[teagan]

Teresa,

I am so happy for you! Way to take charge

[cathyh]

Originally Posted by Deb72

Just curious to know how many of you with a "high FSH level" had success with IVF? My FSH is 12, and that is considered high - I think it might give me, and others with high FSH, some hope to see that others have gotten a BFP with high FSH numbers. Perhaps, also state your age and how many IVFs it took?

Everyone's input from this forum is always very appreciated. So thank you!

I started taking DHEA and my FSH lowered from 11.2 to 2.75! I did my second round of ivf and had a positive beta on Tuesday of 68 we are optimistic but realize it needs to double by Friday if not it isn't a viable pregnancy. This is the first positive pregnancy result I've ever seen in 13 years!!

Cathy

[Deb72]

You know what the weird thing is - I asked my doctor about taking bee pollen, royal jelly, DHEA etc to lower my FSH and he told me that FSH does not fluctuate. He said it's impossible. So I said, then what are all these women online talking about? And he told me to stop reading online.

???

I also asked him whether dairy is good or bad while TTC. As I have read in "The Fertility Diet" that whole milk and other whole dairy products (even ice cream) are good, but I've heard many other places (online, other books, from my acupuncturist) that dairy should absolutely be AVOIDED at all costs. ??? All this conflicting information is driving me crazy.

FYI - on the whole dairy question, my RE said just to eat healthy and not get carried away with going on a special diet. He told me that food will not create a healthy egg, and thus, a pregnancy. He almost laughed, saying, how do you think people conceived in the past 50 years? They did not eat organic and take bee pollen, that's for sure...

[irena_adler]

FSH certainly does fluctuate. Maybe what your RE was saying was that there's nothing that you can do for diminished ovarian reserve, but FSH is just one test for that. Doctors don't like the internet I know, it makes things much harder for them, since they need to rely on formal studies for recommendations. Formal medical education is always lagging behind 'anecdotal evidence' but you need to be very careful with what you believe too. With IF especially, many of us find out that we have to be our own experts!

As for fertility diets, they are wide-ranging and definitely strongly disagree with each other. That's the internet for you, confusing. The only thing you can do is try to see what works for you. Good luck!

[Deb72]

Thanks irena_adler -

Maybe that's what my RE meant - but I did most certainly ask him the question "DOES FSH level fluctuate?" and he said NO.

Thanks for the dietary recommendations - I'm doing what my RE says - eating as healthy as possible but not making myself crazy. I love pizza too much for that...

[missywojo]

Deb, your RE sounds kind of jerky. You are just trying to figure out how to get your body in the right place and he doesn't seem open to that.

My RE also said that FSH does fluctuate.

[hopeful2bmom]

I also wanted to say that I lowered my FSH with acupunture and royal jelly as well as bee pollen. Look at my sig now. It took five tries with IVF but the last cycle is the one that I started taking the bee products with and it worked! Good luck to you all!

[LGB]

Originally Posted by azariah08

My FSH was 12 last November and went up to 18 when we did the IVF pre-testing in February. Needless to say I was devastated and in tears.

The doctor recommended I proceed with the IVF anyway, especially given my age was only 31. He seemed to have pretty high hopes.

We're waitng to see if it was successful, but I can tell you that I was able to transfer 2 high-quality eggs on day 5 even with that high FSH. We only had 4 eggs retrieved, which is of course low, but 3 fertalized and 2 lived to day 5.

I hope that gives you some hope.

Hi! I was wondering which protocol/meds/dosages you were put on? I am also 31, 10.1 FSH, with stage 2 endo. and my 1st retrieval I had 10 eggs but only 3 mature and those 3 fertilized, but are low grades. I am in 2 WW now.
If it's neg., I am hoping a different protocol will help to get higher quality eggs-did they tell you that your high FSH was genetic? And can it affect both quality and quantity?
I feel like I'm not getting any answers from my dr....
Thank you very much and congrats!!!!!!!
LGB

[kandygurl1971]

LGB thanks for bumping this thread back up.

I would be intersted in hearling Protocol information from successful pregancies with High FSH.

I will hopefully be starting my 3rd cycle fo stims starting early Sept. if I can get rid of this cyst and am very anxious that I won't respond well to the stims.

