7 replies to this topic

[aunit]

Brand new to the forum and anticipating first IVF cycle in July. After several years of TTC naturally doing everything in my power with an unexplained diagnosis, now have an unofficial diagnosis of DOR. Dr described it - I labelled it. AMH around 0.2 and FSH of 14.
Probably getting way ahead of myself but thinking at 35, do we want to do a few rounds of simulation before transfer in order to have some eggs or embryos for freezing??? Is it weird that I am thinking about baby #2 before even achieving #1??? Just worried about repeating all this stress again in a few years with even lower egg quality then?
How do you approach this with the Dr? Anyone have any advice?
Apologies of some of the terms above are incorrect. Again, new to the forum...

[silverdollar]

It's not off the table, but not commonly done. Keep in mind embryos freeze better than eggs. make sure your lab is using the newer freezing technique as well.
It took us several attempts just to get to egg retrieval with 2 eggs, so that was a big accomplishment never mind having any to freeze. We decided not to pursue further treatment and assumed we'd have a family of 3, but then conceived spontaneously. DOR doesn't necessarily mean you can't have a second one, even a year or two down the line.

[Raspberry]

Just my 2 cents...i never had a chance to try IUI or super ovulation before moving to IVF. I have/had stage 4 endo and my RE said IUI's and Super Ovulation cycles would be just waste of time and money. So we tried IVF a couple of times ( like 6) and i'm regreting not trying at least 1 super ovulation cycle just to see how i would responde to the drugs. I was always on high dose of drugs like 300-450 FSH and my ovaries never responded to it...just gave us 2-3 bad eggs...than my last try we did a mini IVF cycle with 50 mg Clomid and i had 4-5 follicles on the low dose. My egg quality wasn't better..but i was 2 yeard older as well. I would try 1-2 super ovulation cycle and if you have 4-5 good size of follicles you can always convert to IVF. if not at least you know you need higher dose of drugs..( FSH).

 

Good Good Luck!!

[MB.]

I think it is something that you could remain open to and that you should discuss with your RE. 

 

As you get closer to ER you will have a better idea how many eggs will be retrieved.  Some people end up with a lot and some people end up with a few.  If you end up with a lot of eggs, wait to see how many fertilize and then decide with your RE whether to freeze those or whether you feel you have enough remaining to support a second pregnancy (assuming you get pregnant with the fresh transfer).

 

If you don't get a lot of eggs on your first cycle, you could look to freeze those that fertilize and then immediately go to a second ivf cycle.  The RE may be able to improve on the number of eggs retrieved based on what he has learned from your initial cycle.

[My_time]

Brand new to the forum and anticipating first IVF cycle in July. After several years of TTC naturally doing everything in my power with an unexplained diagnosis, now have an unofficial diagnosis of DOR. Dr described it - I labelled it. AMH around 0.2 and FSH of 14.
Probably getting way ahead of myself but thinking at 35, do we want to do a few rounds of simulation before transfer in order to have some eggs or embryos for freezing??? Is it weird that I am thinking about baby #2 before even achieving #1??? Just worried about repeating all this stress again in a few years with even lower egg quality then?
How do you approach this with the Dr? Anyone have any advice?
Apologies of some of the terms above are incorrect. Again, new to the forum...

 What was your antral follicle count (AFC) on day 3? I think AFC is a much better indicator of the egg reserve. I think knowing your AMH and FSH values are all great but you won't know how your body will respond before you try the protocols. Your body may surprise you, specially at your age.

 

If you truly have DOR, then your egg reserve won't be better in couple of years and if you want a second child for sure, then yes, one could do more cycles and freeze embryos. The problem is that with true DORs you may not get to the freezing point. But your first IVF will reveal if you are a real DOR or DOR only on paper. 

 

Good luck!

[Munchkin88]

Great comments here! I have also struggled with unexplained fertility and was shocked to here IVF was my option. You need to advocate for self. I agree with My time will come, you won't know until you try. If you have rapport and confidence with your dr proceed as suggested. If you have an ounce of uncertainty, get a second opinion before proceeding, besides you have time to do this as your apt isn't until July. My dr let me do IUI with Gonal first to see how I would react to the medicine. As far as your care package for IVF, you need to 'stand up' and let the dr know your family plan so u can work together to achieve that end goal.

[sharlene]

Brand new to the forum and anticipating first IVF cycle in July. After several years of TTC naturally doing everything in my power with an unexplained diagnosis, now have an unofficial diagnosis of DOR. Dr described it - I labelled it. AMH around 0.2 and FSH of 14.
Probably getting way ahead of myself but thinking at 35, do we want to do a few rounds of simulation before transfer in order to have some eggs or embryos for freezing??? Is it weird that I am thinking about baby #2 before even achieving #1??? Just worried about repeating all this stress again in a few years with even lower egg quality then?
How do you approach this with the Dr? Anyone have any advice?
Apologies of some of the terms above are incorrect. Again, new to the forum...

I think I would take it one step at a time - many women don't have anything left to transfer, never mind freeze.  And embryos don't always thaw well - I would personally dwell on one successful pregnancy before I started thinking about two - though I do believe in planning ahead, I think that without having done any injectables yet, I'd hold off on the planning and go with the flow - and hope that your embryos appear healthy and strong and are transferable.  Good luck!

[aunit]

Thanks everyone. It's good to hear all the different perspectives. There's a lot we haven't considered mentioned above.