anyone over 35 going for fertility treatments this year? IUI, IVF etc

[GreenFingers]

Crystal.....don't tell me you got your BFP???? That is amazing, I am sooooo thrilled for you, and all by yourself, you clearly do much better without fertility drugs...must have been the DHEA.

I'm over the moon for you

 

[sarahincanada]

CRYSTAL!!!! omg you didnt say anything to us??!!!! when did this happen?? ..off to stalk your other posts

DaisyQ I didnt down reg but most of the apts start when you are about to stim, from my understanding. I dont know if some clinics do a scan before down reg to compare to after down reg?

 

[DaisyQ]

Thanks Sarah

And Crystal, do tell us more about this BFP cycle!!

Also, ladies, could you tell me more about DHEA - what is it, who should take it, how does it help? I just started CoQ 10 along with my many other supplements (multi, B complex, fish oil, Fertile CM, EPO, Mucinex during fertile days, low dose aspirin, probiotic). I was hoping to cut down the number of supplements, not add to, but now my interest is piqued!

 

[DaisyQ]

daisyq- just wanted to give you hugs and thank you for being so supportive across various threads.

Thanks Squid - I appreciate that. to you too, my friend. How are you feeling about everything today?

I did get some good news (sort of). I am feeling less stressed anyway. The financial people at my clinic told me that my benefit is enough to cover the 3 IUIs, one fresh IVF, and a FET. So only if all that fails, will we be out of pocket. I'm hoping that is not the case of course, but if that's what happens, I'm hoping we may be in a bit of a better financial spot by next Fall, and might be able to afford a second fresh IVF at that point. Phew.

So I'm still going to meet with the doctor in a couple of weeks to discuss next steps and timing of the IVF cycle (should there be one), but now I'm guessing it will be in June or July. I think I'm going to hang in there and do one more IUI on injectables after this IUI, which also means I'm probably going to do a natural cycle next month. Crystal, maybe your luck will rub off on me!!

 

[GreenFingers]

Thanks Sarah

And Crystal, do tell us more about this BFP cycle!!

Also, ladies, could you tell me more about DHEA - what is it, who should take it, how does it help? I just started CoQ 10 along with my many other supplements (multi, B complex, fish oil, Fertile CM, EPO, Mucinex during fertile days, low dose aspirin, probiotic). I was hoping to cut down the number of supplements, not add to, but now my interest is piqued!

Hi DaisyQ

DHEA is used (among other reasons) to improve egg quality for those that have low AMH and/or diminished ovarian reserve. If you google it you will see there are a lot of studies to show how it has helped ladies going through IVF to increase success rates. I used it in my first ever IVF and got my BFP but I have no evidence before so don't know how much it directly helped me.

Crystal saw some great improvment in response on DHEA and can probably help more. Sarah used it too.

I had my DHEA tested first and my levels were low, you can get bad side effects if you don't actually need it, however most of the ladies on here who have used haven't had any nasty side effects.

Others may have other thoughts.

Good luck

xx

 

[DaisyQ]

Thanks Greenfingers!

I will ask my doc about it before we start IVF.

Sorry for all the questions today, but does anyone know if follicles can be too big for IUI, or how big might be too big?

Last time mine were 22mm and 25 mm on CD 11, which I'm sure is fine for a clomid cycle - from what I've read, bigger than 18 or 20mm is desirable. But no one says how big is too big. This cycle, I've been told to come in on CD 12, a day later than I did last time. Nervous I might be a bit overripe at that point... ??

