High FSH Levels; stressed out & worried

[Haeljet]

Hi there
does anyone know anything about (or had) really high FSH Levels? (Follicle Stimulation Hormone) apparently they can go up and down each month, but mine were up to something like 17 which is too high to do an IVF session..... am really worried becuase the nurse said that it can also mean menopause is coming....arrghh!! I'm only 33 and am stressing out...all I want is to be pregnant !! ( sorry, needed to vent!) help

[anney]

Hi Haeljet, the blood test to measure FSH is usually done on day 2 or 3 of your cycle. If it measures more than 10 it is thought unlikely that someone will respond to the FSH drugs so they don't want to go ahead with IVF. But yes it does vary from month to month so I suspect they will want to do more testing on you. the FSH level goes up as the FSH is what stimulates the ovaries to make the eggs grow and the high FSH level means your body needs more FSH than usual to prodcue eggs and this is what happens around menopause. People can still get pregnant with high FSH levels and I have never heard of an IVF clinic just point blank refusing to do IVF due to high FSH, so hopefully they will let you have a go. Hope they do some more testing and the news is better for you. It must be very scary. When is your next appointment?

[Haeljet]

thankyou for your reply Anney....thanks heaps for that explanation. My head has been swimming with information from the internet too. Your explanation was awesome. I'm trying to get into the doctor this week so I can find out more and get them to do more testing....he's been away on holidays for two weeks!
Shall wait and see what the outcome is and let you know! who knows, hopefully I'll get pregnant without the IVF stuff this month, fingers crossed xx

[anney]

Hi Haeljet, I would be very interested in hearing what your doc has to say. I have a friend who had high FSH and menopause symptoms at about 35 and they had a natural pregnancy - almost a miracle but it does happen so keep trying.

[Willow]

Hi Haeljet. I just wanted to pop in and let you know that my FSH levels were also high at one point before my IVF cycle. It was a big shock for me because we were undergoing testing due to secondary infertility caused by complications from an ovarian cyst, and I had always been very fertile prior to this - I didn't expect there to be a problem with any of my levels. I was only 28 at the time, I *think* my level was around 11, so not off the charts but enough to be a concern at my age.

My FS told me that he expected my FSH levels to drop after he did another lap and 'cleaned up' the mess from my first surgery, we went on to do an IVF cycle the following month, I responded well to the drugs (after a slow start and quite an increase in dosage)and... I am now planning our little boy's first bday party

Don't give up hope. There are a few reasons your levels could be a bit high and they definitely fluctuate from month to month.

[Baby Dreamtime]

Hi Haeljet,
Just thought I would add my two cents worth. I had an FSH level of 12 on my Day 3 BT just before my first IVF cycle, I started Googling and totally freaked out thinking that this meant low ovarian reserve, pre menopause, only option donar eggs etc, which drove me insane for the two weeks until I got to see my FS. He told me that age was on my side (31 at the time) and that you won't know until you do the stim cycle how your body will react. My first IVF cycle was with FSH injection of 225, I had 24 follies and overstimulated, so they cancelled the cycle. I am down to an FSH of 75 and last cycle got 11 eggs. So I guess what I am saying is don't stress out too much until you start your cycle and see how you go, otherwise it may be a lot of worry for nothing. Fingers crossed all with be well.