Hi there,
I have a question about CD3 FSH and E2. I understand that you want the E2 to be low in order to give you an accurate measure of the FSH. Is there an absolute cut off? I've heard some REs say <100? My FSH is 6 with an E2 of 145 and my RE said this was normal.
My AFC is 21, which I'm happy with. I'm 32 yo

I guess I still have a worry about my egg quality, even though I've been told that all my numbers look good. I've been ovulating progressively earlier and earlier, which worries me that I'm not releasing a nice big healthy egg. I used to ovulate CD 15-16, lately CD 11-12, and the past 2 cycles have been CD 9 and CD 10. I can't imagine that being enough time to make an egg of good quality. I've heard of some REs saying ovulation this early may indicate poor egg quality. I have been told not to worry.

If it's important, my menses is very light and short. It lasts 1 day, only needing 1 tampon. Surprisingly my lining is normal on u/s (last u/s 8.2mm on CD 14, 2-4 dpo) I'm not sure where the lining goes! I've never had any instrumentation, etc of the uterus. My HSG was normal
My last E2 level done near ovulation was borderline low, so I was given PV estrogen to see if it would increase my lining/menses.. I had perhaps a slight increase in lining thickness on u/s (it's always been normal though), and menses still light

Thank you very much for any help that you can provide. I have this constant nagging worry in the back of my head all the time! And thanks for all the help you do here, it's much appreciated

Sincerely,
Kathleen

Posted on 6 July 2010 | 10:16 pm

Hi, I have a question regarding abdominal pain. I am 5dpt of 2 embryos. In the middle of the night last night, I woke up feeling pain. I thought I might be experiencing diarrhea or had to vomit, so I went to bathroom. While in the bathroom I got hot and sweaty, but nothing else happened. I didn't go to the bathroom and had no vomiting. After awhile I was able to lie back down and felt better. I feel fine this morning. I am taking crinone, estradiol, and prog in oil. What are the potential causes of this pain?

Posted on 29 June 2010 | 12:02 pm

My DH and I have unexplained infertility. We have been trying to have a second child for the past seven years (our first child was conceived with clomid - great pregnancy and difficult, long labour with induction). All tests are normal although I never was able to detect basal temperature changes. We have had 6 failed IUI's, several rounds of clomid and a failed IVF (my AF came 6 days after transfer). I ovulate late, around day 18 and have a 28 day cycle. I have never made it to beta ever; however often have mild pregnancy symptoms which go away before AF comes. AF is very very heavy and lasts seven days.

My clinic has never investigated my luteal phase and has done many IUI's on day 18 or 19. I stumbled across Luteal Phase Defect informtaion today and discovered that it is unlikely that I would ever become pregnant with such a short luteal phase due to insufficient progesterone and ageing lining. Can you confirm this? Would it be a good idea to increase my progesterone even more after my upcoming FET? Would vitamin B6 help? For my IVF I was on Prometrium (2 tablets in the morning and two at night vaginally 100 mils each).

Thank you very much.

Posted on 24 June 2010 | 7:54 pm

Hello, In March 2010 Health Canada released, Prenatal Nutrition Guidelines for Health Professionals - Folate Contributes to a Healthy Pregnancy, this report recommends 0.4 mg of folic acid in the period before and during pregnancy. They also state that there are risks with taking more than the recommended dose see,

High doses of folic acid can hide signs of vitamin B12 deficiency. They can also bring on or accelerate neurological complications associated with B12 deficiency (IOM, 1998). As well, women who have low vitamin B12 status are at higher risk for NTD (Van Allen and McCourt, 2002; Ray et al, 2007; Molloy et al, 2009). The prevalence of vitamin B12 deficiency in women of childbearing age is considered very low (IOM, 1998). However, some studies suggest that more women in this life stage group may have low vitamin B12 status than expected (Ray et al, 2008). Women who do not or infrequently consume foods of animal origin and do not take a vitamin B12 containing supplement are most likely to have deficient or marginal vitamin B12 status (Allen, 2009).

Emerging data also suggest there may be additional health risks associated with taking folic acid, including the development of colon cancer when preneoplastic cells are present (Kim, 2006; Ashokkumar et al, 2007; Smith et al, 2008). It is important that health care professionals do not advise higher doses of folic acid than is recommended in this document, unless duly warranted.


So my question is I have been taking around 4-5 mg per day. Is this too much? Should I go back to 1mg per day?

