High FSH? success?

MauidAims

Hi ladies,

I was wondering if anyone has a high FSH and had luck with either conceiving naturally, IUI or IVF.  My Dr just told me I have a high FSH (13.9) and will likely not be able to get preg without IVF.  She said even with IVF it will be difficult.  We have no fertility coverage and its $10k a try.  We are also weighing our option on adoption as well. We have one DS that is 4 that we conceived naturally.

If you have a high FSH what are you doing to lower it- accupuncture, royal jelly...??

thanks so much!

Mrs.McIrish

There are plenty of women who were successful with high FSH. I am unfortunately not one of them (see siggy). It really depends on how you respond to stims. Also, the younger you are, the better since younger eggs just tend to be better.

 I have not found anything that really lowered FSH. There are lots of theories etc but for me, mine just continued to rise over the past two years from 12.1 to 24.3 no matter what supplements I took.

Also, just a warning, a lot of women with high FSH levels are given massive amounts of drugs to get follies to grow. My meds alone for IVF 1 and 2 on maximum drugs cost $8K-$10K.   The IVF cost was separate so I'm guessing your quote of $10K/try is without meds.

dhreczuck

As  McIrish stated, FSH levels tend to correspond with response to stims which in turn can make IVF more challenging, however reponses can vary widely regardless of FSH level. My RE doesn't really place much emphasis on FSH unless its very very above the norm. My sisters FSH was 20 and she's pregnant now naturally, but didn't respond well to IVF stims at all so it seems counter-intuitive to think that IVF is your only option.

chicagobride_07

I would definitely try naturally as well as maybe a few rounds of IUI before moving to IVF.  My FSH is between 11-12 (rose after the first 2 IUI cycles) and I did not have success with IUI.  However, I am 42.

Other things will come into play for you such as your AMH and age.

erikaja6

I am 40 and found out I had high FSH in May 2011 (FSH - 25.2).  I don't know how high my FSH was when my husband and I naturally conceived our son in 2009.  I started taking frozen wheatgrass (Whole Foods) and royal jelly & pollen (Vitamin Shoppe) one month after my high FSH diagnosis.  My FSH dropped dramatically in subsequent cycles (it was between 6 and 15).  I know everyone says, "You're only as good as your highest FSH", but my insurance only covers IVF if your FSH is lower than 15.  So, lowering it was crucial for me.  After my fourth IUI in November 2011, I found out I was pregnant.  Unfortunately, I found out there was no heartbeat at my 7 week ultrasound. There is a wonderful high FSH support board (www.network54.com/Forum/209394).  There are a number of success stories on that board.   Good luck!   

sophiet496

Hi there. Just wanted to say that I'm in the same boat. I just found out today that I have a high fsh level and I don't think we are even going down the RE road. I'm really shocked and feel like I am mourning a loss tonight. I conceived my DS at 34 on my first try, so I never expected to be told  this kind of news. I'm pretty devastated.

GettinCrafty

Is your Dr. an OB or an RE (Reproductive Endocrinologist, who specializes in IF)? If it's an OB, look up some REs in your area and go in for some basic fertility testing. If it's an RE, you may well know all this...

But just in case: Your insurance may cover testing and diagnosis (mine did, even though no IF treatment is covered). These tests should measure your Antral Follicle Count (AFC) and Anti-M?llerian hormone (AMH) in addition to FSH and a few other things. FSH, AFC and AMH are generally looked at together to tell a better story about your ovarian reserve. 

My FSH was slightly high, and my AFC and AMH were quite low. I was dx with Diminished Ovarian Reserve. We have no insurance coverage for IF treatment and, after a year of deliberating, are in the midst of a medicated (follistim) IUI cycle. We got donated meds from the RE, and the rest of the costs are supposed to come in at $2000-3500 (though I really think we'll be on the very low side of that.) 

GL! 

trarntb

My FSH is high also (has been as high as 46).  I found hope in this success story.  Here FSH was 150 and she conceived NATURALLY!  She is currently pregnant : )

 

https://www.fertileheart.com/niaw-fertile-heart-kicks-off-national-infertility-awareness-week-with-first-priceless-lesson-in-fertility/

maritorri

Hi there -- With the help of DHEA (from a NYC doctor at Centers for Human Reproduction), as well as synthroid, I conceived naturally with an FSH of 24 and an AMH of .16. Had a son in July. Hope this helps!

klgettinger

I would like to share my success story with you.  I am 38 and 5 weeks pregnant with 1000  hcg at week 4,  success with IVF single embryo transfer on first try ivf.

My husband and I ttc for 2 years. FSH - 22. AMH = .0738.  I had one blocked fallopian tube, and severe endometriosis and endometrial cysts removed by an extraordinarily experienced surgeon specializing in infertility, in Palo Alto, CA, Dr Camran Nezhat in June 2011.  

 After surgery we tried for 6 more months to conceive and thus , realized we were diagnosed with inferitlity at end of 2011. I had two friends who each had their first two ivf transfers fail.  So I listened to them as to what to do differently.  The first friend said go to Zouves because he will give you immune supressants if you need them . Turns out i did need them.  And the second friend got preg naturally three times once she got immune suppressants.  And also I started acupuncture weekly and also taking Chinese herbs from Po Lin Shyu, my acupuncturist, who is also a teacher at an acupuncture school called Five Branches in Santa Cruz. I think the herbs help alot.

We got married June 2012, and in August 2012,  went to our first fertility clinic, to meet with Dr Christo Zouves in Foster City Northern California.   He said we were right on the cusp of possibly needing donor eggs, but then on day three of my cycle, the ultrasound showed 3 follicles on the right and 4 on the left side.  So, he said there is still a chance for us to use my eggs! I was thrilled. He suggested egg banking and three retrievals, then ivf.  We folllowed his suggestion.  Total 17 eggs retrieved out of three retrievals, resting a month between each retrieval.  Only 8 eggs ended up being mature out of all three retrievals. I was sad .  3 after the first , 3 after the second,and two after the third. And after thawing the eggs just 6 survived.  My husband is 50 years old and in incredible health. He has no grey hair, looks 15 years younger, has beautiful skin.  He eats greens and primarily a vegetarian diet for the past twenty years (good influence on me, so had me start a year ago doing wheat grass daily and eating plant based diet mostly).

All 6 eggs that fertilized , we had our doc do the CGH test which you ABSOLUTELY MUST DO. it is $4500 extra but it tests all 23 pairs of chromosomes. We had two normal embryos out of the six.  The rest were discarded. We had them put one embryo in on Easter of 2013.  I prayed every day and have everyone in my life close to me praying, literally every day.  I did feng shui and spiced up the creativity and childrens gua of my home . I prayed to angels, Jesus, Mother Mary, literally all saints I can think of and all dead relatives. I wrote prayers, said prayers, asked angels for help... I asked my loved ones to believe we would get pregnant. my husband never doubted we would.  I really truly doubted but then I decided to turn it over to God.  I am pregnant. My doctor said this one goes down in the records. And my doctor has been doing this for over 30 years.  I am so grateful. Pray, pray pray your butt off and make sure you get the CGH test because it will help your doctor to know which embryo is the highest quality and is normal for all chromosomes. This will save you multiple ivfs because only one out of four is a normal embryo.  So you need to do CGH.  And it has only been availlable for a few years. It is a very recent technological advance and not all clinics will offer it to you because some just want to make money off of you doing multiple ivfs and not knowing which of your embryos has the best chance of success.  klgettinger@gmail.com. Feel free to email me. I want you to have success and I can help you.