Advice needed please..low amh..been told donor eggs only option...

[Sweetpea123]

Hi,
I'm new to ff..and could do with some advice. It's been a rollercoaster 12 months!! I had 2 attempts at IVF last year, first was abandoned due to no response, 2nd time 12 eggs collected, 10 fertilised, however all but two embryo's diminished and the two that were put back were poor qualitity -fragmentated, low cell division and obviously resulted in a bfn.

New year and new clinic- had a consultation this week. AMH has come in at 3.91 which is shocking as i'm only 33. AFC was 4 right ovary and 14 on the other. I've had multiple miscarriages (3) and ectopic (1) previously. The consultation advised due to last years ivf and the fact i've had multiple miscarriages that my chance of success is 5% and that donor egg realistically is my only option. If I wanted to go ahead with ivf with OE he would have to consult with other specialists to see if I could go ahead with that clinic (chances unlikely). So absolutely distraught i've done nothing but cry all day and feel so alone. And in that time I've booked myself in for 2 consultations with london clinics that specialise in low AMH (lister & create) I really don't know what to do and just feel numb, my dp thinks we should go for donor whereas i'm just not ready for that yet, his SA is good. Have I been to quick in booking these consultations? Should I just accept what this dr said? The dr said he's never really seen anything like it. my fsh is 9, which i find hard to believe as well. Since last time i've been on a whole load of supplements and the dr did mention dhea but then he just wrote it off like he did me in this meeting. And then he said he would just do the same as the previous clinic which concerned me as thought the treatment would be tailored to my needs? I'm seriously at a loss and don't know what to do. I know there are women who have had lower amh and got pregnant, or who have taken supplements and it's helped. Should I really seek a second opinion? i'm at my wits end and my relationship is seriously being affected by all this.

xxx

[FertilityFriends]

[Sweetpea123]

i forgot to add that the eggs collected from the previous cycle were all mature, and the embryologist did not mention anything about them.

xx

[Troodles]

Hi Hun

So sorry to read all that you've been through. I also have a low AMH and its lowered by half since my last cycle. It's such a shock to hear this isn't it Hun. We have decided to go for DE this time rather than get a 2nd opinion or try things like DHEA.  I Think you've done the right thing and once you've spoken to the other clinics you can take time to think about your next move. You are completely normal in the way you are feeling. I cried for days and days and I still get upset when I think that a child I have using DE won't have my nose or my bad temper but will have things from DH. I've had some wonderful advice and support from
Ladies on here and the most important thing is for us to be a family and to one day hear that magical word mum.

I wish you all the luck with your journey but just remember it is a grieving process and just not fair that we have to go through what comes so easy to others.

Get another opinion and do lots of research. Our decision was based on the higher success rate with DE, the potentially only going through it one more time if we're lucky and of course the money!!

Take care and keep us posted on your decision.

Big hugs x x x

[bearloopy77]

Hi sweetpea

I am fairly new on here myself. If i was you i would definitely get a second opinion. I was 34 when my amh was tested and it was found
to be a whole 1.7!! fsh 9.0. My afc tends to be around 6-8 from both ovaries and yet i have been given a 45% chance if we manage to
get 2 good embryo's to put back.

I have seen ladies on here with low amh and have been told it may not work, to go on and get loads of eggs and become pregnant.
One lady had a amh of 0.2 and ended up with twins

Don't give up hope yet. Go and see other clinics and do lot's of research.My clinic is in hampshire, where about are you based?
I am doing accupuncture which is fab and even if it doesn't work the feeling that you are doing something really helps. I also
 take vitamin b complex which i always take any way, although the tablet is like horse size . Also vitamin d and q 10.

Stay in touch and try to stay positive, easier said than done i know

[Maisyz]

Hi Sweatpea, I think your clinic should be dumped. Clinics like egg donation as they THINK it gets better results. Lots of my original cycle buddies have gone down the route and are now into double figures of donor cycles with no pregnancy. In your case I note you have had miscarriages which makes me wonder if you have had any immune testing done? I had immunes and discovered some issues which are easily treated with prednisolone and clexane. On donor egg cycles often pred and clexane are just thrown into the mix anyway and sometimes I think this is what means a donor cycle works for people when their own egg cycle hasn't. Definitely look into it I'd say, one consultant I saw focussed very much on MTHFR being the one that most often causes miscarriage, there is a good immune section on here that may be worth a look. Also on the low amh board there are lots of ladies who have lower amh than you who have had pregnancies (with their own child). Good luck with it all, don't let them write you off x

[Blubelle]

Hi sweetpea!

I felt drawn to respond to your comment, as I too understand how you feel. I've had one treatment of ivf so far and my amh result is very low too, I was very upset at the time, but I got plenty of eggs and they all fertilised normally. My consultant was shocked I responded so well, I've heard each time you do ivf they aren't always the same result. So I agree with everyone else that you should seek advice from someone who is happy to help you achieve your dreams.

