High FSH of 14

[chocolategirl66]

Hello Ladies!
     First of all I want to say thank goodness people are talking, because I really need some encouragement. I am 42 and will be 43 in a few weeks. I have had 2 live births, and 3 miscarriages. I was married about 2 years ago, and my husband and I decided we would like to have our last child. So we have been trying for about 2 years. Each time I got pregnant, I miscarried before 8 weeks.  So my ob gyn suggested that I see a RE, after the 2nd miscarriage. I did, and he said I had polyps. I had them removed in 2007. He said to "go home and try again, in 2008. I became pregnant after the removal. I was told that I was 8 weeks along, but the baby was only 6 weeks in growth. I was told, some babies just start out small.I called the RE to tell him I began to see spotting. I was told to come in to the office. I sat for an hour, in complete and utter pain. I was miscarrying in the RE's office, and no one EVER placed me in the exam room. A friend of mine rushed me to emergency.

      2 years (now) later, we are still trying. I changed RE's. I had a complete l blood work up, and I was told I have a high FSH level. (14) I as told that I would need IVF if I wanted to conceive. I had an ultrasound and it was discovered that I had Fibroids and Polyps. I had a hysterocopy, 2x's, because they didn't get all of the fibroids. I just met with the RE and he said I had a clean bill of health. But now I am being told that I may want to consider using donor eggs. I was appalled and horrified, because I just cannot afford the cost. I was told I can use my eggs, but I have less than a 10% chance of the IVF to work. My husband and I discussed the odds, and we are going to go with the IVF, using my eggs. My husband and I believe that with prayer and a few other things we will be able to beat the odds. I was really feeling bad, but when I started reading the blogs of people with FSH levels of 20 and higher, or being the age of 38 or younger or older, and their stories, I became optimistic. I know that every situation is different, but it is so refreshing to read that women are overcoming the odds, and having health pregnancies. I made the decision to give this a try, because I didn't want to look up when I'm 50 and say, " I should have". I was torn between whether I should go forward, or should I just claim defeat.

     Is anyone out there with this issue?

[40smama]

You've been through the ringer, my dear!!  

First of all, at your age, and I'm so sad to say this, there's a less than 10% chance of IVF working anyway & at w/an FSH of 14, it's even going to be doubtful that your ovaries will be stimulated enough to produce any eggs so I want you to be prepared for that to happen.  That's what happened to me & i found out many others and NOBODY prepared me for that possibility.  

I tried IVF w/my own eggs at 43 1/2 years old & like I said, my poor ovaries wouldn't produce enough follicles or large enough ones to be retrieved.  I'm sorry you're horrified about donor eggs and I totally understand the initial shock & of course the shock how expensive it is.  

I will give you a little of my own personal story:  as I said above IVF w/my own eggs which was cancelled day before retrieval.  The re suggested donor eggs and because we were already considering this, we went for it.  I got pg the first try and delivered April '08 (a baby boy - light of our world).

I know of only one person that has gotten pregnant through IVF w/her own eggs but she had a FSH of 8.  Everyone else and I mean everyone else either didn't get pregnant or miscarried.  The number one thing that determines success is egg quality unfortunately and it sounds like yours are at the very end of the reserve.

I'm so sorry to be negative.  I too believe in the power of prayer & that's why we went through w/the donor egg cycle. I believe God works in all ways & that's how he granted us our baby boy.  After all you've been through (and it's a LOT), I would think you'd like to take a gamble w/the odds more in your favor.  IVF w/your own eggs especially w/high FSH is around 2-4% (cdc.gov) & w/donor ones it's around 50-85%.

There are lots of women on this forum who've gone through this very issue and unless I'm mistaken very few if any have gotten pg at almost 43 doing IVF w/own eggs.  I remember one lady (ChrisHealy) who got pg w/own eggs but I don't know what happened.  It's like winning the lottery - it happens but fewer times than most people realize.

