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 :(

[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

[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]

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

[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

[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.  

[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