[2ndteacher]

Hey ladies, just thought I'd pop in to say hello. Hope everyone is doing well.

I had my 8th IUI today. I know, it is crazy to think that I am still fooling around with IUI's. It seems like the meds are just not working anymore. I am taking Bravelle in addition to Femara, and I still only produced 1 follicle each of the last 2 cycles. So disappointing. I am almost afraid to move on to IVF because I am afraid I won't produce enough to make it happen. The only reason I am still doing IUI's is because my RE gave me free meds. Very frustrating.

I have started taking Royal Jelly/ Bee Pollen. Trying to make DH take it too! My FSH was 14 this time, and estradiol was only 78. But the nurse said it is normal for it to be low with the overlapping of meds - but I still think it's really low for a healthy follie.

Any ideas for growing healthy, whopping follies anyone???

BABY DUST!!!!!

[Jamoore]

I must tell you that age is one of the most important factors. Being in your early thirties is great!

At the age of 25 I had a whopping fsh of 22, that of a woman in her forties. They gave me roughly 10% of success using my own eggs. My antral count was 2 (ouch).

I'm now halfway done with my twin B/G pregnancy I only had 3 eggs extrated on my second IVF cycle and two made it to day five. Thank goodness I did IVF so young, otherwise I would never have children using my own eggs.

Good luck to you!

[ccandcc]

Jamoore! Wow, thanks for sharing your story! Make me keep the hope alive! Congrats on your pregnancy!

[Lisa72]

Hello Ladies,
I am new here and have been reading through the threads. I am 36 and just found out that I have DOR. They tested my AFC which was 11. My Re is starting me on Gonal-F and Ovidrel and then an IUI in March. I have one son that was conceived naturally in 2006. I am curious is IVF is better than IUI? Also, does anyone know what is "normal" ovarian reserve? My FSH was a 9.7

[cassandrarx]

I guess I have DOR. My doctor says I am going thru my eggs faster than I should for my age. Although my fsh was 8, my estradiol was 77 (which can mask high fsh) My doctor says I can still use my own eggs but that I don't need to try on my own b/c of time. We plan to try IUI 4 more times and then move on to IVF. I'm worried about going to IVF again, but only had 7 eggs last time. I think a protocol with lupron will help me produce more eggs. Does anyone know of any protocols designed for DOR? I went thru the cycle really fast. Ahead of schedule. I'm looking for DOR buddies and wonder if anyone knows why my AMH is good (1.4) but estradiol is high. Also, I think I may have one good ovary and one with diminished reserve. I ovulate much sooner on the months that my left ovary ovulates, versus days later on my right!!

[Krista]

Originally Posted by Lisa72

Hello Ladies,
I am new here and have been reading through the threads. I am 36 and just found out that I have DOR. They tested my AFC which was 11. My Re is starting me on Gonal-F and Ovidrel and then an IUI in March. I have one son that was conceived naturally in 2006. I am curious is IVF is better than IUI? Also, does anyone know what is "normal" ovarian reserve? My FSH was a 9.7

I believe "normal" FSH is under 10. If your AFC was over 10 and FSH is under 10 you seem pretty normal. Have you been on meds before and been labeled a "poor responder" or are they using DOR simply because of your age?

IUIs vs. IVF depends on the person. IUIs are MUCH less expensive, but IVF has a higher success rate.

[Lisa72]

Originally Posted by Krista

I believe "normal" FSH is under 10. If your AFC was over 10 and FSH is under 10 you seem pretty normal. Have you been on meds before and been labeled a "poor responder" or are they using DOR simply because of your age?

IUIs vs. IVF depends on the person. IUIs are MUCH less expensive, but IVF has a higher success rate.

I was told that my reserve is low and that it would be very hard to get pregnant on my own. Basically. there was nothing he could do except take Robutussin. When I went for my second opinion, he suggested IUI and injectables. I haven't started them yet so I don't know how I am going to respond. He did tell me that time was not on my side so getting pg as soon as possible would be best. I think they are using DOR because of my age. I am just that the IUI works and I can stop worrying about this. I had no idea my clock was really ticking. My mom had me at 39 and my sister had her second at 40.

[Krista]

Originally Posted by Lisa72

I was told that my reserve is low and that it would be very hard to get pregnant on my own. Basically. there was nothing he could do except take Robutussin. When I went for my second opinion, he suggested IUI and injectables. I haven't started them yet so I don't know how I am going to respond. He did tell me that time was not on my side so getting pg as soon as possible would be best. I think they are using DOR because of my age. I am just that the IUI works and I can stop worrying about this. I had no idea my clock was really ticking. My mom had me at 39 and my sister had her second at 40.