Best of luck to you and I mean that - especially since you've gone through all you have!! - jen

[prevatt77]

I was 41 at the delivery of my son, I had 2 cervical polyps, 4 miscarriages and 1 ectopic and my FSH was 16, I now had a beautiful 7 1/2 month old son.  I wouldn't give-up, you are just getting a bad egg.  Keep trying, believe and don't give-up hope.

Debbie

[thetam01]

my fsh is 13.9 and had several failed fertility treatment..  i am 7 weeks pregnant on a natural cycle..  my re says i found a diamond in the rough... the only thing i differentlly was stop coffee and any kind of caffiene

[oceanv]

If it's a matter of finding a good egg, I'm not sure I would do it with IVF, I'd just try naturally until I got one (less $$ involved) that way if I eventually decided to try donor eggs (via ivf)  then I'd at least still have some money left in the bank. I understand its not that cut and dried, because of the emotional toll of the tcc, waiting, and then miscarriages but maybe give yourself five months to conceive naturally.  

I've heard FSH goes up and down month to month.

Good Luck whichever way you decide to go,
Joanne
39

[chocolategirl66]

Thank you so much for your honesty! I have been going over it in my mind for the past few days. And I am so torn. I am trying to prepare my self in case of miscarriage. I was devastated by the last miscarriage. I cried for days. So I really don't want to take a $15,000.00 chance. My friend told me today that I may just be at the end of my rope....I think you both are right. My husband and I are living nicely, with 2 boys....I was thinking about adoption......:)

[chocolategirl66]

Thank you ladies so much...I was just saying to one of the other bloggers that I may try to adopt. The stress of a miscarriage is unbearable! I thought about trying to conceive with my own eggs, naturally. I had no problem getting pregnant, it was just the issue of carrying the baby to full term. I didn't know I had all the speed bumps inside of me:) I did see where someone said that your fsh levels fluctuate. I think I will forgo the costs of IVF, and try naturally. If that fails, I can adopt. Thanks for all the options......I feel much better about everything! And it is really so refreshing to hear about other peoples blessings.....Congrats to Theta01...7 weeks natural:) I'm beaming with joy for you.....prevatt77...7 1/2 months little boy...awesome...Even if I don't have the blessings you all got, it sure is so nice to know that you guy were able to conceive.....that brightens my day :)......

[40smama]

You are so welcome!  I know totally what you mean about doing nicely w/enjoying the children you have.  When we were about to go through the donor cycle, I was hit with, I don't know even how I would describe this, as some kind of regret or OMG what have I agreed to.  I just went back and forth between adoption or donor eggs, over and over and over.  

I think adoption is wonderful.  When talking it over w/my dh, we decided that if the donor cycle didn't work, we would pursue that option although in New mexico, we know our chances were limited (or that's what the social worker said) because of my age (44) and something else that I can't remember.  Anyway, I firmly believe that God's hand always is in the baby-business whether it's by pregnancy or adoption.

To the other posters - the original poster asked about high fsh w/IVF.  It's a very different thing than conceiving naturally as you have to undergo a rigorous stimulation process.  Conceiving naturally w/a high FSH is a whole other ballgame and that's not what, from what I understand, she asked for.

[Miranda9]

I'm so sorry to hear what you've gone through.  FSH is measured to see how well your ovaries will produce eggs with fertility meds.  The statistics for IVF are NOT good for women in their '40s.  (I am your age btw).

May I ask....why have you decided to do IVF, if you are able to conceive naturally?  I have not read any research to indicate that IVF route is a better method. Yes, in IVF, the Drs. can separate the so called "better" eggs because of how they are splitting, but there is no guarantee.  There is so much that science needs to mimic what naturally happens in a woman's body....I've also read about the fragility of eggs, especially in older women, so again, I am not convinced that IVF is the best route.

My own fertility Dr. (who I've been going to, because, I, too, suffered three losses), has not recommended IVF for me.  He IS suggesting donor eggs, and that is something to consider if I am not successful by the time my own birthday nears.  

