I'm scared! Just told I have high FSH...

lovesnack · May 2011

Dr. said I probably would not conceive without doing IVF. So crushed. My level was 10.9. Anyone know of success with high FSH? Is IVF my only option?

STL34 · May 2011

Do you know what your normal AFC is? Have you had your AMH measured? What was your E2 at the time of the high FSH reading? I'm asking because your FSH is only borderline high. My RE considers 10 and below normal. The other reason I ask is because my RE looks at multiple tests at the same time to make a determination. FSH alone doesn't shed light on the whole picture.

Typically high FSH is an indication of DOR, POF or impending DOR. I have high FSH, low AMH and low normal and low and really low AFCs (depending on the month). I was told to go straight to IVF and I am about to do IVF #3 (no success yet). That being said, there are women who have high FSH that get PG naturally, with IUI and with IVF. So, it can happen. Since you get 3 follies on clomid, you don't sound like you are at the DOR level.

Good luck! Please let me know if you have any questions.

Gregermis · May 2011

That number is fine... my FSH was 11 as well... we did AMH which ideally is >1 and mine was >7! I just got a BFP through an IUI with 1 million motile sperm from DH! Was this an OB or an RE... make sure you get AMH done!

ETA: My office also likes to see 10 or less, but that test is tricky and depends on the equipment and the person running it. If you have only had FSH tested I would be more worried if you number was 14 or more especially if you have 3 follies this cycle.. Also, I had 3 follies this cycle too! Good luck!

Edit: Clarification and better wording

STL34 · May 2011

Gregermis:

That number is fine... my FSH was 11 as well... we did AMH which ideally is >1 and mine was >7! I just got a BFP through an IUI with 1 million motile sperm from DH! Was this an OB or an RE... either way, get a different Dr. and make sure you get AMH done!

ETA: My office also likes to see 10 or less, but that test is tricky and depends on the equipment and the person running it. I would be more worried if your FSH was 14 or more.. Also, I had 3 follies this cycle too!

My FSH has never been higher than 12.2. So, I don't think that is a fair statment. Your AMH was not in line with your FSH which would indicate that something was off when your FSH was tested. That isn't always the case. My AMH was .7 and then .4 when my FSH was at 7 and 6 respectively.

I definitely recommend finding out what your AFC is at the begining of your cycles and ask about getting AMH tested before you worry. If your AMH or your AFC is low, I would look into finding an RE that specializes in or treats a lot of high FSH or DOR patients.

Gregermis · May 2011

STL34:
Gregermis:

That number is fine... my FSH was 11 as well... we did AMH which ideally is >1 and mine was >7! I just got a BFP through an IUI with 1 million motile sperm from DH! Was this an OB or an RE... either way, get a different Dr. and make sure you get AMH done!

ETA: My office also likes to see 10 or less, but that test is tricky and depends on the equipment and the person running it. I would be more worried if your FSH was 14 or more.. Also, I had 3 follies this cycle too!

My FSH has never been higher than 12.2. So, I don't think that is a fair statment. Your AMH was not in line with your FSH which would indicate that something was off when your FSH was tested. That isn't always the case. My AMH was .7 and then .4 when my FSH was at 7 and 6 respectively.

I definitely recommend finding out what your AFC is at the begining of your cycles and ask about getting AMH tested before you worry. If your AMH or your AFC is low, I would look into finding an RE that specializes in or treats a lot of high FSH or DOR patients.

I'm sorry, I meant that if she only had FSH data to not worry yet especially with 3 follies. I'm so sorry your are dealing with lower AMH Sad

Gregermis · May 2011

STL34:
Gregermis:

That number is fine... my FSH was 11 as well... we did AMH which ideally is >1 and mine was >7! I just got a BFP through an IUI with 1 million motile sperm from DH! Was this an OB or an RE... either way, get a different Dr. and make sure you get AMH done!

ETA: My office also likes to see 10 or less, but that test is tricky and depends on the equipment and the person running it. I would be more worried if your FSH was 14 or more.. Also, I had 3 follies this cycle too!

My FSH has never been higher than 12.2. So, I don't think that is a fair statment. Your AMH was not in line with your FSH which would indicate that something was off when your FSH was tested. That isn't always the case. My AMH was .7 and then .4 when my FSH was at 7 and 6 respectively.

I definitely recommend finding out what your AFC is at the begining of your cycles and ask about getting AMH tested before you worry. If your AMH or your AFC is low, I would look into finding an RE that specializes in or treats a lot of high FSH or DOR patients.

I'm sorry, I meant that if she only had FSH data to not worry yet especially with 3 follies. I'm so sorry your are dealing with lower AMH Sad

Gregermis · May 2011

STL34:
Gregermis:

That number is fine... my FSH was 11 as well... we did AMH which ideally is >1 and mine was >7! I just got a BFP through an IUI with 1 million motile sperm from DH! Was this an OB or an RE... either way, get a different Dr. and make sure you get AMH done!

ETA: My office also likes to see 10 or less, but that test is tricky and depends on the equipment and the person running it. I would be more worried if your FSH was 14 or more.. Also, I had 3 follies this cycle too!