[teagan]

I had an FSH of 12.9 and unfortunately had a canceled cycle in June. Would love to hear if other ladies had good retrievals.

[HollisG]

My FSH was 14 and I did two rounds of ivf in the first they retrived 7 eggs perfect eggs and all fertilized, cycle ended with an ectopic pregnancy. Second round they retrived 14 eggs and again all fertilized but ended with a chemical pregnacy. I had 4 eggs left from first cycle and 9 left from the second cycle. Last Aug I did a non-medicated FET with the 4 eggs from the first cycle, and got pregnant and on April 14, 2008 I delivered a beautiful baby boy. I meds for the fresh cycles were menopur and bravelle. I hope this helps, I never had a lot of eggs compared to some, but I always had good quality eggs, and that is what matters. There is hope, so don't get hung up on the number.

[Pryncess30]

Hi gals!

I don't post much, as I have a toddler at home, but I wanted to give my 2 cents on this FSH issue...

I have high FSH (10.2) right now, but as high as 11.1. I think what the RE means is that even though you lower your FSH with whatever method worked for you - acupuncture, bee pollen, standing on your head - your overall FSH is only as good as your highest number. Does that make sense? So, FSH CAN lower, but if you ever had a high number, you are still considered a high FSH patient.

That is how my acupuncturist and RE explained it to me and it makes sense. It doesn't mean you can't get pregnant!

I had my daughter through IVF #1 and will be going through IVF #2 in October. So, it really depends on a lot of factors, not just your FSH levels. My acupuncturist believes FSH is most affected by stress over diet or pills, but eating better can never hurt!! He suggests eating healthy and really, really relaxing.... His best advice was to treat your body like you are already pregnant and you will naturally take better care of yourself!

Best of luck ladies!!

[PUJAXS]

FSH levels fluctuate. But clinically your FSH level is whatever your highest # was.

One thing I have not noticed is that no one has mentioned your AMH level. Anti Mullerian Hormone. This is a hormone level that does not fluctuate and is believed to have a more accurate at measuring your ovarian reserve.

Your RE may not have mentioned it to you, but he tested you for it guaranteed. Ask what it is.

My FSH level was 15, AMH was 1.1. I was taking 225 Follistim + 150 Menopur twice per day and got cancelled because I had two follies. RE suggested DE, but I am not sure that I dont want to pursue another try.

[kandygurl1971]

Originally Posted by Pricklecushion

Hi Ladies,

I wanted to chime in because I was so happy with my fsh results today. I think it lowered because I changed my diet somewhat, went to acupuncture weekly and took royal jelly (recommended by someone on this forum) and wheatgrass shots.
Last two cycles I had a 9.7 and then an 8.2 (but with high estradiol so it was probably a high 9 also). This cycle it was a 6.3 with a low estriodiol of 31. Yay!

I did the royal jelly and the wheatgrass daily. I actually bought a flat of it and juiced it in my kitchen with my juicer. Also, I followed some dietary suggestions from my acupuncturist which were:
no cold foods or drinks
eat foods high in protien but avoid too much red meat
eat A LOT of organic cooked dark vegetables like spinach, kale, yams. Yams are super good for you!
She also gave me a b-complex supplement and fish oil supplements. I take these along with my multi which I love (New Chapter Organics perfect prenatal) It's annoying because it's 3 a day but it's good on your stomach and supposed to be one of the best.

Good luck to all you ladies! Hope this is our time!

-Teresa

When you say no cold food or drinks. Can you give me some examples of what you avoided? I know it should probably be self explanatory but I'm wondering if drinking soda or water at room temp is what you are saying.

I'm also have been doing the RJ for 3 months and Wheatgrass for 1 month and unfortuantely my FSH did not lower any.

[DeannaRN]

Originally Posted by kandygurl1971

When you say no cold food or drinks. Can you give me some examples of what you avoided? I know it should probably be self explanatory but I'm wondering if drinking soda or water at room temp is what you are saying.

I'm also have been doing the RJ for 3 months and Wheatgrass for 1 month and unfortuantely my FSH did not lower any.

My acupuncturist says no cold too. What she means is nothing straight from the fridge or no ice added to drinks. Drink all things at room temperature and no ice cream.

How are you doing Kandy?