I wish you all the best.

[udbe2]

I don't know if this helps or not but I've read about the benefits of bee pollen and royal jelly.  There has been others that have sworn by it helping with egg quality and reducing their FSH levels.  

My RE is suggesting IVF but I can use my own eggs due to unexplained multiple m/c's.  We have been trying a few things to see if it will work help me carry past 9 wks but so far no luck for me.  

I wish everyone luck ttc.  

[adgal]

You have been through a lot haven't you.  I'm sorry it's been such a long and stressful road for you.  This is just my opinion, but...based on what you wrote I don't think I would give IVF a try with your own eggs.  IVF won't do much that you couldn't do naturally.  I had the same problem, I could conceive on my own but kept miscarrying in first trimester (5 times in a row). I can tell you I would have done IVF with donor eggs except in Canada donor eggs are a difficult thing to come by...we have all these bizarre laws around the donation of them. I am now 15 weeks pregnant naturally and so far so good. But it just doesn't sound like IVF with your own eggs is the best way to go.  Again, I am not a medical Dr. and this is just my opinion.  I absolutely do wish you luck and hope you achieve your wish.  Take care.

[chocolategirl66]

Well, I was told that based on my history that  my best bet to conceive, would be with IVF. I was appalled and horrified to find out that I was being offered the option of IVF with donor eggs. I was told that my eggs were older than my body. So......I decided that I would opt out of the whole IVF thing. I was told that since my FSH level was 14, I less than a 10% chance of conceiving with IVF, and I had a less than 5% chance of conceiving naturally. I had to let all of that absorb into my brain. It was pretty shocking. I am not so totally opposed to Donor eggs, but I am opposed to the cost. We are common folk, and really do not have that kind of $$$$. But I do applaud those who can afford it. When I saw the costs, I almost passed out. However...I am so over it now. My husband suggested that we try naturally.

I LOVE coffee! And Pepsi! So I cut out the caffeine totally.I have been in withdrawal mode since Tuesday. Severe headaches, fatigue, irritability. He (hubby) has placed me on a veggie juice regimen, consisting of Carrots, beets, beet greens, apples, celery, and wheat grass juice. We read that farmers would give wheat grass to cows when they had trouble conceiving.

And to top it off, I had my menstrual on July 11, and the procedure on the 21 of July. I haven't seen my menstrual since. I don't know what is going on! I feel symptoms of a menstrual, but no sign of one in sight. I took a pregnancy test, and it was negative. Maybe it's stress:)

[chocolategirl66]

I am beginning to see the writing on the wall. My eggs will not  work with IVF. And I have made my peace with that. Mentally and Financially :). I am going to relax. I have so much going on in my life, that I really don't want to put a lot of emphasis on this. I am however thankful that I joined this forum. I haven't heard anyone say that conceived with IVF and were my age. I just wish that the RE would have said IVF will not work for me sooner. Thank you so much, and I wish you the best as well!

[40smama]

chocolate - have you ever heard of trying DHEA to improve egg quality?  A friend of mine did this but I'm not sure what the result was.  There's a clinic in NY (I'll look it up) who routinely gives patients DHEA.  Try googling it - you never know, right?

Hope this helps! - jen

P.S.  Sorry about the caffeine withdrawal - I'm a horrible addict!  Don't forget protein in your diet in addition to all of those healthy veggies.

[chocolategirl66]

Well, I am going to give the old natural way a try. My issue isn't conceiving, it's carrying to term, so I think that I may have some what of a chance, but the only thing I want to do is pray on it and put it in God's hands. Thank you for all of your advice. I pray that your dream comes true. I don't know about the adoption laws in Pennsylvania. It appears to be a relatively easy process. However, I have associates who have adopted through agencies, with foster care being the primary and adoption being secondary.

