Bad eggs, high E2 levels, donor egg

[Julie1615]

Hi All,

I wonder if anyone else is in the same boat as I am? I just turned 30 last month and hubby and I have been TTCing for a year and half. Already went through 3 failed IUIs and 1 failed IVF. When I went to a diff RE to get a second opinion, he told me that my E2 (estradiol) levels are very high and that it indicates I have diminished ovarian reserve. I was devastated to know that.

If anyone else has high E2 levels or high fsh levels at a young age, please reply back with your experiences. I'm feeling quite like it's the end of my whole world :(

[Chrissieanddan]

Hi I havent heard of that but just wanted to say I really am sorry for you, Have they said you can have any treatment to help restore your levels?
Wishing you all the best
Chrissie x x

[Julie1615]

Hi Chrissie, no they say I have a diminished ovarian reserve and it was something I was born with and can't be fixed:(

Thanks for the good wishes.

[Jenny5]

Hi Julie, i don't know how your first doctor put you through iui and Ivf if you're eggs are not good. You could do Ivf with donor egg. I don't know about the level of estradol but i would see another fertility specialist. Both doctors that you had don't seem good to me.
Good luck

[rghkah38]

Hi Julie,

I am 32 and my fsh levels were at baseline when I got tested about a year and a half ago.  They actually have gone up a couple of times, but most of the time my fsh has been normal, so my doctor said I might go through early menapause.  Sorry for the spelling... I did a lot of IUI's and 3 IVF's  I did get pregnant on the second IVF, but it was ectopic.  Out of all 3 IVF's I only got one 8 spilted cell embyro all the rest were 6 and below.  So I'm kind of in the same boat as you.  

[Chrissieanddan]

That is really hard for you I am so sorry, But there are so many things thay can do now,
as jenny5 said theres always donor eggs..
I really hope it all goes well for you,it is really bad you had to go through all that other treatment to be told that. they shoiuld have done basic tests first..
Wishing you all the best & good luck with it all..
Chrissie x

[Julie1615]

Hi Jenny,

The first time I had hormonal blood tests done about a year ago, all the blood tests "looked" normal. The FSH was 6.67. But no one paid attention to the E2 level which was 69. Apparently an increased E2 level artifically suppresses the FSH level. E2 levels are supposed to be less than 50.

Well my clinic is the famed FPNC in the Bay Area. Through the course of my IUIs and the IVF, I have seen almost all the REs there and no one told me that my E2 level was artificially masking the FSH.

After my failed IVF, at the consultation we just assumed that the RE would recommend another cycle immediately with a diff protocol because I only had 2 eggs fertilized during the IVF. Anyway we were horrified when our RE told us that I had a diminished ovarian reserve, but still didn't let us know that it was because of the high E2 level. They just told us I was born that way and I could do nothing to help it.

Anyway, we went for a second opinion from a different clinic and RE and he was the one who told us that my E2 level was unusually high.

I'm terrified about the cost of donor eggs and also I have NO clue how to even begin the process of donor egg. I just started TTC'ing a year ago and I'm still unable to accept that I can't have my own babies:((

Julie

[Julie1615]

Hi Kah,

I have been following some of your posts, so great to hear from you. Although I'm glad to find someone else who is in the same boat as I am, I wish we both weren't in the boat at all to begin with:)

What is the range of your FSH level? Do you know what's your E2 level? It's great to know that you did get some kind of a pregnancy from your 2nd ivf... I feel there is a lot of hope there..

I have been through 3 failed IUI cycles and 1 failed IVF cycle. I got the BFN on my bday too on Dec last year:( Anyway, I too had only one 6B- embryo after day 3. I have an average follicle count of 10 and out of the 10 eggs they got last time, only 2 fertilized. So I'm also terrified that there might be a male factor infertility too so I'm very doubtful about donor eggs too.

