7 replies to this topic

[ggirl]

Hi Everyone,

 

I would love to get some input and experiences from you lovely ladies. I am debating between either trying IVF number 2 at 40. Or going with donor eggs.

 

 

I just found out TODAY that my sister  who opted to be my egg donor (and is only 37) has low AMH and would likely only produce 2-4 eggs in IVF

 

On paper, my numbers look better since I produced 13 eggs at my first and only IVF cycle last year. Problem is only 1 Egg fertilized. We were devastated. It was a disaster.

 

Next round could be better, or our Dr says, it could happen again...based on egg quality.  He was kind and very forthright.

 

What would you do? Any experiences with being 40 and going from bad to much better cycle?

 

Ggirl

 

 

 

 

 

 

[kristeen033]

Have they mentioned supplements to improve egg quality prior to you cycling? Last summer with my second cycle I took DHEA and CoQ10 for 3 months before I started. I am currently pregnant with twins. My first cycle resulted in lots of blasts and a m/c and chemical so it could  have been those that improved my quality to actually end up with babies. Something worth asking about Good luck!

[Lola1973]

Hi Ggirl,

I'll share my experience with although I think your final decision should be more about how you feel about things than anything I can tell you...

After 2 miscarriages at 39, I decided to do IVF with PGS. I did it twice while I was 40. And used supplements for egg quality. Although I had fairly good numbers for a 40-year old (9 and 11 eggs that turned into respectively, 3 and 4 blasts), they were all abnormal... I have since decided to move on to egg donation.

It's really hard to predict how a cycle will go. Even when it looks good, like mine, you still don't know.

By the way, I have 2 fertile sisters so I am not sure how your sister does says much about your potential...

I guess you have to decide how important it is for you to try again with your own eggs. At the same time, you know chances would be much better with a donor. So if you did another ivf and it didn't work, would you still be able to afford a cycle with a donor after? Some women in your situation feel they want to invest into something that really has good chances to work. Others feel they really need to try again to be at peace. Both make sense to me:)

I hope you find your path. If you decide to try again, don't hesitate to try another protocol or supplements to help with egg quality:)

[Anaïs]

I did my last IVF at 38.8 (love these decimal ages now although I am not a toddler). I produced ok number of follicles (for one ovary) then the fertilization was ok too (see my signature). I ended up with three blasts - fresh cycle resulted in a chemical then transferred two frozen and now pregnant with a singleton (vanishing twin, which disappeared by 8 week). I am 32 week pregnant now. So in short, at age 38.8 I had ok number of follicles, fertilization rate was ok but then out of three blasts, it seemed only one is genetically normal.

So this is my experience. Hope this gives you some insight. Although it only takes one golden egg, etc, statistically speaking, it is a losing battle with time. It all depends on your resources, how comfortable you are with DE. I could tell little more if I knew your AMH or how you responded to meds, how many IVFs you have done (you have done just once?) and how the fertilization rate or rate of mature eggs out of follicles, etc.

Your dr is being up front and honest at least. I do hope you can get that golden egg out and have a baby from your own egg but at the same time, I want you to maximize the use of resources (i.e. money and time). Best of luck.

[Anaïs]

Lola: Really wish you the best! Hope you hold that little monkey in your arms soon enough!

[Lola1973]

That's really sweet, Anais. Thank you:)

[ggirl]

Hi Lola73 and Anais,

 

Thanks for your insights. I actually produced 13 eggs at my retrieval but only one fertilized. And that's why my doctor thinks there is hope. But there did appear to be egg quality issues. My husband is on the low side of normal sperm wise.  I am going to get my AMH test done as well just to get more perspective, and then decide. 

 

We waited before starting with our first and I have allot of regret over that. I never knew how badly I would want a second until after I had my first. I want her to grow up with a sibling the way I grew up with my sister. 

[Anaïs]

ggirl: don't be too hard on yourself. I am sure you had reasons to wait. Sometimes things happen.

It is a funny thing. I never really thought I would want #2 this badly. I was kind of hesitant to have #2 (as I was like a chicken without a neck running around chasing a toddler).

There are things you could do to improve egg quality such as CoQ10 , etc. Here is what I got from my naturopath:

Nutrients for optimal egg quality

DNA replication: B12 1000 mg per day Folate 5 mTHF -1 per day zinc 25 mg per day

mitochondrial health: CoQ10 ubiquinol 150 mg or ubquinone 600mg per day carnitine 1 per day

membrane health: omega D3 1 tsp per day

hope this helps.