High FSH and IVF...curious and need info.

[ashort]

Hi girls!  So my HCG was 23 on Monday..which isn't surprising b/c I m/c...think it's almost over though. This is the first time I have m/c naturally so this is new for me.  On Monday my RE mentioned that he thinks what might be causing my m/c is an elevated FSH level.  Mine this month was 12.  He said it should be less then 10.  He said there isn't much they can do for that.  To tell you the truth I was surprised b/c I am 31.  Dh and I asked him about IVF.  I figured the fact that they could grade the eggs and put the good ones back would make sense.  My RE said that unfortuntely this isn't the case.  He said that the results haven't been good for people with high FSH.  Has anybody else heard this.  He wants to put me on injectibles and do IUI.  He seems to think maybe if I have more eggs my chances might be better that one of them sticks.  Does anybody have any advice??
thanks!

[sasparilla]

Ashort & Heather.. My DH claims he misses a little every time.  I think he's worried about the quantity.. and even I think that sometimes it looks like such a small amount (I mean compared to the times Ive seen it at home), but his SA was really excellent, so I won't say anything when he "claims" he missed a little, b/c I know how hard he tries to when it comes to that d=amn cup  :)

[HeathJo]

Gosh, It has beena while, so I will try to recall best I can:

Femara cd 3-7
Follistim 75 cd 5-9 (added two more days to develop follies, so technically cd 5-11)
Ovidril Trigger cd12
IUI/BD cd 14

If you do a search under my username or Femara, you may find older posts with the exact protocol as I remembered it closer to the time. But, I am 90% sure this is correct.

I did inject the shots myself and it was no big deal for me. But, I am used to injecting myself b/c I used to have to inject arthritis meds in my stomach. The Follistim comes with a dial pen which bmakes it very easy.

Good Luck, and hope this helps!!!!

[ashort]

miky-  Thanks, my u/s went well.  He said I was in the clear...no D and C...YAY!  Oh, and my HCG was 0!  I was excited about that.  I'm trying to convince DH to the injectibles next month but he really doesn't want to so I guess i shouldn't push.  How are you doing?

Heath-  How are you doing?  How far are you now?  It's funny my Dh had a incident with the cup too...LOL.  He didn't close it all the way and some escaped...LOL.  I did IUI and clomid the past 2 months.  Nothing the first month and got preg. the second month.  Yeah, I've been preg. 3 times this year...so I seem to be able to get preg. just can't stay that way.  I was on progesterone with my 2nd pregnancy but the baby never really developed and my RE (old RE) thought that I had a molar preg.  My new RE doesn't think that was the case.  It's been one LONG year and I just don't feel any closer then i was when we started this whole process.  The first time I was preg. they never checked my HCG or progesterone...what a HORRIBLE obgyn!  The second it was low and they put me on progesterone, and the third it was low and so was my HCG.  I don't think my RE believes in progesterone.  

DId you give yourself the shots?  Thinking about getting Dh to do it.  How many days do you have to take them?

[HeathJo]

I'm utterly out of words to express how sorry I am you had to endure another m/c. I am glad you are forging ahead, but that doesn't take away from your losses.

When my hormone levels were tested my FSH was 11.8 or something and no one said a word about this being high. I got a BFP on my first month of injectables and IUI (although, as you may remember, dh  missed the sample cup and we backed it up with bd). I ovulated 6 eggs and ended up with a triplet pregnancy (now twins).

I am 37, six years older than you, and I say if it can work for me it can for you. I thought you had been doing injectables already, so if you get pg almost every time with one follie, I say your chances would be significantly improved on them!!!!! Really :-)

Just as an FYI, I took Femara along with the follistim, and had an HSG test 4 days before my IUI/bd sessions. I don't know how much either of these helped individually, but that was my protocol.

Also, once you have your IUI, they may put you on progesterone to help it "stick." I didn't do that, but it seems many women here do, esp. those with a history of m/c.

Finally, I would consider getting a 2nd opinion just for sh*ts and grins, so to speak. It never hurts, and plus I agree with the other ladies, this one sounds a bit of a downer.

Best wishes sweetie!!!!!!!

[miky72]

I'm glad that the U/S went well and I hope your beta its a big fat 0!
Your RE seemed a little better this time,I thought last time he wasn't right!
I hope you will get you BFP this cycle and you will not need any more treatment!
Keep us posted!

[ashort]

Houston, thanks. I hope so too.  According to my RE it's basically all luck...could happen, who knows!