But for now..I am going to try to conceive naturally, and try to get my body and mind right :)

[chocolategirl66]

Well, I don't know about the royal jelly. I have heard that that can contain bacteria. I had explained in an earlier thread to one of the other ladies, that I am on a regimen of wheat grass juice, carrots, celery, beets, beet greens, and apples. My husband put me on this regimen. He believes it will help. I take my vitamins as well. I quit caffeine altogether, and I feel like someone slammed my head into a wall! I have been going through 3 days of withdrawals, but I believe it is almost over.

I am going to try naturally. I believe my diamond in the rough is there...somewhere:) i will be 43 next month, and my RE told me I am already 43. And my eggs are older than that. I am not in denial...but I am willing to try one more time :)

[chocolategirl66]

LOL!!!!!!!!!! I'm am glad to hear that I am not the only caffeine addict! :) DHEA, I will Goggle that. I see it in the vitamin stores......I mean what can it hurt?. Oh....I am getting my protein as well. Did your friend go on to conceive? It appears that it is hard to pinpoint what worked and what didn't. You would like to think that what you try actually worked.

[udbe2]

I thought this was intersting.  The Center for Human Reproduction is looking for older women with premature ovarian failure and high FSH levels.  I guess they are trying a study concerning DHEA and the effects of it with infertility.  The website has a form you fill out to see by email if you are a good canidate for them or not.   Just google Center for Human Reproduction and click on the premature ovarian failure.  This is the results that they have posted concerning DHEA so far.

Table 1: EFFECTS OF DHEA IN WOMEN WITH DOR  Increases egg (oocyte) and embryo counts      
Improves egg and embryo quality
Increases number of embryos available for embryo transfer
Increases euploid  (chromosomally normal) embryos available
Speeds up time to pregnancy in fertility treatment
Increases spontaneously conceived pregnancies
Improves IVF pregnancy rates
Improves cumulative pregnancy rates in patients under treatment
Decreases spontaneous miscarriage rates
likely reduces aneuploidy (chromosomal abnormalities ) in embryos  

[Miranda9]

Wow about the DHEA.  I am intigued but admittedly no very little about it. I thought it was illegal in Canada, and could only be bought under the table at health food stores for athletes.  It's very controversial.

Yet my own Dr. who said sorry to me last month because he didn't think I would conceive with my FSH level, told me that the clinic prescribes DHEA to women under age 40 with high FSH levels.  He didn't elaborate and I didn't inquire.

On the other hand, I have read a lot of positive comments around taking wheatgrass for fertility.  I used to take the greens supplement off and on over the years and in fact just starting taking it last month. But I stopped when I was trying to conceive, as apparently, you're not supposed to take it if you think you might be pregnant.

[chocolategirl66]

Jen,
     I found the website you were talking about, the Center for Human Reproduction. Yes they do speak highly of DHEA. I might try it...right now I am sticking with the wheatgrass...My husband and I are going to read more on the DHEA....we might give it a try.:)

Thanks for the information!

[chocolategirl66]

Hey......I was just telling 40smamma that I googled the website, and read about their their results, studies,and statistics. I am still consuming the wheatgrass......and I am done with my severe withdrawals from caffeine :). I may give the DHEA a try, but I thing I will read a little more on it. What the DHEA is supposed to do, or what they say it will do is extremely interesting!

[chocolategirl66]

Yes.....I keep hearing that you are only supposed to take it to build your self up. I figured I would get off of it (wheatgrass) when we ttc. I have been drinking it for 4 days now. I used to drink it all the time, before I conceived my 2nd child. I really pray that things work out for you! For the both of us! :)

[chocolategirl66]

Did you have your baby yet? Is it a boy or a girl? I looked at your pregnancy tape, and it said you were due August 9th. Congrats if you did! I'm new as you can see, so I didn't get to follow along with all of the trimesters.

[udbe2]

I called my RE today and asked about DHEA.  The nurse wasn't too up on what it was or anything but she googled it and told me to try it too.  I'm going to try one pill every and see how things go. I can't find the 25 mg or lower only 50 mg.  

