[Trying2B+]

Hi Everyone-
I have never been apart of a forum before and I am seeing that many of you share the same heartache and frustration that i have been experiencing for what seems like forever! After 3 failed IUI's I think our next step is IVF. I have read some posts about DHEA. I have never heard of this and was wondering if anyone has had any experience with this in helping lowering FSH.

Originally Posted by alpc

Me, 33, high cd3 FSH (15.5)
DH, 32, perfect!
ttc: 6 months
chemical pregnancies in June and July of 2008
referred to RE by Ob/GYN
Found elevated FSH (LPD)
08/2008: injectables + double IUI#1
08/31/2008: starting BCP for IVF#1


I am going in for a hysteroscopy this coming week while taking the BCPs (prior to IVF). Does anyone have any feedback for this procedure? Any suggestions or details that the doctor didn't mention? I would love to know what to really expect.

I am trying to be positive, but with an FSH of 15.5...I am nervous. I am glad that my RE doesn't mess around. He wants to be aggressive, which I am certianly happy about. Does anyone have any success stories about high FSH and success with IVF? That would be greatly appreciated. I hope all is well1

[alpc]

Originally Posted by Trying2B+

Hi Everyone-
I have never been apart of a forum before and I am seeing that many of you share the same heartache and frustration that i have been experiencing for what seems like forever! After 3 failed IUI's I think our next step is IVF. I have read some posts about DHEA. I have never heard of this and was wondering if anyone has had any experience with this in helping lowering FSH.

! I know how you feel frustrated and uncertain...but trying to be positive is great! My sister went through IUI 5 times...and the fifth was a charm ( w/3 clomid + IUI, next 2: injectables + IUI). She has amazing twin daughters that are happy and healthy and 4 1/2. She was very frustrated. They were ready to move to IVF too, but they didn't have to becasue she got pregnant. For us...the percentages are lower, but not zero. This month, my FSH went down to 8.0, and my estrogen was 45 (still good, last month 33 w/ FSH of 15.5). Although this is in the normal range, my RE says that becasue I had the 15.5....that is the number that indicates my true ovarian reserve...not the new number. My accupuncturist thinks differently. I am inclined to side with Western medicine view, probably because I am in cancer research...and that view sort-of rules what I do.

I have read some people take DHEA, and that it has helped them. My accupuncturist says that I shouldn't take herbs or DHEA (which is a hormone) since I am already "over-loading" my body with hormones. I guess you never really know if it is the herbs/DHEA that yeild a BFP or that statistically...it was time for a good quality egg to be up! After reading this forum, I started taking royal jelly/Bee pollen in honey. I have heard that it can decrease your FSH. Sure, maybe IT won't do anything...but I like to feel like I am doing every little thing that might possibly help. It can't hurt. I would just let your RE know everything you are doing outside of their office....just in case. Good Luck!!!!

[natalie28]

Alpc- Wow our cycles are very close!!! I have a calendar that is by no means set in stone, but give or take a couple of days, we are looking at ER on Oct. 8 and ET on the 11th or 13th.
TOO COOL!

Emily- I hope things are going well. What have you decided to do? I have never tried DHEA. I would talk to my RE about it.

[Margie]

Originally Posted by natalie28

I am new here so I may have just missed when some of you have already talked about this, but I have an FSH of 51. I was diagnosed with cancer (Hodgkin's Disease) two years ago and have completed chemo and radiation now. I questioned 12 doctors including my gyno about saving eggs and was told that it was not needed. Now it turns out that it was. A couple of months ago I was diagnosed with POV. Has anyone had any luck dispite a high FSH level? My age is the only thing my specialist thinks that I have going for me(28).

Hi, I also had Hodgkin's Disease and am now trying to get pregnant. My last FSH was 53. I had stage 3B. What stage did you have?

The RE is waiting it out to see if things will improve on their own.

Have you read inconceivable by Julia Indichova. She conceived with an FSH of 41 or so, naturally.

I think we still have hope. I am now drinking wheat grass, not eating sugar, wheat, or caffeine. Also, I take 50mg DHEA after breakfast and CoEnzyme Q10 after lunch. All these things are supposed to help. I
wish you a pregnancy soon.

Margie

[alpc]

Originally Posted by Margie

Hi, I also had Hodgkin's Disease and am now trying to get pregnant. My last FSH was 53. I had stage 3B. What stage did you have?

The RE is waiting it out to see if things will improve on their own.

Have you read inconceivable by Julia Indichova. She conceived with an FSH of 41 or so, naturally.

I think we still have hope. I am now drinking wheat grass, not eating sugar, wheat, or caffeine. Also, I take 50mg DHEA after breakfast and CoEnzyme Q10 after lunch. All these things are supposed to help. I
wish you a pregnancy soon.

