[CMD1222]

I am new to the infertility community. I am hoping that there may be one reader out there who can help me understand what all of this means because it is clear that I just don't get it.

I have been married for two years. I am 39 years old and have a 19 year old son. My husband is 50 and has a 27 year old son. Together, we decided that we would like a baby together - before we got much older. In November, I have my Mirena IUD removed and we began trying.

Apparently, if a woman over 35 years old does not become pregnant within six months, it is a cause for alarm in some OB/GYN offices - mine being one of them. I was given the Clomid challenge. My husband supplied a semen sample. We both thought that the medication that my husband takes for his Thyroid was responsible for the delay in conception and learned that other medications could be added to his current medication to rid him of that particular side effect.

I called for the test results last Wednesday. My husband is fine! I am not fine. Apparently, my FSH levels showed that I am at a 43 which means that I am in menopause at 39 years old. I refuse to accept this as a final ruling. I have researched the internet and have found some articles that say that FSH levels mean nothing. I am still getting my period each month but they tell me that I am out of eggs or soon to be out of eggs. I typed into Google "reverse menopause" and found a link for a study done in Italy that taking Melotonin will reverse menopause and has helped with conception after menopause. Of course I ran right out and bought some. I willing to do the chicken dance if that would help.

Can someone please explain this FSH number? What does this mean? We are devastated. We have booked an appointment with the infertility specialist but something tells me that there is no hope?.

Thank you so much for listening. I really need some help understanding this. I am not ready to hit that stage of my life and I feel so brokenhearted. I feel so many different emotions but disbelief must be the strongest.

[thebebe]

Sorry to hear you are going through this! I will try to help with some info based on my own research/learning through my own IF journey.

FSH= Follicle Stimulation Hormone. It measures how well you should respond to fertility meds. Below 10 is thought of as good, and above 10 means you may not respond as well/you could have low ovarian reserve. I pulled the info below off a website. HTH.
Also, I think you will rcv. more info once you meet with an RE and they can provide more info and answer your questions.
I would not give up yet!

Article:

In women, FSH and LH levels can help to differentiate between primary ovarian failure (failure of the ovaries themselves) and secondary ovarian failure (failure of the ovaries due to disorders of either the pituitary or the hypothalamus). Increased levels of FSH and LH are consistent with primary ovarian failure. Some causes of primary ovarian failure are listed below.

Developmental defects:

• Ovarian agenesis (failure to develop ovaries)
• Chromosomal abnormality, such as Turner’s syndrome
• Ovarian steroidogenesis defect, such as 17 alpha hydroxylase deficiency

Premature ovarian failure due to:

• Radiation
• Chemotherapy
• Autoimmune disease

Chronic anovulation (failure to ovulate) due to:

• Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
• Adrenal disease
• Thyroid disease
• Ovarian tumor

When a woman enters menopause and her ovaries stop working, FSH levels will rise.

Low levels of FSH and LH are consistent with secondary ovarian failure due to a pituitary or hypothalamic problem.

[wtnganother1]

If I felt the way you feel, I would be searching for everything possible. That being said, my RE told me when he first tested me that if my FSH level were to be too high, there's nothing he could do. Game over. I have no idea if those levels can come down or not. Have you thought about donor eggs?