[40smama]

chocolate - I'm so glad that you found that website - I haven't had time to look - I'm eager too just to check it out.  it's been so long since I read all of their information.

DHEA is really important in the whole hormone thing - my husband who's a pharmacist tests women w/hormone imbalances for DHEA.  I'm going to have to pick his brain on this - I'm curious about what and how DHEA works - especially in the area of hormones.  

I'll let you know how it goes - how's the caffeine withdrawal going?

[ita17]

Hmmmmmm, very curious now!  When your done picking your hubby's brain I can't wait to hear what you find!!!

[chocolategirl66]

Mamma,

I spoke with my husband. He says it's worth a shot. He's all about researching EVERYTHING before we do it. Even if it's buying a T.V.! He went to the Center for Human Reproduction and found it interesting. One of the ladies shared that it Increased the egg and embryo quality, increased the number of embryos, decreases spontaneous miscarriage rates, and increased the number of chromosomally normal embryos. All this is supposed to be for women over the age of 40, or rather good news. We purchased the DHEA 25mg for less than 10 dollars.   Ahhhhhh...caffeine withdrawal. I am so much better today. My husband is doing this with me, the whole getting off the caffeine. It was great to have support. :)

Thank you for asking!

[chocolategirl66]

I found the DHEA at Walmart, I was just excited  try it! . But we order a lot of our vitamins through Swanson. They are very inexpensive and ship quickly. I would have ordered through Swanson, but like I said...I was anxious:) You can order DHEA through www.swansonvitamins.com 7 days a week/24 hours a day. They have 120 caps for $1.99 10mg, and they have 120caps 25mg @ $3.49. They are very reliable as well.

Good luck! I hope they work for the both of us!

[kmgr32]

I just wanted to give you some hope and encouragement.  I have a daughter who will turn 3 in September. We conceived naturally and easily with her when I was 37 in 2006.  Following that pregnancy I had two miscarriages. I found out that I have a high fsh of 14.6 in January.  I was devastated.   I am currently 40.5 and I just got a BFP on Friday.   I know I am still way too early to fully celebrate but I am celebrating each day that I remain pregnant and am very thankful that I didn't listen to the discouraging Drs. who told me that my only real hope was donor eggs.
Good luck to you in whichever direction you choose to head.
Kara

[40smama]

My husband talked over my head!!!  He kept talking about DHEA being a pre-cursor (huh?) & he didn't know much about synthetic DHEA.

However, the internet came to the rescue - here's a link where I read some info about it:

www.centerforhumanreprod.com/premature_ovaries.html
www.levo.com/dhea_facts.htm

These seem to give out the facts in layman terms.  Again, there's a huge difference in conceiving naturally w/a high FSH number than w/IVF which is what chocolategirl66 talked about.

I hope this helps, ita and chocolate!  If my husband gives out any more useful info, I'll pass it along - jen

[justtoolate]