I'm in the same boat. A year later we've had 3 IUIs and an IVF. Now I'm doing The Infertility Cure program with a local acupuncturist. My mom had my sis at 39, grandma had my dad at 39, great-grandma had my grandpa at 42. What the heck is wrong with me?!

[Lisa72]

Originally Posted by Krista

I'm in the same boat. A year later we've had 3 IUIs and an IVF. Now I'm doing The Infertility Cure program with a local acupuncturist. My mom had my sis at 39, grandma had my dad at 39, great-grandma had my grandpa at 42. What the heck is wrong with me?!

I know how you feel. I thought I had plenty of time. Did your RE tell you what your AFC or FSH is? DOR is very hard because there is not much that can be done. How did you respond to the injectables?

[Krista]

Originally Posted by Lisa72

I know how you feel. I thought I had plenty of time. Did your RE tell you what your AFC or FSH is? DOR is very hard because there is not much that can be done. How did you respond to the injectables?

My AFC is a consistent 12 and FSH is 6.9, so not great, but not bad either. I responded quickly to the meds- ER was 3 days early! but the follies weren't consistent in size.

[Lisa72]

Originally Posted by Krista

My AFC is a consistent 12 and FSH is 6.9, so not great, but not bad either. I responded quickly to the meds- ER was 3 days early! but the follies weren't consistent in size.

Your FSH is good..better than mine. I am starting to get worried that IUI will not work for me. WHat kind of meds did your RE put you on? I am new to this so I don't understand about the size of the follies. What are they supposed to be?

[helenabdancer]

Lisa: How does Robutussin help?

Also, I responded terrible to meds. I was on Follistim and Menopur --high doses too (during my two failed IVF's) and responded so poorly I didn't make it to retrieval.

[Lisa72]

Originally Posted by helenabdancer

Lisa: How does Robutussin help?

Also, I responded terrible to meds. I was on Follistim and Menopur --high doses too (during my two failed IVF's) and responded so poorly I didn't make it to retrieval.

I am sorry you didn't respond well to the meds. Robutussin is supposed to thin out you cervical mucus. It makes the sperm get there faster...it sways for a boy because they are the fastest. That is how I got my son. I was 33 when I conceived and it took me 3 months. Good Luck!!

[tmf001]

I've been reading through this thread, and I am in the same situation. I was diagnosed with DOR at the age of 28 after we had been TTC for 1.5 yrs. My FSH was as high as 14.5 and my AFC varied, but was usually about 3 and 6. I did 2 months of clomid, then follistim with an IUI, then IVF (only had 2 embryos, both transferred), then 3 more follistim months with IUI's then another IVF cycle (2 embryos, both transferred), then another IUI. Didn't get pregnant through all of that....

It wasn't until I was 30 yrs old andgetting ready to fly out to CCRM (Colorado Center for Reprod. Medicine) to do my final IVF cycle that I got pregnant on my own! I had been taking DHEA 25mcg twice daily for 2 months, but that was it! Now I have a 6 month old son and am desperate to have another one.

Someone mentioned the Schoolcraft protocol. I'm curious if it was created by Dr. Schoolcraft. He was the RE I did a phone consultation with at CCRM (who, at the time, said I only had a 10% chance of getting pregnant with an IVF cycle out there). My RE recommended his group b/c he said they're doing cutting-edge research and publish a lot of papers and maybe they could offer me something my RE couldn't... in the end, I didn't need to go out there.

I am soooo thankful for this website and all of your blogs. I've been trying for 7 months on my own since my son was born b/c my RE told me I got lucky and that doing more IUI's and IVF cycles probably wouldn't help me.... but after reading other people's stories, I think I will regret it if I don't try IVF at least a few more times. Do you guys know ANYONE with DOR who has more than one child???? I hope that my story will inspire some of you not to lose hope. Keep trying and stay positive!

[lysergic77]

Hey i m new and also have DOR

I am 30 year old, have been trying to conceive over one year,I have no medical problem and my menstrual cycle is of 28 to 30 day. took clomit for 3 cycles, had normal 21st day progesterone level but didn’t conceive, finally was referred to reproductive endocrinologist who diagnosed me with reduced ovarian reserve, my FSH level on day 3 was 11.9 with 5 to 6 follicles, He repeated the same tests next month and i was found to have FSH of 10.9 with 8 to 10 follicles,last month i was given injectables with follow up with labs and usg, followed by IUI, but no positive results, please guide me if i should go for IVF or its gonna be useless, as it will be exremely expensive. I am extremely devastated and exhausted emotionally and financially with all this, please guide me what should be next step.