High FSH cyclers and chat for March

[Amber209]

Grey - Hip Hip Horay!

Jen - Welcome. You don't need to worry about using up your eggs by taking clomid (or any of the other follicle stimulating drugs). The reason why is that every month your body starts to recruit a number of eggs and in a normal (unmedicated) cycle only one of those follicles will turn into the egg you naturally release, the other ones that got recruited get absorbed back into your body but are really now done and can not be used anymore. What clomid and other stim meds do is make it so more then just one recruit actually makes it to the egg stage, so really you are not wasting any more eggs then you normally do on any given cycle. I would go ahead and try the clomid, but at the same time I would start looking for an RE, because really that is who you should be seeing.

[beth6978]

Welcome Jen! I hope your stay is short.

[jkmommy08]

Jen - welcome! I think whether or not to take the clomid is your choice, but I think go to an RE right away. I do not think you are jumping the gun, you are being wise. Elevated FSH does mean your ovaries are pulling back and you most likely will need help to conceive. That said, your age is a real positive, but the fsh number does not lie - I would set up an appointment for an RE now and get your OBGYN recrds there in time for your frist apt. You can also ask here about any REs that people may have used in your area. Another great thread is Sisters In Fertility and many women are on that one who are doing medicated cycles, IUIs and IVFs or just on break or on natural cycles as well. It is found in the IUI subsection. I think seeing a specialist right away is the best course. Your fsh is high for someone your age, so follow your gut and get some guidance from a specialist!

[JenCT]

OK, thank you so much! I live in New Haven, CT. Does anyone know a good RE within a reasonable distance of me?

Amber, that is not how I thought it worked at all. Thanks for the clarification Also, any books you ladies would recommend so I can get a better understanding of all of this?? Thanks again!

[Graywacke]

Jen I am also in CT. I went into the city to Cornell with dr Davis... It is farther for you I know but it could be worth a consult. They may allow you to do the monitoring closer to you and just send him the results and just go into manhattan for the retrieval and transfer. Davis is the best and Cornell is one of few places that does coculture where they grow the embryos in you own uterine cells. Pretty sure that was a huge help for me. Worth a consult at least.

[jshoe]

Gray - CONGRATULATIONS!! I'm so excited for you. When is your next beta?

Jen - I agree with the others that you should see an RE. I was in a similar situation to you a couple of years ago, I was 29, FSH of 15.9 and 2 m/c. My Gyn never did testing on me and said my m/c's were bad luck. I had a feeling something was wrong so I went to an RE and that's when I found out my FSH was high. At that time I also had very good insurance - it would have covered 6 medicated and monitored IUI's, as well as 6 IVF's per live birth. I didn't want to be overly aggressive at first either so my RE recommended trying 3 IUI's before moving on to IVF. My first IUI was on 150mg of clomid. I had 2 mature follicles, but BFN. My second IUI was with 200mg of clomid and had 4 mature follicles. Long story short (**preg mentioned**) I got a BFP that cycle and everything worked out well! (***end preg mentioned ***). So yes, clomid is an option for some of us and you won't know how your body responds until you try. However, I would go to see an RE. They are the experts. Also, if you do try clomid ask if they will want to do an IUI - I've read that clomid can possibly make your cervical mucous somewhat non-hospitable to sperm. An IUI would bypass that. Also, if you use clomid, will they be monitoring you (ultrasounds to see how many follicles are developing?) Will you use a trigger shot to induce ovulation, or will it be natural (where you use an opk to determine your ovulation). Oh, and an RE would probably want to know what your antral follicle count is as that will help them get a better picture of your ovarian reserve besides just FSH. That's all I can think of for now. Keep us posted!

JKMommy - that's such a great story, I'm so glad you were able to help her!!

KD - how is it going?

Hzz and Beth - how are you two holding up? How many more days until beta?

Hi Amber, Vacation and EOE!

AFM - I just finished up clomid for this cycle, and I only lost control of my mood once! I've also been taking DHEA for almost a week now, and I'm now up to 75mg / day. I've noticed a tiny bit more acne but nothing terrible yet...we'll see. I start taking OPK's this weekend and will probably have IUI mid next week.

[pray2rita]

JenCT: I first went to Yale but I would not recommend them because they won't do IVF unless you have FSH 12 or lower and are relcutant do do IUI with FSH 15. Also, they use Versid to put you to sleep for ER and you do FEEL it, as I have been told. I would recommend Dr.Schmidt at UConn. They are pretty FSH friendly and he is very sweet and compassionate. They have a 3 egg minimum to go to ER and their FSH cut off maybe about 15 to 20. However, after 3 failed IVFs they talk about kicking you out of the program for IVF, as they did with me. They did take me back as an IUI patient.

[JenCT]

OK, thank you so much for all the info, ladies! I really appreciate it.

[beth6978]

4 days til beta!!!

[KDS83]

My cable and internet are out & I'm typing on my phone, so I'm going to skip personals except to say YEA Gray!!!

Jshoe: thank you so much for asking. Honestly, not great. I went Tuesday for CD10 US and BW. Three follies had grown, 11.6, 10.2 & 10.1. So, kinda small. Lining was good, .81. BW not so good. E2 was only 27 (it was 57 in CD2) &P4 was already 1.5. I was also spotting a little. They said my P4 indicated I would ovulate soon, so I did ganirelix shots on Tuesday and Wednesday along w Gonal-F and Menopur to keep me from ovulating early. (FYI, the needle on ganirelix sucks...I don't know if it wasn't sharp enough, but both times, I kind of had to force it in). I went back today and they only saw 2 follies over 10...13 & 12. Not much growth at all and one disappeared. My lining thinned to .71 & my E2 dropped even more to 18.2 & P4 was 1.3. Last cycle, my E2 peaked around 590. TMI...to make matterd worse, now I am bleeding, like CD1, way more than spotting and it's CD12. The nurse said she didn't know why this was happening, but to stop the meds and call them tomorrow if I'm still bleeding. I wonder if taking the 5 days of extra progesterone suppositories bc RE was out of town caused this.?. I have a consult Wednesday.
I am very confused, disappointed and sad.