I want to give you my experience with DHEA. At age 39 I got married for the first time, finally found the ONE... but did not try to conceive until age 40, wanted to make sure marriage was working. ha ha. We tried for 6 months before going to RE found out my FSH was 11.6 and one tube was blocked but opened during hystero. I could not believe I had a high FSH since I did not look or feel my age DUH!!. I searched all over the web for info on lowering FSH and found the website mentioned, clinic in NY. I took DHEA 3 25mg capsules in AM for 8 months. My FSH level dropped after 2 months to 5.6, I was very excited and my FSH level stayed at about 6 each time i did the blood work.I decided with much reservation to do IVF (I was hoping and praying that I would get pregnant naturally, No LUCK!!) during the IVF process I was 41 and stimulated quite well for my age I ended up with 11 follicles (I had 7 with my initial work up) 8 eggs were retrieved 6 eggs fertilized and 5 embies were transfered on day 3. Unfortuantely none of the embies took. Unbelievable, my RE told me he would stimulate me differently next time so that we may get more, and I also consulted the Center for Reporductive Health in NY by email and they said that my good stimulation was probably due to DHEA and that my stimulation should have been different. I don't know what my outcome would have been otherwise, but I don't regret taking the DHEA. The only side effect I had was more belly fat. I have decided not to do IVF again due to the financial and emotional strain.
I wrote to this forum a month or so ago after my failed IVF and 40smama told me about her egg donor experience and I have since decided to go that route. I also recently found out that a good friend of mine who went thru IVF just before me and who after the second time (first one failed) had a beautiful baby boy, was from a donor egg. She never told anyone including me, that she used a donor egg and that during her second IVF try they told her she should cancel and use a donor egg. She just recently told me this because I was thinking of trying one more time, after all she is my age and it worked for her the 2nd time... when she told me this very huge secret I cried and she cried I was so touched that she would tell me this secret, that even her family did not know, to help me make a more informed choice. That info sealed the deal for me and I am going to try on my own for the next year and then use my niece's eggs (she is now pregnant so it gives me some good time to try and make sure it is exactly what I want). My friend who used a donor egg said just what 40smama said (she helped me with her story a great deal) "as soon as you are pregnant it is yours". Unfortunately I have only been pregnant once at 34 and did not keep it (very bad relationship) I never got pregnant again and I feel I never will, ( always wonder if that is my punishment for the abortion) but I think if you already have children you are way ahead of the game and have a much better chance of having another child regardless of which route you take.
sorry so long... I hope this info has helped with your decision.
I also got my DHEA from Life extensions(great place) LEF.org

Good luck!

[justtoolate]

I want to give you my experience with DHEA. At age 39 I got married for the first time, finally found the ONE... but did not try to conceive until age 40, wanted to make sure marriage was working. ha ha. We tried for 6 months before going to RE found out my FSH was 11.6 and one tube was blocked but opened during hystero. I could not believe I had a high FSH since I did not look or feel my age DUH!!. I searched all over the web for info on lowering FSH and found the website mentioned, clinic in NY. I took DHEA 3 25mg capsules in AM for 8 months. My FSH level dropped after 2 months to 5.6, I was very excited and my FSH level stayed at about 6 each time i did the blood work.I decided with much reservation to do IVF (I was hoping and praying that I would get pregnant naturally, No LUCK!!) during the IVF process I was 41 and stimulated quite well for my age I ended up with 11 follicles (I had 7 with my initial work up) 8 eggs were retrieved 6 eggs fertilized and 5 embies were transfered on day 3. Unfortuantely none of the embies took. Unbelievable, my RE told me he would stimulate me differently next time so that we may get more, and I also consulted the Center for Reporductive Health in NY by email and they said that my good stimulation was probably due to DHEA and that my stimulation should have been different. I don't know what my outcome would have been otherwise, but I don't regret taking the DHEA. The only side effect I had was more belly fat. I have decided not to do IVF again due to the financial and emotional strain.
I wrote to this forum a month or so ago after my failed IVF and 40smama told me about her egg donor experience and I have since decided to go that route. I also recently found out that a good friend of mine who went thru IVF just before me and who after the second time (first one failed) had a beautiful baby boy, was from a donor egg. She never told anyone including me, that she used a donor egg and that during her second IVF try they told her she should cancel and use a donor egg. She just recently told me this because I was thinking of trying one more time, after all she is my age and it worked for her the 2nd time... when she told me this very huge secret I cried and she cried I was so touched that she would tell me this secret, that even her family did not know, to help me make a more informed choice. That info sealed the deal for me and I am going to try on my own for the next year and then use my niece's eggs (she is now pregnant so it gives me some good time to try and make sure it is exactly what I want). My friend who used a donor egg said just what 40smama said (she helped me with her story a great deal) "as soon as you are pregnant it is yours". Unfortunately I have only been pregnant once at 34 and did not keep it (very bad relationship) I never got pregnant again and I feel I never will, ( always wonder if that is my punishment for the abortion) but I think if you already have children you are way ahead of the game and have a much better chance of having another child regardless of which route you take.
sorry so long... I hope this info has helped with your decision.
I also got my DHEA from Life extensions(great place) LEF.org

Good luck!!!

