[Nova]

Greetings....

I've gone through one cycle and it was cancelled due to low follicle count. And, just had an appt. this evening and am considered to have low ovarian reserve.

Any one else here also considered to have low ovarian reserve, and if so, what is your drug protocol that your RE has recommended?

Thanks....

[cybrella]

I have a diminished ovarian reserve, too. For my IVF cycle, my RE prescribed a standard luteal lupron protocal.

I took wheat grass pills for the whole time to help increase my FSH... I'm not sure if it worked, but I had 19 eggs retrieved.

best wishes!

[Jen403]

Hi Bonny- I too am a low ovarian reserve gal.....I tried IVF in Sept. with no luck. I was a poor responder to meds although I had responded fairly well to meds in 4 prevoius IUI's. I used Bravelle every time. Only had 3 follicles developing with the IVF and we had to cancel. Well I had a consultation with my RE afterwards and he recommended using donor eggs for the best outcome, so that's what we are going to do. He gave me a 2% chance of becoming pregnant on my own or with the help of IVF! He said my chances of becoming pregnant with help were the same as on my own without the use of a donor. (I also have a blocked tube). My FSH this last cycle was 15.5. The highest it has been is 19, and it was a low 4.7 with my last IUI in March. My RE feels the quality of my eggs is poor. We decided that we have such a better chance with using a donor than on our own. Our clinic has about a 60% success rate with donor eggs, much better than 2%. We've been at this awhile. Good luck to you....I hope things work out and I am sending good thoughts your way!

[Jen403]

Cybrella- wow 4 embies transferred way to go! Here's hoping for your !

[okitoki]

Nova-- my first cycle was cancelled/converted into an IUI in July cause I did not produce enough follicles.

My cycle in October had more eggs, but still BFN. I used an antagonist protocol with Gonal F and Ganirelix. In the iterim I had also started royal jelly, wheat grass, DHEA and acupuncture. It's hard to tell which of these helped get me more eggs, but I had read positive things about all of these. Hope this helps.

[DeannaRN]

I too have diminished ovarian reserve. My RE said the best protocols would be microdose lupron or estrogen priming protocol. I did microdose lupron with this IVF and had a fair response, 6 eggs but only 3 mature. It ended with a chemical pregnancy. I haven't spoken yet with my RE to figure out which protocol we will use for next IVF but I'm thinking estrogen priming.

[kelliejo]

I was also diagnosed with DOR. In my next cycle I had begun taking royal jelly about 3 months before hand and was preparing the start a lupron microdose protocol when we pg naturally after a surgery to remove a cyst.

Good luck!

[hopetobemum]

Hi.. You are not alone.I also cancelled my cycle due to right ovary no respond (just One 8.4mm follicle) and left ovary low respond (just 3 follicle and biggest one is 9.5mm). RE will change protocol for me and hope this cycle will work. Good luck and pray hard for .

___________________________________________

Me - 30 (lost right fallopian tube due to ectopic)
DH - 32 ( Low count)
Thong (Toy Poodle)


1st IVF
25th Aug - Stop BCP
01st Sep
02nd Sep - Blood Test
20th Sep - Start Lucrin 20iu , Vit E & Folic Acid
03rd Oct - E2
03rd Oct - Period come on 02 OCt 2008.( E2 117)
start stim (Lucrin - 10iu & Gonal F - 300iu )
08th Oct - U/S - right ovary no respond, left ovary only 3 small follicle. Cancelled cycle. Wait for AF.
15th Oct - AF arrived.. Waiting again for next Period.

2nd IVF
Waiting for AF

[Nova]

Cybrella: I am not familiar with the standard luteal Lupron Protocol, but am interested…. I am taking Bee Pollen with Royal Jelly, a Prenatal, and have heard of wheat grass…… But, didn’t know that it increases FSH. I will have to check into it some more….. But, Woohoo girl, you had 19 eggs retrieved. I only had three follicles on each side, so we cancelled, but would love to get that kind of count. Good luck on the 4 transferred, that is awesome.

Jen403: My previous RE told me-when the 1st cycle was cancelled-that we had a 1% chance of taking home a baby....considering my age, and how many follicles produced/failed to produce. He also mentioned Donor Egg. However, my new RE at the same center gave me a 20% chance this evening….. But, also mentioned the Donor Egg scenario too. We will consider it, if all else fails.

Okitoki: I am also doing acupuncture, and am now just researching DHEA. The wheat grass I am also looking into, but hear the juice is nasty chit. I am also taking Bee Pollen with Royal Jelly…. Where do you get the liquid type at? I’ve looked at Whole Foods, but can’t find it.

Deanna: My new RE is recommending foregoing the Lupron this time, and just giving me FSH and Repronex……Keep me posted on your next protocol.

Kelliejo: Interesting that you were considering CCRM. I am looking into them too. However, I am not sure what I will do at this point. It’s a waiting game right now, but we do think that we will get set up to do another cycle for retrieval in January. One of my friends, locally, has a consult with CCRM soon, and am very interested in what happens as they deal with older IVF patients. I second the GROW BABY GROW…..good luck.

Hopetobemum: I mentioned above that my next protocol with consist of Follistim and Repronex. It is interesting what RE’s suggest as protocols for cancelled cycles. I’ve been waiting for AF for almost 4 weeks now…still nothing. Never thought I would be so anxious for that. But, I am. Also, I am not familiar with Lucrin……I’m going to have to look that one up too.

Ladies, Thanks to all of you for responding……its nice not feeling alone when going through this. I really appreciate all the responses.

[Jamoore]

Hi Bonny-

I was classified with POR (FSH-21) when I was 25. I prepped with acupuncture for three months prior and during my IVF. I was put on the long lupron protocol, extracted nine eggs, and three made it passed five days. They were "slow growers" and were only morolus at day five when they should have been blasts. Luckily one stuck, but ended in a blighted ovum at six weeks. Round two- At the age of 27 and a fsh of 18 (my lowest) I was placed on the microdose "flare" protocol with follistim and repronex (sp?). I produced three eggs, pathetic. I gave a green light for a tranfer.......two made it passed fertilization and my resulting beta was 137. I have my ultrasound tomorrow I chose to do acupunture during the IVF process again, but nixed the three month preparation.

I've heard numerous times that the classification of POR is indicative of lower quantity and not necessarily lower quality. Those of us with this label do seem to become pregnant Good luck!

Amanda

[BabySteps]

hummm...don't want to be too much of a bummer but my RE sugested using an egg donor. Although I am supportive of that option I hope you obtain your pregnancy they way you wish

[azariah08]

I have diminished ovarian reserve (among other things). We did the microdose Lupron combined with the max amount allowed of Follistim. Only 4 eggs were retrieved, but it did result in a pregnancy which is all that matters at the end of the day! Best of luck.

[LGB]

I've heard SIRM's EPP (Estrogen Priming Protocol with the Antagon Antagonist Conversion) is a good one for DOR. Also, the Antagonist protocol and the Microdose Flare protocol.

Personally, I think that if quality is still good, keep on trying! But, if quality has been affected as well as quantity, then that gets tricky...

I am starting to think that it's a numbers game...the more you try, the more your up your odds, and the more your RE learns about your body and what the tweak for the next time.

Good luck!

[lisa37]

It was suggested I be on DHEA for 3 months prior to IVF, not sure if that helped Ovar Reserve or not but my FSH was good for IVF and 3 fertilized; now I have a 5 month old. I did the Microdose Lupron Flare Protocol and my Gonal F doses were crazy large.

best wishes