Antral follicle count?

floridakat

I'm trying to find info online, but I can't find specific information on how much this can vary from cycle to cycle.

I was told Monday that I have zero antral follicles and would have to go with ED to even be considered a candidate for IVF at this point.

Does anyone have experience with differing antral follicle counts? Am I really out for good?

TIA.

LCB34

Here is a good starting point for understand AFC.  Mine has varied from 6-9ish I think.

floridakat

Thanks, I actually found that page yesterday and found it hugely helpful. I just didn't see anything on whether or not the count could rebound. I'm guessing that if I'm at zero, there's no way I'm going to get up to the 10-12 my RE says I need for IVF.

It's most likely endo and scarring from recent surgery that's obscuring the follicles, but I assume that if the doctor can't see them, they can't produce eggs.

LCB34

You don't need 10-12 for IVF.  And if that is what your RE is telling you, then I would consider a second opinion.

My first IVF I only had 6 AFCs.  They got 4 eggs at retrieval and 3 made it to the blast stage.  I got pregnant but unfortunately miscarried. 

 

JM1977

I'm sorry that you are going through this!  I have interpreted AFC to be a stable thing that decreases over time but would not vary significantly from cycle to cycle.  It's really surprising that yours dropped to 0 so quickly.  What was it before?  I guess that makes sense that if your AFC is truly 0, DE would probably be your only option, but that seems like an extreme turn.  Take care!

floridakat

I'm very sorry for your loss, and thank you for your responses.

I guess he didn't say I "had" to have 10-12, he said that's what they'd like to see. 

floridakat

JM1977:

I'm sorry that you are going through this!  I have interpreted AFC to be a stable thing that decreases over time but would not vary significantly from cycle to cycle.  It's really surprising that yours dropped to 0 so quickly.  What was it before?  I guess that makes sense that if your AFC is truly 0, DE would probably be your only option, but that seems like an extreme turn.  Take care!

I had a laparotomy for stage IV endo, fibroids, cysts and polyps about five weeks ago. According to my charts I was ovulating as recently as April/May, but the endo may have been too much for my ovaries. Apparently cysts on both ovaries ruptured before the surgery, and the endo was rampant everywhere.

Yeah, having the doc throw out ED as my only option at my Mock Transfer on Monday kind of freaked me out. Now I'm just trying to interpret everything that's going on.

sweetvick

hey mine these past two IVF cycles have varied, last cycle it was 10, this cycle it was 6
What was your FSH?  Mine was 12.6, which is slightly high.

sweetvick

I agree with LCB.. you need a second opntion.. My first IVF they only saw a total of 4 eggs before retrieval, and they ended up getting 5, 4 mature, 4 fertilized, 3 put back in... I got a BFN that cycle
This cycle, They ended up seeing 6 -7 at last U/S before ET, they got 7 at ET, 5 were mature,and 4 fertilized, those were all put back in me on 9/17.  I just got my BFP this week.

floridakat

My FSH is apparently the only thing I have going for me, which was 3.15 last week (at age 37). My estrogen was "sky high" (didn't give me a number), however.

I really like my RE, but I know a second opinion is always a good idea.

Congrats on your BFP! That's amazing!!!

kjcullen

https://www.advancedfertility.com/antralfollicles.htm

 

This site has some good info about antral counts (and FSH) ...

good luck...

may2806

I'm sorry you're going through this. I too was given the DE speech (based on high FSH). But do not give up based on one u/s. AFC can vary from month to month. And yes, most REs like 10-12 eggs, but with diminished reserve you will probably not get that many - but that doesn't mean it can't work. I had one egg retrieved and got pg (but m/c). Finding an RE who specializes in DOR would be the best thing. GL!

floridakat

Thanks! You ladies are definitely giving me a glimmer of hope, which I've been short on this week. I truly appreciate it.

sliz

i have this issue - but I am wondering how much it is observer dependent -

9/2008 - I had about 8-10 on each side and got pg with clomid twins on that cycle but m/c at 17 wks

4/09-5/09 - dr. A and his u/s tech both look at my ovaries - they look fine and have good antral counts

7/09 and 8/09 - two failed femara cycles, both times my antral counts were 8-10 on each side at baseline - residents A-D

9/09 - had funky early unmedicated O cycle, resident E looks at my ovaries and tells me I only have 3-5 on each side (after I already O'd though)

i think it depends on the person and how carefully they count, total ovary size and also the time in the cycle....i am still worried because my amh came out low but most of the docs I talked to seemed to think my afc was ok....

10/09 - now super-crazed about counting antrals - cd4= 20 total, cd6=18-20 total, cd8 = 20 or so total, cd11 = 18 or so total, cd13 =12 total (all by different residents)....

 

 

 

MrsKario

My RE also mentioned that antral follicle counts are not completely objective and are subject to observer error.  If you have a lot of scarring from endo it might make it more difficult to get an accurate antral follicle count. 

They can vary a little from cycle to cycle.  My first IVF I had an AFC of 9, IVF #2 I had a count of 11. 

Im sorry that you are in this situation.  I know it is hard but try not to lose hope.  I am 39 with borderline FSH and am now 6 wks preg from IVF #2.

Agree with PP that maybe a second opinion is in order.