13 replies to this topic

[Gigi7]

It's been a year i couldnt start my ivf cycle. Cancelled a few times because of cysts and high levels of estrogen. Finally was given Marvelon bcp to control the hormones. Went for a check last month - no cyst but only had two follies. told to wait another month (took another pack of marvelon). Went on day 2 last weekend and again only had 2 follies. I was then told that I may have premature ovarian failure and that I should be looking at donor eggs. First of all this is a lot to take in, we have been trying for 8 years, 7 with the help of the fertility clinic. Numerous monitored cycle, 9 iui cycles, finally went the ivf route and now it's been a year and I cant even pass step 1.
Any successful stories out there and any tips?
Currently on weekly acupuncture; taking coq10, prenatal, folic, vitamin d3, calcium magnesium zinc, trental+vit e (for good blood flow due to asherman's syndrome) and melatonin for sleeping.

[Hopingfor1]

Hi Gigi7,

I'm sorry you're going through this. I had DOR, low AMH, high FSH and low antral follicle count.

I saw from your profile you are 36. What are your other test results - such as AMH and FSH levels? What were your antral follicle counts during your IUI attempts?

For some women with lower ovarian reserves, the birth control pill is too suppressing. It might be worth trying another method as it is possible the birth control pill is too suppressive for you.

[Gigi7]

Thanks for reading this. I honestly dont know any of those details.. They were not disclosed and i didnt know any better to ask. Halfway through this journey is when i started to ask about how many follies i have from the start of my cycle and how big they've become. The most i remember was starting at 10 follies. But averagely I would have between 3-5 matured follicles with the help of femara and puregon 150iu-220iu dosage) for the IUI cycles. When we finally have decided to start the ivf journey (financially able), i had 9 follies and that was October 2015. Since I have Asherman's syndrome and AF was never my regular visitor, i had to go with almost weekly/monthly hysteroscopy. january 2016 was the start of my cycle and since then i only had between 3-4 follicles to start and one of them was a cyst. Not until they put me on Marvelon (June 2016) that my hormones seems to settle down and the cyst finally went away by October 2016 but unfortunately it's the number of follicles they're concerned at right now and was told about POF. I read that somewhere that bcp may suppress the ovaries so i stopped taking them right now since I'm not scheduled for anything but waiting for another consult with the doctor for the next steps.

[hopefulmommy2]

Hi Gigi,

 

Sorry to hear what you're going through.  I can relate.  I have DOR too, and have been battling a functional cyst that delayed IVF for much of the past year too.

 

Hopingfor1 makes some good points, and I'd recommend finding out what your results all were and to consult with another RE or two who specializes in DOR (diminished ovarian reserve).  The pill is indeed over supressing for many with DOR and POF and may not be helping matters.

 

I'd also recommend reading "It Starts With the Egg" by Rebecca Fett.  She outlines several recommendations for helping DOR and improving your odds, all backed by hundreds of studies she analyzed.  It includes some changes in exposures to certain environmental toxins; herbs to take and avoid (including a discussion on melatonin - good if doing IVF, over supressing and not recommended if trying naturally), etc.  It was a book I had wished I had read much sooner in my journey.

 

I can relate to your frustration and wish you luck in your journey.        

[Gigi7]

Hi hopefulmommy2,
Thanks for all the advise. Definitely will get that book tomorrow. I got a copy of my recent bloodwork and surprisingly I'm within normal range. They only took E2, LH and FSH. My levels were E2- 47.606 (normal range 46-607), LH - 2.63 (normal range 2.4-12.6) and FSH - 8.84 (normal range 3.5-12.5). I went to see my family doctor and she said based from this result that i am within normal range. I'm not sure about AMH and antral follicle count. Is that different/extensive test from the follicles that they usually count on day 2/3? I forgot to mention that it was the head nurse whom had bombarded me with the info about being POF and should consider DE. I will be seeing my RE this Saturday and hoping that he will tell me something different. Hoping that he'll say something like "BCP was suppressing you, let's try a different approach". I am definitely considering a second opinion. I tried to google fertility clinics that specializes with POF/DOR in toronto area. Any recommendations?
My other dilemma is that my money is tied with my current fertility clinic as I took a loan from medicard to cover my meds and since my clinic sells the medications that's the reason medicard was able to approve the loan. Otherwise, they dont provide loans for just medications.

[Riverdale]

Hi Gigi7,

I am in a similar situation as yourself and would like to here some success stories. I was also on marvelon and only produced 1 follicle. Dr thought it may have suppressed me too much. So waited two months and was put on Estrace and turns out only 1 follicle again. We are trying puregon (hopefully) this time around.
I'm taking vitamins, exercising, and acupuncture, hoping things improve.

