IVF with very high FSH?

[Sara69]

Hi Girls,

Tigga: How did you go this month? Also just read "Inconceivable" by Julia Indichova ( Thank you baby Dreamtime!) so kind of ironic that my FSH just got even worse - maybe I shoudl try the Wheatgrass?

Baby Dreamtime: Did your FSh level improve due to Sharkey's herb?

Rae: have you made a decision?

AFM Went for BT this morning and my FSH came back with 13, my doctors says she thinks I should wait a month and see if it gets better but it seems that I can go ahead with the antagonist cycle if I want to.

As you know from my other posts last time my FSH was 9.7 which they considered borderline but advised to go ahead, it turned out I had three eggs, one blastie, the blastie was affected and I didn't get to ET.

I am wondering if I should go ahead anyway as I am afraid the FSH might come back even worse next month? Was thinking that as soon as I have the first ultrasound we'll see anyway what the situation is and can cancel then if it's bad?

I'll turn 40 in June and don't feel I have can loose any more time.

Hope you all have a good weekend and thanks for letting me know your thoughts.

Sara

[Baby Dreamtime]

Hi Sara,

Sorry to hear about your FSH, I hope you can come to a decision about what to do this cycle.

Re Sharkey's herbs, I had already been taking them for approx a year give or take a few months, before I had my first FSH base line BT done, which was 12 at the time. So I have no way of knowing if it had had any effect. I have continued to take the herbs over the last year and a half, I think my last FSH in Nov last year was around 8. So something has brought it down. I think I mentioned in the past that Stacey Roberts from Sharkeys had a patient who had an FSH of 150, and after treatment this was brought down. It might be worth giving them a call. I don't know that they will be 100% of the solution, but surely it will help.

I too also heard about daily shots of wheat grass, I read some where a study where infertile animals (I think it was cows) were given wheat grass, causing them to become fertile again. I think I also read somewhere about daily fresh vegetable juice.

I agree with the others in that your FS should know what is the best way to treat high FSH, however I also believe that natural remedies can make all the difference.

Good luck with what ever you decided. Big hugs, xx

[Tigga]

Hi Sara and BabyDreamtime,

Looks like it's just us here.

Sara: Sorry about your FSH reading. Do what you feel is right for you. I was prepared to give it a go this cycle (antagonist) even if it was 20 (FS had agreed to do it b/c my numbers fluctuate so much). I know how you feel, our ages (though I still feel 27!) and high FSH and a feeling like I'm racing-the-clock...all combined are the pits and do nothing positive for this journey, so I'm starting to place less emphasis on it all and my FSH numbers - they only do my head in and make me anxious and stressed. I try to keep a bit more perspective now, It might be more difficult but it's not impossible, women have gotten pregnant with FSH in 20's+. Hope you can find some reassurance in that.

BabyDreamtime: Good to hear from you. Hope you are well - when's your FET?

AFM, My AF was due 14 Feb but didn't come until 18 Feb the rest is weirder than you can imagine...
My Day 2 baseline FSH was 4.7**. however my estrogen was 1,000 (Pg and LH both normal). FN was concerned (me too!) because a high estrogen on CD2 traditionally gives an artificially low FSH - it supresses it artificially. So, next morning (Fri) I went for scan with FS and more BT's. And then the unexpected...my CD3 scan revealed one perfectly formed follicle 18-20mm and healthy lining which my FS just couldn't believe...that was the reason for the 1000+ E2 levels (by now AF was light and only spotting after a day of bleeding). The BT's showed that all my hormone levels were consistent with a CD14 even though I was on CD3??? I'd just finished a 28 Day Cycle (I'm usually 25) which started with a FSH of 21 on Day 3 and resulted in my IVF attempt being cancelled...again. Now, FS just can't understand it. He said it would appear that I had a 28 day follicular phase. By that afternoon, according to my bloods, I was surging naturally and FS suggested I do an IUI. (DH has sperm antibodies so needs sperm washed in medium). My head is still spinning, but I'm going to stop asking why and what this means for the future and just go with it for now. So that's it. I'm now in 2WW. I'm feeling relaxed and after the past 5 months experience, I'm prepared for anything!! Though, to be honest, all I care about right now is that my FSH was low and it wasn't being artificially supressed by the E2. The E2 was there because of the follicle. IT REALLY, REALLY IS CRAZY!

**I drank wheatgrass daily all month, but it's hard to know what (if any effect) it had - because of the weird cycle, ie: I don't even know if the FSH reading taken on CD2, really is a CD2 reading. PBT due 6 March. Hopefully , I can report with a BFP and prove that getting pregnant for those of us that battle high FSH might be trickier but it's not impossible.

[buliej]

Tigga - fingers crossed for you. I just picked up some wheatgrass powder in the regular supermarket last night. What kind of wheatgrass were you taking?

[Sara69]

Tigga: that sounds wonderful, keeping fingers crossed for you - also very interested in what type of wheatgrass you were taking have looked around and there is no place close to me where I can get it fresh, wondering if the dry stuff has the same effect?

Sara

[Baby Dreamtime]

Hi Tigger, that is amazing, wouldn't it be increadible if this cycle resulted in a BFP after Oing so early. I wonder if it has anything to do with the whole lunar fertility cycle, you know they say you can ovulate at other times during the month based on the moon cycle you were in when you were born, or something like that.

I wish you all the best with this cycle.

Me, I am CD 6 and just hanging out for a natural O to do a FET this month.