Are you going through any treatment right now?

love,
Julie

[Julie1615]

Thanks Chrissie for your kind words, I feel very touched. I have been considering donor eggs as an alternative, but everything about it scares me. I do hope to get a lot of courage from being on this forum!

best,
Julie

[andykk]

At 34 I was told...bad eggs! But no b/w lead them to believe that...IVF pointed it all out...ugh! Since I already had a child it was shocking to find out. we had a lot of trouble ttc w/ 1st one, so obviously a miracle (i was 28) and so after trying for years for no 2...IVF clued us in...so after two retrievals (neither making it to transfer due to egg quality) we did use a donor... BEST decision ever!!! If you want any more information...be glad to share what we went through! And we are planning for a FET w/ the leftover embies that were made from the donor eggs and my dh's "goodies" (does that sound wrong?)
Good luck!! xxoo

[Julie1615]

Hi andykk!!  I have been following your posts and I have lots of questions for you:) Hope you'll answer them.

I'm 30, had 3 failed IUIs and 1 failed IVF. The diagnosis is that I have a diminished ovarian reserve and poor egg quality which was of course made after the first failed IVF. They didn't suspect it with the blood work either:( boo hoo

I have only just started my infertility treatment and I think I will go through a lot more of that before I completely give up on my own eggs. I just wanted to know your story. How expensive was the donor egg program? How did you chose the donor? I have a lot more questions, but just starting with this for now:)

best,
Julie

[andykk]

I will snd you a msg...and give you more details. :O)
andy

[rghkah38]

Did you try ICSI with your late IVF?

[Julie1615]

hi kah,

yes, we did ICSI with my first IVF. we had 10 eggs retrieved. We did a 50-50 split, so 5 eggs were with ICSI and 5 naturally .. in a petri dish I suppose. None of the 5 naturally fertilized. And of the 5 with ICSI, only 2 fertilized. One was 4D- and another 6B- on day 3.

Andy, thanks! Will look forward to it:)

[rghkah38]

The first cycle we did not do ICSI and only one fertlized leaving me with a 4 cell embyro on day 3 for transfer.  The 2nd Ivf I did ICSI on all my eggs and out of 5 that were mature 3 fertized leaving me with an 8 cell, a 6 cell with fragmentations and a 4 cell.  Not so good....  I did get pregnant, so they think it was from the 8 cell embryo.  The third ivf I only again had 3 for tranfer an 5, 4 and 3..  All three embyros on the third ivf had fragmentations. They want me to do one with less medications because I have a poor response to the medicine.  I'm hoping to get better quality embyros with the 4th ivf.

[Julie1615]

Hi kah, I do wish you all the best best best of luck for your next ivf. I'm curious to know your FSH and E2 levels. Also, what are your follicle counts? Have you thought about doing Acupuncture? I have heard that it helps improve egg quality, so I'm planning on doing that. Haven't started anything yet though.

xoxoxox
Julie

[rghkah38]

Hi Julie,

My FSH a year and half ago was 11 and last month they told me it was at 2.  Not sure about my E2 levels.

[Julie1615]

Hi kah, thanks for the info. Wishing you all the very best for your next ivf cycle:)

cheers,
Julie

[SF11]

Hi, this is my first time on this site, im 32 and just had my 7th ivf icsi, my first ivf was 4 eggs but none firtilised, i have low ovarian reserve and i have never had a frozen emby yet. i had 3 put back in me today so im really hoping they take. Im over the crying i mean my heart brakes when they say not pregnant but i have got to the stage now where i say to myself well im alive and healthy and my hubby and i keep trying.Just never give up girls .
love SFxxx

[Julie1615]

Hi SF, welcome to the forum:) Hey all the very best to your IVF cycle. Sending you lot of SSBD!! Btw, could you share some info on your FSH, E2 levels? What was the diagnosis for infertility at such a young age?

your attitude is really admirable:)) gives me a lot of hope.

best,
Julie

[Savanha]

I do understand the low ovarian