Update and Questions

SND1231 · November 2014

Hey ladies..
So I went back to my RE today.. alone.. which sucked!
But anyhow.. I sat down with the RE and he went over all my results. I knew the FSH,LH etc but didn't know results of my AMH or DH SA.
He started with telling me that DH has super sperm. Over 77 million and great motility and morphology (sp?).
Then moved on to the bad news of my AMH. My AMH was only 1.3. He said at 22 my level should be around a 5. I knew that it would be low but was super shocked at how low it is. RE said that it was low but not critically low. He said that looking at that number alone is bad but when you put it with my normal FSH and LH level as well as the follies that he saw on TV U/S he was still optimistic.
He then said that he was going to put me on Femera instead of Clomid as I have a history of a blood clot in my brain and will be considered high risk WHEN I get pregnant and multiples would make it extremely dangerous for me. So he wrote a RX for 2.5 mg of Femera for 5 days and I will get an TV U/S 7 days after I finish my last pill.
They took blood today to make sure I wasn't preggo, haven't ovulated, and check my progesterone.
If everything comes back good I start Femera tomorrow.
He also said that my success rate with Femera and TI is about 25% which is almost what he considered for a "normal couple" at 30% success rate.
Questions:
He said that I didn't need to have AF before starting this medication? Is this normal? If this cycle is a BFN do I still not need AF to start the next cycle?
Is my 25% success rate an ok figure? It sounds so low to me?
Side effects of Femera?
He didn't mention a Trigger, how will I know when I ovulate? The U/S and B/W?
Should I test with OPK and BBT to track my O? Or rely on their ultrasounds and b/w?

I know that the last two questions are a little dumb as most of you have already been there and done that for a long time before coming here. But since I haven't had AF or O on my own in over 3 years I haven't done any charting, temping, or OPK's. So I apologize in advance if those questions are stupid.

BandM14 · November 2014

The success rate sounds awesome to me!! I didn't have any major side effects with Femara and I was on double the dose you are... Just some minor headaches and a few hot flashes. When we did Femara and TI I still used OPK's but didn't track BBT... For this cycle I didn't use them because of the extra monitoring and trigger shot for IUI. I'm not sure on the waiting for AF, but if your doctor said you can start the medication now I would just go with that.

Good luck!!!

LindseyM2012 · November 2014

I'm sorry you're not feeling great about the AMH level. I'm glad your RE is optimistic based on your other levels and your ultrasound though! It is so easy to get discouraged by one low level, but in conjunction with other factors you have to remember to have hope (which it sounds like you still do)

As for your questions:

I have heard of ladies who start meds without inducing AF before. My RE didn't do it that way, but maybe someone else has experience with this method. My RE did the b/w to make sure I hadn't ovulated, put me on a round of Provera to induce CD1 and then did baseline u/s & b/w on CD3, Letrozole/Femara on CD 4-8. Did he do a baseline u/s and b/w today so he has a frame of reference for your mid-cycle u/s & b/w?

I would say 25% is worth doing the treatment. For those of us who have IF issues, it seems to be the goal to just catch us up to the "fertiles".

I just finished my round of Letrozole/Femara with very few side effects. I did have headaches, but I get those a lot so I don't know if that was because of Letrozole or not. Nothing crazy. I have been more sensitive/emotional than normal, but that could also be due to stress. No side effects that I can truly, confidently, 100% attribute to Letrozole.

I am doing a trigger shot, so I'm not sure what the protocol is when you don't do one. However, there are certainly ladies here who didn't do triggers so they'll be able to let you know. I've also read that meds can mess with your temps, but again the other ladies who haven't triggered may be able to help here.

Just want to say GOOD LUCK!!!! And YAY for your husband's super sperm. I know that had to make him feel good. I apologize if I repeated any information others have responded with previously. I started to respond to your post, got caught up with work and resumed responding without reading any PPs.

deelopi9 · November 2014

Congrats on your DH SA results - that's great news! My last 2 cycles on Femara were 10x better than on Clomid. I didn't have as many mood swings as I did on Clomid. My RE says 25% would the ideal goal, so your RE is on the right track there.

Good luck!

Hollowvic · November 2014

A 25% chance is really good. When I did my IUI my chances were like 13% and that was before finding out how bad my DH's sperm was. So really I think the percentage was much less. Don't know much about Femara but plenty of pp on here have been on it. Good luck and yay for your Hs super sperm.