[chocolategirl66]

Thank you so much for the hope and the encouragement!  Congrats to you! I hope that you carry to term as well! I don't know if my miscarriages were due to fibroids, polyps or my egg quality. I was told my eggs were small. I do have some hope, a lot of prayer, and all of the wonderful women who are on some kind of journey to motherhood. Even if I don't conceive, I am still very thankful and grateful to have experienced the two children that I have.

     Miscarriages can be very painful both emotionally and physically. As I told 40smamma, I was devastated when I had the last miscarriage. Angry at my RE because I went to them when I was miscarrying, and they did nothing....not that they could. But heck, they could have at least humored me and threw me a few Advil/Tylenol for the pain as I sat in their waiting room for an hour and a half! :) As I told the Pregnancy 35+ gals, I miscarried in the emergency room bathroom, the lobby bathroom. My friend was with me...she such a trooper, she wanted to dive into the toilet and get the fetus so that someone could send it to the lab to find out if there was anything wrong with it. I know that sounds gross, but I actually considered it for a minute.

    I felt really bad when I was told by the 2nd RE that I went to, that my best bet was "donor eggs". I felt like I was a can of peaches packaged with a shelf life of 1 month when I should have at least 2years of good quality peaches! I was told my eggs were Older than I was. What a punch in the stomach!  But......I took all of it in stride....I said to myself..Relax, Relate, and Release.

So now I am going to try naturally. I believe my husband was all for natural anyway. He seems to believe that I can conceive naturally. I have no idea what my issue really is, because I can conceive, I just haven't been able to carry the baby to term. So, I wish us both luck....I will be 43 next month, and they basically informed me that my egg reserve will have taken a swan dive. But I still have hope! (smile)

[chocolategirl66]

OMG! My heart really goes out to you. I am blogging at 3:40 in the morning, and in tears. I am truly sorry to hear that the embies did not take. That was one of the reasons why we did not go the IVF route. Because for me...there were just no guarantees.  Financially, we only had one shot. We could only do one cycle, and would have been stretching it to do that. If I had been stimulated, like you, I may not have gotten what you got. At least enough eggs to transfer. I was going to take the chance, but I was told that "Donor Eggs" were the way to go. We could barely afford the IVF, and the Donor Program costs more than my car! My insurance doesn't cover the cost of IVF, the testing, the drugs NOTHING.  Where I live, in PA, the insurance coverage is terrible. And I heard that they are trying to get the Legislature to pass a law to allow for IVF coverage in this state. When and if they do that, it will be extremely too late for me. But I hope others will benefit from it, if the law passes So with that being said,  all of this would have been an out of pocket expense. We have already spent close to $5,000.00 in blood tests alone!

     Did you say 3 25mgs of DHEA in the am? Or is that 325mgs in the AM, I wasn't sure. But it sounds like that was a positive experience!

I pray that no one finds any of this offensive, but I had 3 miscarriages, but to share as well, I terminated pregnancy as well. Please DO NOT beat your self up for a decision you made or the reasons behind them. I don't blame you for wanting to make sure that everything was alright between the two of you before you ttc. I believe that some of the decisions we make are so that we can learn from them. Whether they are right are wrong, good, bad or indifferent.

      I thought that as well, that I was being punished. But none of us have the right answers all the time. Heck, some of us don't have the answers at all :) That was really wonderful that your friend opened up to you. I applaud anyone who can afford the donor egg programs. I know someone who went through all of what we are all going through. She and her husband spent so much money on the whole IVF/Donor egg programs, and they decided to adopt. They spent even MORE money because they opted to adopt from China. I applaud them as well, I just don't have $$$$ to do that.