[ETA]

I'm also DOR, 35, just starting my first round of IVF in Jan. JUst started Marvelon and now worrriwd about getting oversuppressed. However I brought this up to my fertility doc who knows all my levels etc before starting the Marvelon and she was not concerned. She specializes in DOR and POF. However everyone is different. I'm in Canada and lab values mean different that American ones. My last FSH was 11.3, my AMH IS 0.7...my antral follicles count prior to starting g anything the mo th prior was 5 total

I really don't know what to expect as this is all new and my first IVF. I am placing a lot of trust in the doctor and in the process !

[Gigi7]

I'm also DOR, 35, just starting my first round of IVF in Jan. JUst started Marvelon and now worrriwd about getting oversuppressed. However I brought this up to my fertility doc who knows all my levels etc before starting the Marvelon and she was not concerned. She specializes in DOR and POF. However everyone is different. I'm in Canada and lab values mean different that American ones. My last FSH was 11.3, my AMH IS 0.7...my antral follicles count prior to starting g anything the mo th prior was 5 total

I really don't know what to expect as this is all new and my first IVF. I am placing a lot of trust in the doctor and in the process !

[Gigi7]

Hi ETA,
Im also in canada. I finally started my stims with gonal f. I started with only 3 follicles (was told it should be 4-5). Biut since the doctor said everything looks good that we should start anyway. My 3 follicles became 4 and was taking gonal f- luveris and orgalutran. Gonal f was 375 and later bumped to 425iu. I just had my retrieval today and when they went in there were only two good follies and only one egg was retrieved. I am very worried about my one and only egg right now and hoping and praying it can withstand everything.
Hope all is well with you. Have you started your ivf yet?

[Riverdale]

Update.

So I have been only producing 1 follicle in my left ovary. We had the talk with our Dr's and basically we were told this was it, our last chance to try for IVF with our our eggs/sperm. We had the donor egg talk and I was devastated. This was in November. We decided to take December off and try in January.
I was really nervous going for my day 3 ultrasound and bloodwork. Was I going to have my one follicle or none.
I ended up with 6 follicles in my left and none in my right ( which I figured was due to my cyst) I started stims that night 300iu puregon and 175iu menopur. Day five ultrasound only four were seen and measured. Day 8 ultrasound 5 follicles were seen and measured and I have 3 in my right ovary and all are measured and growing.
Here I thought my right ovaryvwasnt working. Boy was I and still am in shock about that one.
So it appears I was over suppressed from both the bcp and estrace.

[Gigi7]

That's great Riverdale! When was the last time you ised BCP? As per my previous message i only started with 3 follies, then bacame 4 at day4. 2 on left and 2 on right. Today was my egg retrieval and only 2 follies were seen and 1 egg retrieved. I am really really worried and it's hard to stay positive. Im just really hoping this is my golden egg.

[PitterPatter]

Hello,

 

I have been on this IVF journey for almost 2 years now and thought I'd share a few things I've learned along the way.

 

Be your own advocate. Doing research helps to understand the protocol options, if you aren't comfortable ask questions and speak up. I also have pictures of my chart so I can reference different cycles and the progress of each at various stages.

 

I have DOR and have tried a lot of things to lower my stress and anxiety surrounding all the hard work thats put in for just 3-5 eggs. Nothing has helped....that was until I found "The Fertile Mind"@ http://thefertilemind.net specializing in Cognitive Hypnotherapy for natural and assisted conception for both men and women. It's not expensive, I listen to a few tracks before going to bed (I fall asleep to it every night). I'm hoping between this and the DHEA started after my last cancelled cycle.......number 3 will grant us quality over quantity.

 

All the baby dust and best wishes to everyone on this incredibly challenging journey.

[Riverdale]

Gigi,

I had started on bcp back in August 2016, I think I was on it for a week. Then I had to have a natural period in September.

So today I had another us and bw done, the results are not what I was hoping for. Left ovary I still have 5 follicles and only two are greater than 15 mm. Right ovary is now showing 0 follicles. How does one go from 0 on day 3 to 3 with measurements of 13, 12,11mm on day 7 to nothing on day 9. We've been trying for 6 years and we have not had any good news from this. It's discouraging. How does anyone stay positive throughout this?

[Gigi7]

Oh Riverdale. I wish I could tell you something to make you feel better. I totally understand you. I don't understand it, too. I know it's hard but stressing on it will do no good as well. I had 4 follies and only 1 was retrieved. I bawled in the OR when they gave the count and right now i am praying for quality over quantity. When is your retrieval? We're just days apart from our ivf journey! I am really pulling for you and hopefully news is better today. I understand that we also need the numbers on our side. I wish that for me too! I'm just taking it one day at time. On Tuesday they'll let me know about freezing as i still have quite a journey to go before transfer. I have Asherman's. Once a go signal is given after hysteroscopy then all fingers and legs will be crossed for the next 9months! Hoping this is it! Sending all my prayers to you too! I totally get you. We've been trying for almost 9 years.