Margie

Hi, Margie! Can I ask why you are not eating wheat? I have never heard of that.
-alpc
(amanda)
me, 33: elevated cd3 FSH (15.5)
DH, 32: perfect!

ttc: 7 months
2 chemical pregnancies: June and July 2008
referred to RE by OB/GYN

08/2008: injectables + double IUI#1
08/31/2008: started BC for three weeks pre-IVF
09/11/2008: hysteroscopy….removed septum
09/24/08: going in for baseline u/s and bw: start HMG (Menopur)
09/28/08begin Ganarelix (GnRh antag)W/HMG
1004/08: start doxycycline
10/06/08: my egg retreival
10/08/08:start medrol & progesterone (IM)
10/09/08 or 08/13/08: embryo transfer

[Margie]

Originally Posted by natalie28

I am new here so I may have just missed when some of you have already talked about this, but I have an FSH of 51. I was diagnosed with cancer (Hodgkin's Disease) two years ago and have completed chemo and radiation now. I questioned 12 doctors including my gyno about saving eggs and was told that it was not needed. Now it turns out that it was. A couple of months ago I was diagnosed with POV. Has anyone had any luck dispite a high FSH level? My age is the only thing my specialist thinks that I have going for me(28).

Hi, I also had Hodgkin's Disease and have an FSH of 53. Did you ever get pregnant?

Margie

[Margie]

I read about excluding wheat from the diet in the book Fertlity Wisdom by Dr. Wu. I figure can't hurt not to eat wheat.


Margie

[Fer]

Hi - I'm new, but I'm not sure if anyone is really checking out this thread anymore since it seems like it's been a while since a High FSHer has posted. Well, if anyone is still out there, I'd love to start up a conversation with you. I'm Jennifer and was diagnosed last week with an FSH of 31.4! I just turned 36, so I was pretty surprised about this and hoping to find others in a similiar situation. Looking forward to talking to you soon!

[alpc]

Originally Posted by Fer

Hi - I'm new, but I'm not sure if anyone is really checking out this thread anymore since it seems like it's been a while since a High FSHer has posted. Well, if anyone is still out there, I'd love to start up a conversation with you. I'm Jennifer and was diagnosed last week with an FSH of 31.4! I just turned 36, so I was pretty surprised about this and hoping to find others in a similiar situation. Looking forward to talking to you soon!

, Jennifer! This forum isn't very active, but many of the other thread have people with DOR, high FSH, etc. I like to follow their discussions to find success stories. How long have you been trying to conceive before the FSH result? My DH and I had not been trying long. We had 2 natural pregnancies that both ended in chemicals. My first FSH was 15.5, and I was so disappointed. My sister had issues getting pregnant, but I had thought it was b/c of MF issues. Now, my RE thinks it is genetic b/c my mother went through early menopause..so it looks like I am headed in that direction as well. We are going to keep trying until we feel like we have exhausted all of our options. How about you?

I know it is a lot to process, and things feel so uncertain. I am here if you need to talk/write.

[jptobe]

Not sure how to get the signature in here, so this might look a little funny...

Me and hubby TTC almost 2 years, started treatments at a snail's pace due to hypothyroid discovery and figuring out treatment. FINALLY, follistim in Oct but gave me a fat cyst in Nov, BCP for the first time ever in my life, so I screwed it up and stopped taking after 2 weeks. Bad me because now I have to wait for a normal AF. I'm still learning .

This is sooo hard. One minute I feel a glimpse of hope and the next minute terror that I will be childless. I feel for all of you. I will be somewhat quiet this month reading posts and learning more, but THANK YOU for being here. I do not feel quite so alone now.

Me -- 33, High cd3 FSH 16.9, Hypothyroid
DH -- Healthy
7/28/08 -- First Dr visit cd3 FSH 13, TSH 5, PRL 14, E2 29
8/11/08 -- TSH 10, started Levothyroxine 50mcg
8/29/08 -- cd3 FSH 13.9, E2<20
9/15/08 -- TSH 3.42, upped Levothyroxine to 75mcg
10/13/08 -- TSH 3.79 (good enuf?)
10/22/08 -- cd3 FSH 16.1, E2 37
10/23/08 -- started 125 iu follistim
10/28/08 -- E2 339
10/30/08 -- E2 685, 100 iu follistim
10/31/08 -- cd13 Trigger shot 6:30p Ovidrel
11/1/08 -- cd14, BD 7am+9pm, Monitor shows Ovulating!
11/2/08 -- Holy cramping!, no BD til late night
11/14/08 -- uber depressed
11/17/08 -- AF
11/18/08 -- u/s shows cyst
11/19/08 -- start BCP
12/5/08 -- AF
12/9/08 -- Told have to wait till next normal cycle
Currently -- waiting and trying to get healthy

[alpc]

Originally Posted by jptobe

Not sure how to get the signature in here, so this might look a little funny...

Me and hubby TTC almost 2 years, started treatments at a snail's pace due to hypothyroid discovery and figuring out treatment. FINALLY, follistim in Oct but gave me a fat cyst in Nov, BCP for the first time ever in my life, so I screwed it up and stopped taking after 2 weeks. Bad me because now I have to wait for a normal AF. I'm still learning .