Sara, buliej, I did hear that freash wheatgrass was better, but also expensive. I ended up buying wheatgrass tablets and still take them when I remember.

Hugs

[Cuddlepie]

Ladies, I hope you don't mind me joining in...its just so interesting to read about older women / high FSH...Tiggar, your story is just amazing, how on earth will we know our body works? I hope its a BFP miracle.

I don't even know what my FSH is but will remember to ask this time. About to embark on an Antagonist cycle and a bit anxious. Not because I was a poor responder but because last two down-reg cycle just didn't work.

Anyway, would love to see everyone's progress in this thread.

[Tigga]

Me again...Dutchie80...I just saw your signature and now know why you convinced the clinic on a 600 dose. I also noticed this is your first antagonist...many gals have had better results on an antagonist...hopefully you do too! Have FSH levels been an issue for you in the past?

Let's all keep each other posted of our progress!

[Sara69]

Hi Tigga,

Sorry about the high FSH and sending you

Since you're talking about the pill I am assuming you're doing a downregulated cycle - is that correct?

If yes they could meassure your FSH again before starting on FSH, in that case I would definitely go aghead, you could get back on the wheatgrass and hopefully it would look better when it really counts. Also have heard about some girls on BB who had a good result with a 14 FSH - what was your level when you started the February cycle?

The other option obviously is to go back on the wheatgrass now and give yourself another month, looking at your signature you went through a lot recently and maybe another month rest it all it needs?

Sending lots of good vibes,

Sara

[Baby Dreamtime]

Hi Tigga,

So sorry to hear about your FSH, but it is certainly 100 times better than your level a few months ago. I had a quick read back on your posts, I don't know if you have FSH on IUIs and whether your Feb cycle was converted to IUI because of your FSH level or because of no response to FSH, does this make sense? I guess I am saying that unless you have tried a full stim cycle, you won't know how your body will respond. My Day 3 baseline FSH level on my first cycle was 12, and I still went on to produce plenty of follies. Not sure if this gives you any hope, and I know everyone is different. I wish you all the best. Hugs

[Dutchie80]

Me again...Dutchie80...I just saw your signature and now know why you convinced the clinic on a 600 dose. I also noticed this is your first antagonist...many gals have had better results on an antagonist...hopefully you do too! Have FSH levels been an issue for you in the past?

Let's all keep each other posted of our progress!

Hi Tigga
Yes my FSH has been an issue for me in the past. When my down reg. cycle was cancelled my FSH was at 16 (not a day 2 reading) I only produced 2 follies that cycle. My FSH has kinda become the bane(sp?) of my existence.Im always waiting for it to be low enough to start and now I have to see the counsellors before I can cycle again because I was so upset at my last appt with FS ( I think they think Im losing it) when actually Im getting so frustrated with all the waiting we're having to do. Im not sure how much time I have which is sad as Im so young and all the waiting just makes it worse. Anyway enough of that.

I too have read a lot of positive things regarding an antagonist and Im very optimistic that it can work for me too. Im hoping the 600iu dose is going to help- that and a low low FSH. I initially thought that 450iu was the max dose that was given but the FS said that they have started a few (not many) ladies on this dose and then reduced it back to 450iu. Hopefully it'll do the trick.
So I dont think I'll be starting in late March as anticipated hopefully i'll be right to go by the end of April when AF is due and Ive seen the counsellors fingers crossed
Hello to Sara, BDT, CP and Buliej wishing you all buckets of good luck. So sorry if I've missed anyone

[Tigga]

Thanks for the good wishes guys - I really appreciate it.

Sara69 - I'm doing an antagonist but they start me on the pill for 3 weeks prior to ensure there's no follies present when I start FSH injections. I begged them to start me without the pill, but FS was adamant it was best way.

My protocol (antagonist):
Pill: 3 weeks
BT & Scan: 7/4
Commence Injections 8/4: 450 Gonal F then Orgalutran then Ovidrel
EPU: 20/4
PBT: 5/5

I just want to make it past the BT & Scan...that's usually where my IVF journey has ended in the past. In February a BT had my FSH at 4.6, but as it turned out that was not a true CD2 reading - it was more like a CD14 reading. It appears that my January & February cycles were one and the same even though there was light bleeding, ie: one loooong cycle with super delayed ovulation.

Do you have any set plan yet for a start?

I'm back on my wheatgrass too.

BabyDreamtime - Thanks heaps, your info does give me some hope. I am yet to see through a full stim cycle. Closest I got was 6 days on stims, and I was o'ing - so FS rushed an IUI. The IUI's are generally as a result of too high FSH and no point in proceeding with IVF/stims b/c FS reckons I won't respond (I have a full fridge of unused drugs including Lucerin). I've usually got one follicle so he generally suggests an IUI (because of DH's sperm antibodies). You're right, I'll never know if I don't give it one try! So even though I know my odds are stacked against, I'm going for it. Good luck for your FET on Saturday! Does the lunar calendar match up positively for you?

Dutchie80 - I know how frustrating it is just waiting...and how the stupid FSH number can do your head in. I went into total melt-down when I was told my 44 reading...I just couldn't believe that my time was over, before I'd even decided to start - I felt like a big barren-sharron and it took counselling and lots of effort to move past. I now know that high FSH is not the be all and end all when it comes to fertility - there are still options, but different ones and antagonist seems to be better than others. I hope the 600 FSH shots do the trick for you this time. I shall stay posted to hear of your progress. Good luck with it all. End of April will be here before you know it.

A big hi to everyone else too!