My FSH has never been higher than 12.2. So, I don't think that is a fair statment. Your AMH was not in line with your FSH which would indicate that something was off when your FSH was tested. That isn't always the case. My AMH was .7 and then .4 when my FSH was at 7 and 6 respectively.

I definitely recommend finding out what your AFC is at the begining of your cycles and ask about getting AMH tested before you worry. If your AMH or your AFC is low, I would look into finding an RE that specializes in or treats a lot of high FSH or DOR patients.

I'm sorry, I meant that if she only had FSH data to not worry yet especially with 3 follies. I'm so sorry your are dealing with lower AMH Sad

Gregermis · May 2011

sorry, bump burp Sad

STL34 · May 2011

Gregermis:
STL34:
Gregermis:

That number is fine... my FSH was 11 as well... we did AMH which ideally is >1 and mine was >7! I just got a BFP through an IUI with 1 million motile sperm from DH! Was this an OB or an RE... either way, get a different Dr. and make sure you get AMH done!

ETA: My office also likes to see 10 or less, but that test is tricky and depends on the equipment and the person running it. I would be more worried if your FSH was 14 or more.. Also, I had 3 follies this cycle too!

My FSH has never been higher than 12.2. So, I don't think that is a fair statment. Your AMH was not in line with your FSH which would indicate that something was off when your FSH was tested. That isn't always the case. My AMH was .7 and then .4 when my FSH was at 7 and 6 respectively.

I definitely recommend finding out what your AFC is at the begining of your cycles and ask about getting AMH tested before you worry. If your AMH or your AFC is low, I would look into finding an RE that specializes in or treats a lot of high FSH or DOR patients.

I'm sorry, I meant that if she only had FSH data to not worry yet especially with 3 follies. I'm so sorry your are dealing with lower AMH

I'm sorry. I didn't mean to sound rude about it. The issue for me is that (1) your situation of having both high FSH and high AMH is very rare (your AMH level is high for someone that has normal FSH) and (2) my OB told me not to worry about it when I got my high FSH reading because she thought I had a lot of follicles so it wouldn't be a problem (on my monitoring cycle, she said I had two mature with out any stim meds). I finally decided I was going to see an RE any way (and found one that specializes in high FSH/DOR) a couple months after my reading. By that time, my AFC had dropped drastically and my AMH was .7 even though my FSH was back within normal range. From what I have seen and what my RE and my second opinion RE have said, my situation is more common. Although, it can take many women years to see the decline I had in just a couple of months.

That being said, getting 3 follies on clomid indicates that OP's reserve and ability to be stimulated has not declined. And, it is possible that the FSH level was a fluke. That is why it should be considered along side the other tests so that an informed decision can be reached.

OP, I want to wish you the very best of luck!

mtlaurel · May 2011

I'm sorry about your test results. I was devastated when I found out about my elevated FSH and started reading about it. But, as PPs said, there are other measures of ovarian reserve that may be better indicators.

Your level is only borderline high - I have had a couple >13, and have low AMH. Still haven't had my follow up appt. but I'm hopeful that because I responded to Clomid during a challenge test that IVF might work (we have MFI, too, so IUI not likely).

I would ask your Dr. about these other tests, and try (easier said than done) not to get too down. Good luck!

katieworek · May 2011

Like all the PP said, you should definitely be analyzing your FSH against other indicators to get a clearer picture of your personal fertility.

When I was diagnosed with elevated FSH a few months ago, I was really upset and scared too. One thing that helped me tremendously was calling my RE's office and speaking with one of the nurses there (she is the IVF coordinator).

She was wonderful and helped me see that not all hope was lost and that I was in good hands. She reminded me that IF can be a long road and we were only at the beginning with SO many options in front of us.

Even if it comes to IVF (which I know is hard to grasp for your right now), that will still bring you to your ultimate goal--a baby.

Give yourself some time to adjust and I'm sure you will feel better about the situation. GL! ((HUGS))

Gregermis · May 2011

STL34:

I'm sorry. I didn't mean to sound rude about it. The issue for me is that (1) your situation of having both high FSH and high AMH is very rare (your AMH level is high for someone that has normal FSH) and (2) my OB told me not to worry about it when I got my high FSH reading because she thought I had a lot of follicles so it wouldn't be a problem (on my monitoring cycle, she said I had two mature with out any stim meds). I finally decided I was going to see an RE any way (and found one that specializes in high FSH/DOR) a couple months after my reading. By that time, my AFC had dropped drastically and my AMH was .7 even though my FSH was back within normal range. From what I have seen and what my RE and my second opinion RE have said, my situation is more common. Although, it can take many women years to see the decline I had in just a couple of months.

That being said, getting 3 follies on clomid indicates that OP's reserve and ability to be stimulated has not declined. And, it is possible that the FSH level was a fluke. That is why it should be considered along side the other tests so that an informed decision can be reached.

OP, I want to wish you the very best of luck!

Not at all... When I posted about my elevated FSH I had so many people tell me that 11 was no big deal and no one in your situation chimed in that I didn't even think about it. In my particular case my RE said that if another person had done my FSH the value may have been 9 or 10. I didn't mean to be so flippant!

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