over 40's and / or "poor responders"

[pommyexpat]

Hi,

just wondering if there's anyone out there over 40 who's had success with ivf treatment ?

Also if anyone's been told they're a poor responder ( ie: your ovaries don't respond well to the FSH etc ) but has gone on to have success or is still trying ?

I'm currently on tamoxifen as have only ever managed to get one follicle with standard IVF process.

Hope to hear from someone in similar situation.

[kmt]

Hi Pommyexpat,

I am sorry I don't think I can help you as I am not 40 or over and I wouldn't say I was a poor responder although I usually get about 6 eggs and compared to some peoples who get numbers in their teens it is bad. One of my ovaries isn't working and I was told I have "crap" eggs!

A friend of mine only used to get 1 egg each time and eventually got pregnant. And she was about to try again with her second child and fell pregnant naturally. She was mid to late 30's. Good luck with your treatment.

kmt

[Kimmy1]

Hi

I have had two lots of REs and the first in Sydney IVF tagged me "poor responder". I was just over 40 at the time and the most eggs I ever got were 4. I changed REs and with a change in protocol and dose of stims I got 18 eggs the first round (12 were mature) and 12 the second and am now almost 36 weeks pregnant from an FET. I am turning 42 just after our baby is born.
Where are you located? IMO it is all down to the person looking after your cycle and there are some great people out there and not-so-great who are all too ready to abandon you with the old AMA argument if your ovaries dont perform like a 20 year olds! If I were you I would be looking for someone who specialised in older women as our needs are much different.
All the very best, please keep us updated...Oh and why dont you join the Spring Chicks thread, thats the ttc thread. All a bunch of great girls with a wealth of knowledge...

Kim

[pommyexpat]

KMT - thats encouraging about your friend getting pregnant with only egg, but I don't think I would go through with the retrieval for just one again, its too stressful.

Kimmy1 - congratulations. I'm interested to know what changes were made to your treatment that saw you go from 4 to 18 eggs !! I'd be grateful for 4.
I'm located in the Eastern Suburbs - Bondi Junction and have been treated at Australia IVF but have had a couple of meetings with Sydney IVF as well. I've also done accupuncture and herbs and bush flowers etc etc. This cycle is really my last attempt as I don't think there is anything else either organisation would offer me. Thats why I'm so curious about the change in your treatment.

I should say that I do already have a daughter ( 4 yrs old ) concieved naturally, so I know I'm very lucky. Anyway hope to hear from you again and will check out the Spring Chicks thread.

Bye for now

[Kimmy1]

Hi Pommy Expat!

I too am located in Bondi! Small world huh?
Well with regards to my treatment, my protocolwas changed to a far more aggressive approach (stim doses increased), the actual type of cycle changed also. I started acupuncture and chinese herbs, but most interestingly started seeing a chirpractor (recommended by the natropath) who made me have xrays and I have vertebrae problems that can affect fertility, So either one, none or all of these things thrown together could have been the majic key. My guess is my RE who put me on the protocol that works for my body
Hope that this some help, if you need detailed stuff like exact doses etc, PM and I will get together the whole saga.
All the very best,
Kim

[Kimmy1]

PS: You could consider travelling to Brisbane for the original planning part, then stim/monitor down here and go back for epu. Warren De Ambrosis is such an amazing Dr, that people come from all over the place!

[pommyexpat]

Hi Kimmy

If you don't mind sharing, I would be interested in knowing the details of your treatment. The Tamoxifen was a disaster, E2 levels good on day 8 and then down to 100 on day 11 so the cycle was pulled. All those hot flushes for nothing.

Are you able to email me directly if you didn't want the details on this site. We had an appointment at the Jocelyn Centre on Friday, don't know if you're familiar with them, but I'm not sure whether we'll go down that route.

Hope to hear from you,

Geraldine