High FSH Levels

I'm 34 years old and have recently started seeing a fertility expert with my husband. We've done some tests and when I called in to find out the results he said that we had to make an appointment to come and discuss it. I basically was only able to get out of him that both my husband and I have problems. As I am waiting on my side, for a blood test that I took on day 2 or 3 of my period, I can only imagine that it must be FSH. And I feel completely numb....my dream has always been to have a large family and now I feel like I will be given the death sentence next week....the death of my dream anyway. We already have a 2 and a half year old daughter and I got pregnant with her after 5 months (without any treatment). Also my periods are extreemely regular (on the day!) so how can this be an indication of FSH being too high?? shouldn't I stop getting my period all together or shouldn't it be irregular? Before I got the test done, my doctor told me that he suspected that my short cycles (25 days) were an indication of ovarian problems...How can this be if I am ovulating every month and have extreemely regular cycles?? (even if they are short...). The waiting is really killing me! Talk about doctors being insensitive...I can't eat...I can't sleep....I don't think I could take this news...anything else I could but this....This is one of the only fertility problems that can't be helped by modern medicine, isn't it? Or are there any drugs available to treat this without resorting to egg donation? Help please!

[RunningL8]

I would try not to worry until you have definite news from your doctor.  If your FSH is high, you are still young enough that you will have good quality eggs.  Your FSH score just indicates how many are left.  If they do ivf with your own eggs on you, they will probably be able to get enough eggs of high quality to help you conceive.  They also have procedures that can likely fix whatever your husband's problem might be.

[tina1111]

Day 3 testing also usually includes Lh and E3 and sometimes prolactin and others. Don't borrow worry. Wait until you know what you are really dealing with so you can form a plan. Also, bear in mind, these #'s aren't 100% definitive. All can be raised and lowered month to month.

[Chookdee]

Hi Sidney. Wait to get your results before worrying yourself sick. I am 34 too and my FSH was elevated ( though not astronomical ) and we struggled to conceive, but we did get there, a month before our ivf was due to start. Like BG said, your age is still ok and this is prolly more imp than the actual level iteslf.
Also, as Tina said these levels do vary from month to month, but I hate to say it that one bad reading is usually an indication of lowering ovarian reserve. You are still cycling which is good, but I believe the cycles do get shorter and shorter the closer menopause is appraoching. Mine were 21-24 days.
Wait for your results, but bear in mind if your result is high, don't give up!! If you are elevated, I would probably reccommend getting aggressive asap with your treatment. There are also ways that I know some ladies on the infertility board have been successful lowering their FSH with diet and acupuncture.
I wish you all the best.
Sarah ( 13 wks, 5 days )

[Nilu]

i also have the same problem..i am 31 yrs old and my fsh was 9.5 . they found this with the clomid challenge test.
I am doing IUI's but havent been successful yet.it is so depressind
do u know where can I find out ways to lower my FSH levels
plz help

[Chookdee]

Hi Nilu, my FSH was 11 and I fell preg on 25mg of Clomid, so don't get depressed, I am sure you're in there with a good chance. I chat to 3 or 4 on the Fertility Forum for a few weeks, a month or so ago. it's a very long thread with about 70 or so responses. Have a read through that, as there's some websites etc on it. I wish I could remember the details. Those girls were very committed, gave up caffiene, etc etc..They were also seeing reproductive endocrinonolists.
Sorry I cant be any more help!

[AshleysMom]

Hi:

I've heard that anything under 10 is good (according to my RE at Stanford) and that 11-15 or so is still OK.  Even higher than that it's not hopeless.

Nilu, mine were 9.6 and I haven't had any problems getting preg, just staying preg.  So far so good with this one - I'll be 12 weeks on Sat.  

Best of luck to you.

[Jillybean161]

Hi Sidney,

I jsut read your post and I almost burst into tears. I am 37 and my husband is 36 and we have been trying for 9 months. I just got the "death sentence" last week and I am beside myself. My FSH level was off the charts high 20.4 and I feel shattered. I think i am still in shock as I also have regular periods and ovulate regularily as well. I know i am up there in age but 20.4. I am being told that egg donor is the only hope. I dont' want to waste my time, or be given "false hope" but I cannot belive that I will never have a child of my own. It is a very tough pill to swollow. I feel hopeless.

[lauramf]

I'm 29 and my first FSH test came in at 45.5, and my second came in at 27.4  I feel a bit at a loss since judging by the levels that people are posting on message boards mine are quite a bit higher.  My cycles are completely unpredictable, so charting & ovulation kits seem pointless.  I have my first meeting with RE this week and hope to start treatment immediately, but am overall just sad.

[babyalive]

Don't be so sad.  Your FSH is rather high, but age trumps FSH everytime.  Your are still young.  If you were 40 and had that high FSH it would be a pretty bad sign.  But, since you are only 29, you still have a fairly good chance of conceiving.  Your RE will probably give you something to regulate your cycle and start you on some form of injectables to increase your egg production.  I hope it all works out for you.