herbs in one doses, rather than mulitple tablets. My forumla has about 15 different herbs, depending on what support I need.
For me, this obviously hasn't resulted in helping me achieve a pregnancy up until now, but I do feel that the herbs help put my body in the best possible place to hopefully conceive one day. Might be worth considering. I also take multi vitamins, thyroid support, CQ10, ifolate, antioxidants, fish oil etc on top.
Sara69 - hopefully we can 'cycle' together this month to BFP's!!! I'm feeling positive this time.
Baby Dreamtime - thanks so much for the info on Sharkey's. Sounds alot like what I am currently doing with naturopath & acupuncture so might persist with that until I feel like I need something new. I recently went back to a kinesiologist (I hope that's how you spell it), anyway I saw him in Sept 2007 and he did what they do (very weird) and said that I'd be pregnant within three months. Low and behold in January 2008 by total surprise I got a natural BFP (blighted ovum but still a BFP). My DH thinks it's all a bit weird and that it's all in my head - but nothing ventured, nothing gained I say...time will tell. Anyway, I don't have years to trial stuff so I figure I'll put it all out there and hope something works. I'm gonna keep my fingers crossed for your FET's.
Rae - if you're reading. I hope you're ok.
Last edited by Astrolady; February 7th, 2009 at 06:48 PM.
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