Anyone out there have low ovarian reserve and had a successful IVF?

I'm 34 years old and was diagnosed with low ovarian reserve; however, my FSH is normal. I'm doing in vitro in April and need to hear some success stories. I'm looking forward to it, but I have mixed emotions...excited, scared and nervous.  

[Heather5]

Hi Meech! I'm sorry no one has answered your post yet. Just out of curiosity...how did they diagnose you with low ovarian reserve when your FSH is normal? Was it because of small ovaries? Low antral follicle count? Or something else?

As far as I know, I don't have a low ovarian reserve (although who knows?), but I'm also heading for IVF if this cycle doesn't pan out. Most probably in March.

Best of luck to you! I hope the IVF brings you your well-deserved BFP in April/May!

[Meech7]

Thank you so much for responding, Heather. The doctor based it on my antral follicle count. However, I respond well to the injectable medication. The doctor said that my "saving grace" is my age.

What did they diagnose you with? Is it unexplained infertility?

Thank you for sharing. It looks like we will be close in our IVF cycles. Good luck to you!!!!

[tmf001]

Hi, I have diminished ovarian reserve, with an FSH that has been as high as 14.5. I started trying to conceive at age 27, and found out about this a year and a half later, when I went to an infertility clinic. I also have a low antral follicle count (I think usually about 2 and 6).

I ended up doing 2 cycles of clomid but that was stopped b/c it thinned my endometrium, followed by follistim with an IUI, followed by IVF -on maximal doses of follistim and menopur, I had 8 follicles and produced 4 mature eggs that were all fertilized with ICSI and I ended up having 2 embryos that were both implanted and I didn't get pregnant. I then did 2 more months of follistim with IUI's, then did another IVF cycle on a month that was supposed to be an IUI, but we did IVF b/c I had 13 follicles... 8 mature eggs, only 3 of those fertilized with ICSI and didn't get pregnant. I continued to do about 4 more months of follistim with IUI's without success. I made an appointment at the #1 IVF center in the country and had a phone consultation with them and while I was preparing to fly out there to do my last IVF cycle before going to egg donation, I spontaneously got pregnant (at age 30)!

In preparation for that last IVF cycle, I had started taking DHEA 25mcg 2-3 times daily, as studies have shown it improves IVF outcomes in patients with DOR. I would highly recommend you do this. I am a physician myself, and tried to read as much literature as possible. I do not normally support the use of "herbal or alternative" medicines, but there is good scientific data out there on the use of DHEA for DOR. You can find it at your local health food store. The studies used it 3 times daily (the slow release version). I now have a 6 month old son.  I wish I could say that IVF worked for me, but it may work for you. Even if it doesn't, keep trying, stay positive, and take it day by day. :)

[cure65roses]

Hi Meech! (bump)

IVF in April?  Just want to say Good Luck!  Please keep me posted!

[Meech7]

Hi tmf001 -

Thanks for your story. I actually posted a question about DHEA last week and didn't hear back from anyone. So thank you for letting me know about DHEA. I think I'm going to try it this weekend; however, I only have about three weeks left to take it before I start my protocol. I hope that is plenty of time to do something. I hope IVF works for me, but I want to be realistic that it may not. I have mixed emotions: excited, nervous and scared. Please keep your fingers crossed for me. Even though you didn't get pregnant through IVF, you give me hope that it can still happen. Thanks again for sharing your story. I really appreciate it!

Hi Lori,

So glad to hear from you! I'm so happy to hear you're doing well with the twins. I check in from time to time. Please keep me posted about the twins. I will definitely keep you posted. I'm scheduled to do IVF in mid-April. Please say a prayer for me. ;)

Good luck to everyone!