Posted on 15 June 2010 | 6:54 am

I had a single blast transfered in late May. It was a day 5 blast grade 2BB. Six days later I began spotting and woke up with heavy AF. I took my prometrium as instructed...I am not sure what happened and what would be considered the best route for my DH and I. I am 37, we have unexplained although it seems I have some endo. I have not gone for my Beta as the nurse at my clinic said I do not need to go. Any advice?

Does this suggest a Luteal Phase defect? I am certain I have lost other very early pregnancies (pregnant with POAS one day and not the next).

Posted on 10 June 2010 | 7:55 am

Hello,

I am on CD 16 and have a complex cyst measuring 16 x 9 mm. The U/S also showed free fluid so it seems I'm about to ovulate. Do complex cysts release eggs and can that egg be viable?

On cycles in the past, my dominant follicles have turned into cysts. For example, on day 3 of this cycle, I presented with a 16 mm follicle which was assumed to be a cyst (it disappeared by day 11). Are there any conditions that are known to cause functional follicles to turn into cysts?

Thank you.

Posted on 8 June 2010 | 6:53 am

Hello.

I have hypothyrodism and PCOS. I have two previously failed IVF/ICSI. I have done my last ICSI on April 16, 2010. I am going to do FET on June and started Lupron on May 23. Now yesterday my thyroid antibody test result came back and it shows that I have Thyroglobulin antibodies (anti-TG) = 271 IU/ml and Thyroid peroxidase antibody (Anti-TPO) = 83 IU/ml which are way too high. I have not seen any endocrinologist yet but my doctor said to proceed with the 50 mcg thyroxine which I am taking for 1.5 years. Now my question is should I just adjust my doses and do FET this cycle or should I cancel? I have heard that thyroid problems may cause problems with implantation and may cause miscarriege. My TSH levels are in the normal range (3.8). How do you treat patients with similar problems? Do you prescribe any other medicines like aspirin or selenium? Please help me to take decision.

Thank you

Posted on 26 May 2010 | 9:44 am

Ok, so here is my issue,
In January 2007 my family doctor sent me to specialist of internal medicine because a blood test had come back with TSH levels of 7.9 and 9.9. The specialist told me I was fine. I have just gotten my hands on the letter he sent to my doctor and it says "borderline increased TSH but normal FT4 and FT3...non-specific borderline high TSH with no evidence of thyroid pathology...only consider therapy if TSH becomes > 15 or patient becomes clinically symptomatic."
I was not aware at the time what levels were or what that meant, I just trusted my doctors.

In feb.2007 I miscarried.

In May 2007 I went to the fertility clinic in edmonton. I have the report that they sent to my doctor after my initial visit (I just got this now), The RE there says "Her past medical history is significant for hypothyroidism with a TSH of 7.9 and 9.9 respectively. Although she has seen an Endocrinologist, surprisingly they have elected not to treat this. It is my assessment that Ms. Orgar presents with hypothyroidism which is untreated."

So I went into my family doctor with this letter and asked her why I was not being treated and she said that the last time she tested me (March 2009) the levels were fine: 3.64. and that it may have been temporarily elevated in 2007 due to a viral infection.

I miscarried in Oct.2008 as well.

I asked to be tested today so that I could get my current numbers. I should get those results early next week.

So any opinions? Should I be worried about this? I know hypothyroidism can cause infertility issues. Help?

Posted on 14 May 2010 | 12:27 pm

I have my 2nd ICSI failed a few days ago. I had high E2 level-more than 12500 at the day of ER. Can you tell me what does it mean and what problems can it cause?

Also after BFN, I got my AF but it was lighter than usual and I am still very bloated. What can I do to get rid of it?

Posted on 8 May 2010 | 7:54 am

Hello,

We've just gotten our first SA back, and having read it, I can tell that it isn't as good as one would hope.. actually it probably sucks as far as results go, but I know that there is viable sperm. However, when asking at the clinic to have the analysis explained, I got dismissed as they told me that "...the only thing you need to know is that there is viable sperm". No, that isn't the only thing I need to know. This whole thing is scary and the only way I know how to make it less scary is to understand as much as I can. Except, they don't think so. Epic fail.

So, I am coming to you in the hopes that someone could help me understand the SA. I know that types A and B are the best kind of sperm and that type D is basically dead or useless sperm. I know that there is a small amount here to even work with. So, if it's even worse than I think, please still be honest and direct and upfront about what this all says. I don't mean that you wouldn't be honest, but sometimes when things look really not good, people (myself included) have a tendency to want to be kind and soften the blow a bit. And, while I appreciate that sentiment, I need to know the full facts, so please don't feel bad in telling me things look bad or worse than I may think they are. Thank you for helping me.

Posted on 6 May 2010 | 6:19 am