DE has always been something I've thought about, and the baby grows inside of you, because of you and all your goodness you have a wonderful baby at the end. He/she will sound like you, have your personality, and above all love you because you are their wonderful mother. Don't give up.

Bell xxxxx

[mccrea74]

Far too early imo for DE. If you got 12 eggs on your last cycle there is plenty of hope for you with OE. Your AMH and FSH are not disastrous. The only thing is how much time and money you want to dedicate to continuing with OE. You need a tailored protocol for a poor responder - I got a better response with low stimming. You should get a 2nd opinion and also explore the possibility of DE as a safety net

[ELW7]

Hi Sweetpea, so sorry to read your post!  Sorry you have experienced such losses too! I'm not sure I am going to be able to give you much advice, but I just want to say I understand how you feel and how hard it must be for you at the moment!  I think I would go to your other appointments for a second opinion as I have heard the Lister are successful at treating people with low AMH.

My AMH was 4.2 last year which was a complete shock.  However, I responded better than they thought on our first cycle and managed to get 4 eggs which all fertilised.  We had two put back with a positive result but devastatingly it was an ectopic    On our second try they wanted to cancel our treatment as I only had one follicle, but after pleading for them to go ahead we did have an egg which fertilised but sadly was a negative result  My clinic have now agreed to offer us a third try but won't change the protocol so I am a bit worried as to how I will respond this time.

We went to another clinic this week to see if we could transfer our third try, only to be told that my AMH and AFC would have to be re tested and if they were both lower than 4 then he wouldn't treat us and donor eggs would be the only option.  Like you, this has devastated me beyond words!  He gave us a success rate of 5% with my own eggs.  I have cried everyday since and just can't begin to even think about using de just yet.  I've longed for my own baby for so long and the thought this might not happen is tearing me apart.  I have never felt so low and alone and I am finding it all very hard to deal with.  We are going to stick with our original clinic as at least they will go ahead with our last nhs funded try with my eggs but I feel it's now or never and the over whelming pressure is unbearable!

Like you, I have read about others with low AMH having their own babies, so I don't want to give up!  I take coq10 and L'arginine but my clinic won't even recognise dhea so that's a no go.  I keep reading that it's quality not quantity that counts so I hope for both of us that the eggs we have left are of a good quality 

This emotional journey is such a cruel one and I feel totally lost in it all too. I don't even recognise myself anymore and like you say, it puts such a strain on your relationship.  My dh is also fine and I hate the fact that I seem to be failing him and myself when this is the one thing I have longed for most of my adult life.  I would definitely go to the appointments as they might have a different view and because each cycle is different, there is every chance you will be successful with your own eggs. 

Sorry I'm not much help really, but just wanted to say I know how you're feeling and here to help if I can  Hoping you get some positive answers soon and I wish you lots of love and luck, Love Emma xxx

[Sweetpea123]

Thank you so so much for your responses. I'm so very grateful for having somewhere to turn in my hour(s) of need!!!!

I really don't want to give up on my OE yet, I look at my DP and just feel an overwhelming sadness and so much guilt. I've told him he picked a dud one when he picked me.

I was on the long protocol last time and 450ui menopur where they collected the eggs. The consultant in the new clinic advised this week because of my miscarriages and the fact that no embyro's weren't good quality he believes I have an egg quality issue. My last clinic was willing to go ahead with another ivf cycle because they do not test for amh so i would of been none the wiser.

mccrea74 - Isn't 12 eggs a good response? how would low stimming get a better response, does it bring better quality eggs or are all of mine bad anyway?

bearloopy77 - We are based in the north-bolton, but we are willing to travel and that is why london is in our sights. I have now got two appointments one at Lister and one at create which i think are the good ones that specialise in low amh?!?! anybody have any other suggestions as i'm open to them all! I'm also on l'arginine (500mg), coq10 (200mg), pregnacare conception, fish oil supplement, vit b6, royal jelly, alpha lipioc acid, vit c, any other suggestions again i'd be grateful to hear!

thanks all for your kind words

please keep in touch!

xx

[mccrea74]

I find their conclusion baffling that its def an egg quality issue. It could be implantation or immune issues. The 2 clinics you are going to are good clinics and should be able to help. 12 eggs was certainly a good response but some clinics (like Serum) aim for 6 eggs of higher quality. Blasting the ovaries with high doses of gonalf can affect egg quality. There is an ongoing debate about DHEA and its positive effect on egg quality.

ARGC in London is also a top clinic with results to prove it - they specialise in immune testing & treatment and may be able to help you. Multiple miscarriages points heavily towards an underlying problem. Please have a look at Agates FAQ on the immune board. There is also a book by Dr Beer on immune problems