  I like how your friend put that "As soon as your pregnant, it's yours"  I am wishing you the very best in all of your future endeavors.

      I had a  very friend much younger than I, offer me access to her eggs (bless her young heart and her eggs). But even that program is more than my car!  No...your response was not to long. I like to converse with people, it always gives me a fresh out look on life in general.

Good Luck to you as well......and Justtoolate...I believe it's not too late.

    

[allip68]

Good luck, chocolate!  I just read this string of comments for the first time now and it brought me to tears!  I LOVE your attitude!!  Just some additional words of encouragement -- my cousin's wife had five or six miscarriages in total before and in between her two sons; she conceived her first son at 40 and the second one at 42.  I also met a woman yesterday who married late and then went on to have three kids at 40, 41, and 43.  So people ARE conceiving and delivering babies naturally at your age...it doesn't happen every day, and these people are lucky, but you could just be one of those lucky ones:)  And especially with your relaxed good attitude!  Best of luck to you.  

(BTW, I consider myself one of the lucky ones, too:)   2 natural pregnancies (one baby and one on the way) at 40+ with an FSH of 15.

[ita17]

Congrats to you too!  I luv reading & hearing about women 40+ having babis, especially naturally.........it gives me more hope :}

[chocolategirl66]

Hello!
     Pleased to meet you...or rather your blog! :) Thanks for the compliment.....I'm glad you blogged! That is so refreshing to hear that women are getting pregnant and carrying their precious cargo to term. Thank you for the hope! Are you serious? 6 miscarriages, and she still conceived..that's really amazing! And the woman you met yesterday, now that was something as well. And you my dear, oh....blessed! One baby and one on the way! FSH 15? Wow!

     If you don't mind my asking, did you consider IVF at one time? Did your RE refer to himself as Dr. Doom and Gloom ? :) Mine did , and my husband is usually a nay sayer, so for him to say "You've got a chance naturally"  made my millennium. You are very lucky, and I am truly happy for you! :) Thanks for the Big UP's! :)

[allip68]

Hello again!  Dr. Doom &  Gloom...aren't all of the REs named that??  To answer your question, I went to an RE when I was single (at 38) to do an egg freeze cycle as sort of insurance for the future.  At that time my FSH was 11.7.  Then later, before my husband and I even started ttc, we went to an RE just to find out whether we should even bother trying naturally, for how long, etc.  My new FSH was 15, and they were very discouraging about my odds even with IVF (talked about donor eggs, etc.).  With that bad news plus some other things going on in our lives, I gave up on having a baby naturally and figured I'd use donor eggs or adopt when we were ready (my sister said she'd be an egg donor).  To my total surprise we ended up pregnant a couple months later.  

You seem like a very sweet and positive person, so I am really rooting for you and your future baby!  Your husband is right - you've got a chance naturally!  

BTW, I want to share another inspirational story!  My OB/GYN had a patient (she was 39 or 40) who had one extremely bad IVF cycle (she either produced 0 eggs or 0 quality ones that fertilized).  So she used her sister's donor eggs and ended up with a beautiful baby boy who looked just like her.  Eight months later, she went to see my doctor for a check-up and guess what...she was pregnant!  My doctor said she could barely get off the exam table and her husband had to come get her she was so shocked.  She delivered a baby girl (who looked just like her baby boy;).  So...you just never know what'll happen regardless of what the REs with all their doom&gloom say!!  Best of luck to you, too, ita17!

[chocolategirl66]

LOL!!!!!!!!!!!! Well after my experience with both of the RE's, I'm inclined to believe it! :) Wow......11.7, and then 15! Wow you guys did receive a baby miracle! And the 39 year old patient....amazing. Because they last RE said it is never a 0% chance. Thank you for the compliment.:) I like to hear about other people's blessings. It's so comforting to know that despite all the other issues we all have going on in our lives, women are have babies just like yourself and the lady your nurse told you about.

I'm going to keep on being me, and maybe I will get to blog about a pregnancy...:)