This is sooo hard. One minute I feel a glimpse of hope and the next minute terror that I will be childless. I feel for all of you. I will be somewhat quiet this month reading posts and learning more, but THANK YOU for being here. I do not feel quite so alone now.

Me -- 33, High cd3 FSH 16.9, Hypothyroid
DH -- Healthy
7/28/08 -- First Dr visit cd3 FSH 13, TSH 5, PRL 14, E2 29
8/11/08 -- TSH 10, started Levothyroxine 50mcg
8/29/08 -- cd3 FSH 13.9, E2<20
9/15/08 -- TSH 3.42, upped Levothyroxine to 75mcg
10/13/08 -- TSH 3.79 (good enuf?)
10/22/08 -- cd3 FSH 16.1, E2 37
10/23/08 -- started 125 iu follistim
10/28/08 -- E2 339
10/30/08 -- E2 685, 100 iu follistim
10/31/08 -- cd13 Trigger shot 6:30p Ovidrel
11/1/08 -- cd14, BD 7am+9pm, Monitor shows Ovulating!
11/2/08 -- Holy cramping!, no BD til late night
11/14/08 -- uber depressed
11/17/08 -- AF
11/18/08 -- u/s shows cyst
11/19/08 -- start BCP
12/5/08 -- AF
12/9/08 -- Told have to wait till next normal cycle
Currently -- waiting and trying to get healthy

Hi there! I saw your post today. Sorry it took a while to respond..this thread is pretty quiet. I know it is all overwhelming...but hang in there. I don't know if you are interested, but I wanted to mention that I used royal jelly/bee pollen (suspended in honey...from vitaminshoppe.com...ys brand) to get my FSH down. I also drank wheatgrass (in frozen trays avalable at whole foods in freezer section). I know this may not really have had an impact (most likely just a matter of statistics)...but it made me feel less helpless. I don't know if you are already doing things like this...but I thought I would mention it. My FSH dropped from 15.5 to 8...then to 3.5. I hope all is well, and that you have a happy new year!!!
-alpc

[jptobe]

Thank you alpc!!! I had heard these things might help, but your posting convinced me to go out tonight and get some. Do they suspect any cause for why your FSH was raised?

Thanks again!

Anyone else out there have any positive results using supplements?

Anna

[alpc]

Originally Posted by jptobe

Thank you alpc!!! I had heard these things might help, but your posting convinced me to go out tonight and get some. Do they suspect any cause for why your FSH was raised?

Thanks again!

Anyone else out there have any positive results using supplements?

Anna

Anna:
I hope I didn't make you feel pressured to buy those products. I just thought I would mention it to you. I had to order the bee pollen online...my local stores didn't carry it. My RE didn't give a reason for the elevated FSH. It is possible it is genetic...my sister had had difficulties as well (conceived through IUI) and my cousin too. I just know that he suspected a LPD, and then found the FSH. After that..he wanted to be more aggressive with treatment. I was fine with that approach. How about you? Did your doctor mention why you might have a high FSH?

[jptobe]

All my RE told me was that it wasn't "concerning" until it exceeded 20 but of course that makes it concerning that I am so close. There isn't much info on it as far as I can find, just that it affects maybe 1/100 women at an earlier age and might lead to pre-mature menopause :|. I don't know what lowering it really means either because most RE's think it depends on whatever your highest count was. Sometimes they will do a clomid-challenge test to see how you respond to the meds which I guess is another indicator of egg quality/quantity. I didn't do that test but seemed to respond okay to my first round of Follistim (They wanted me to skip the clomid to be more aggressive about it). I think my bigger issue right now is that I am hypothyroid, but since that is now normal with my thyroid meds, the FSH is the only other issue. Some research I did suggested thyroid conditions might cause an elevated FSH but nothing was really definite. Lots of maybes. I did smoke for about 10 yrs, but even that is only supposed to have a mild effect causing earlier menopause, not at 33 though. I have otherwise been super healthy my entire life.

No pressure with the supplements. I'll try anything. I picked up bee pollen and royal jelly capsules and the wheat grass from whole foods that you suggested. I had heard of these things helping, but I am already taking a potent multi with folic acid, D, fish oil, L-carnitine, and iron, in addition to my thyroid pill and acai, so I wasn't sure where to draw the line. I am going to talk to my RE in a week or so about it. I'm starting to think I am a little fanatic about it .

Fyi - I am more active at www.dailystregth.com [3], Infertility group. There are much more frequent updates and it is a really super supportive group but seems less FSH issues, if you're interested. Send me a private message if you want my email.

Thank you so much for the feedback. It's nice to know I'm not alone in this crowded room.

Take care. --Anna

[wallace1]

I haven't been in your shoes. Chinese medicine has a pretty good track record in helping women to conceive. changing diet and eliminating environmental toxins can help as well. I do believe in mind over matter to some degree as well as the natural approach.