SND1231 · November 2014

Thanks ladies! I appreciate all the feedback especially on my "stupid" questions.
@NarniaDreaming I had no idea what a normal success rate was. Thanks!
@BandM14 thanks for the headsup on side effects
@LindseyM2012 thank you. You are right I got caught up on the one bad level. I had an u/s 2 weeks ago that I guess is considered my baseline.So he will have something to compare the mid-cycle u/s to. Thanks for the advice on side effects and triggers etc!
@deelopi9 thanks I hope I am like you and have minimal side effects
@rainbowbridge14 thanks for explaining the AF question. I had no idea. I am still learning. I will ask about a trigger shot, especially since insurance does cover it and it would make things much much easier. Thank you for all the advice.

mshandlebar · November 2014

Yay for good news and super sperm! 25% is pretty awesome. Good luck with Femara.

DSculley1824 · November 2014

Everyone pretty much answered your questions but I just wanted to comment! I too just started my first medicated cycle. I'm currently on CD 6 taking 5mg of Letrozole (generic for Femera). So far I've had some trouble sleeping (falling asleep and waking in the middle of the night) and hot flashes (not horrible but different feeling). I'm also tired (from lack of sleep) but I just remind myself I'm only on it for 5 days. I go back on CD 14 for my mid cycle u/s and b/w. My RE prescribed me the Pregnyl HCG trigger injection (received it in the mail yesterday) so I can't help with tracking using BBT or OPKs. I just wanted to offer support since it's my first cycle too and we will be taking the same pill

SND1231 · November 2014

Thank you all so much! I was a bit overwhelmed at the appointment by myself and never can think of my questions until I leave and have time to sit down and think. I will ask when they call tomorrow with more blood work results if I am doing trigger or not. I am thinking I am not as he wanted to see how I respond and if I ovulate since I haven't been. I would love to trigger as my insurance covers it and it would only cost me about $20 and then I would know when I O and don't have to stress myself out about OPK etc.
@BlueFairy5 thanks for the advice and explanation. That explains so much! I appreciate it!
@DSculley1824 good luck with this cycle. I will keep my eyes out for how your cycle goes!

BunnyBerry · November 2014

Congrats on super sperm! And on fabulous chances with TI. So glad you were able to start a medicated cycle right away!

tinydove · November 2014

When I did cycles with Femara, my RE didn't have me wait until AF either (but he also didn't want to put me on Provera for a new cycle, but that was because of a study done specifically about women with PCOS who are TTC). I didn't notice any side effects at all with it. Good luck!

LindseyM2012 · November 2014

@tinydove - did he explain what that study concluded? I'd be interested to know because I've did Provera to start this medicated cycle. I wonder if the study just concluded that it was not necessary. Hopefully it didn't say anything about hurting the chances.

SND1231 · November 2014

@lemonliz thank you for the info on AMH levels. I had no idea. I planned on doing some research today about it. I am hoping and praying that the Femera works! Also good luck with your upcoming IVF!

kushie77 · November 2014

I have nothing to offer that hasn't been covered, so please accept this GIF for super sperm and a game plan:

tinydove · November 2014

@LindseyM2012 You can read about the study here. The study itself was conducted in 2007, more may have been done since then and/or possibly with a larger group. I thought it was interesting when he referenced it, so I went home and Googled it. This study in particular was done with Clomid.

LindseyM2012 · November 2014

tinydove said:

@LindseyM2012 You can read about the study here. The study itself was conducted in 2007, more may have been done since then and/or possibly with a larger group. I thought it was interesting when he referenced it, so I went home and Googled it. This study in particular was done with Clomid.

How interesting! Thanks for the reference.

SND1231 · November 2014

Officially off the bench! Got the call around 5 that I can start my femera

taking it for 5 days and have an u/s the 21st then will determine if I need a trigger or not and also if I need progesterone as it was quite low yesterday. Thanks for all the advice ladies.

LindseyM2012 · November 2014

Yay!! I bet it feels so great to get off the bench. Keep us updated!!

Want a personalized experience?

Update and Questions

Re: Update and Questions

March 2014 - RE appt.
April 2014- Saline sono all's good, terrible SA results - 8 sperm found all abnormal
May 2014- Fert Urology- Bilateral varicoceles, recommend Donor Sperm

12/2014- Surprise natural BFP EDD 7/31/15 Plan: Starting foster to adoption, natural cycles

Choose Another Board

Search Boards

Want a personalized experience?

Update and Questions

Re: Update and Questions

March 2014 - RE appt. April 2014- Saline sono all's good, terrible SA results - 8 sperm found all abnormalMay 2014- Fert Urology- Bilateral varicoceles, recommend Donor Sperm

12/2014- Surprise natural BFP EDD 7/31/15 Plan: Starting foster to adoption, natural cycles

Choose Another Board

Search Boards

March 2014 - RE appt.
April 2014- Saline sono all's good, terrible SA results - 8 sperm found all abnormal
May 2014- Fert Urology- Bilateral varicoceles, recommend Donor Sperm