 

[crystal443]

Morning Ladies

Greenie- Thanks and yep I got it myself I do think it was probably the DHEA that worked in the end I have my doc appointment this morning

Sarah- Thanks and we really just found out a few days ago, I waited till I was a few days late to test, DH keeps saying he can't believe after all the years of TTC and IVF out of the blue pops a BFP I'm still amazed

Daisy- As Greenie said I've been on DHEA since last December, it worked really well for me in that I got more antrafollicles...however when I stimmed for my IVF cycle I still only got 3 eggs. There are ladies though that do not respond well to stims and lucky me I ended being one of them The FS figured out in my last cycle that my ovaries protest and shut down so we were going to go forward with a natural cycle of IVF :thumup:

DHEA usually will only do any good for ladies that have low reserves (AMH) it helps the pituitary gland produce oestrogen which is what is needed to produce follies. As the pituitary produces more oestrogen the ovaries are able to slow down and not work as hard. It also helps improve egg quality which is important as well I have read lasies saying the SE are horrible, however FS said if you are low in DHEA or low AMH its replacing what isn't there and there aren't any side effects. It can mess your cycles up if you don't need it. I also started taking Royal Jelly 1000mg last cycle so I don't know if that had anything to do with it or not

 

[crystal443]

Sarah here is my test :

 

[sarahincanada]

wow crystal just wow!! you are one of those miracles you read about! sooo happy for you! did you track your cycle and time your bd?

daisy I do have DHEA in my multivitamin, not sure of the dosage. But I did take 300 of high absorbtion CoQ10 1 month before my IVF, as Id read it was good for older women. Not sure if thats what helped my great response (20 mature eggs all fertilized, 10 blasts at the end), but it couldnt have hurt!

 

[DaisyQ]

Thanks Sarah and crystal! And awesome looking lines on that test!!

I was wondering how much coQ10 to take, so thank you for sharing your dosage. I haven't had amh tested, and fsh was normal, so I'm not sure I would benefit from dhea. I seem to be responding well to Clomid with two follies the first go, so I think I'll hold off on dhea for now. If it looks like I'm going down the IVF path, I'll ask to have my level tested and discuss supplementation with my doctor. you guys are great - a wealth of information!

 

[sarahincanada]

Sarah here is my test :

wow now those are great lines!!
amazing!

 

[crystal443]

Thanks Sarah- thankfully it left no guesswork

 

[GreenFingers]

Thanks Sarah- thankfully it left no guesswork

Over the moon for you.....let us know how you get on at the docs x x

 

[Rona]

Congrats Crystal!

I am getting ready to fly to NY for my ER. As scheduled it will be Friday March 30th. Hopefully it a smooth journey.

 

[hockey24]

Rona -

If you don't mind me asking - what clinic in NY? Why did you choose that one?

I'm looking at other clinics out of state and one was the Texas Fertility Clinic in Austin. Do you know anything about it?

 

[Rona]

Hi Hockey,

I am going to CNY Fertility in Albany, NY. They have 3 locations. Syracuse, Rochester and Albany. All in NY.

Well, good question. Texas Fertility Center is a good clinic. But they are super expensive. If you can afford it, that's probably a good choice.

I go with CNY because they are cheaper, I purchased 3 cycles with 1 FET for $7500. Pay downpayment half and half pay monthly for 12 months with no interest. In Texas, nothing is cheaper than $10,000 and that only with one cycle. I found one quite reasonable, but that's in Waco, Texas. But I don't really confident with them. Their price is $5500 for 1 cycle but a lot of thing not included.

With CNY it includes anethesia, ICSI, AH, FET (for one year storage I think). Also I managed to get donated meds which saved me over $3000.

Good luck Hockey . Let me know if you have any other questions. I know Texas Fertility Center is a good facility. Only if I can afford it.

 

[hockey24]

Thanks Rona. I appreciate the information. Fortunately I have insurance that will help pay for some of it and the Austin facility accepts it. I'm searching for that great clinic that takes my insurance plus has good stats for women in the 38-40 category. The Austin clinic seems to do quite a few in this category.

CNY sounds like a great option. Good luck on Friday!! How long will you stay? Through transfer? Do you think it will be a 3 day or 5 day?

Wishing you lots of baby dust!! And be sure to let us know how it goes!

 

[Rona]

That's great Hockey! I heard Texas Fertility is a great place. You will be in a good hand. I don't know about the Day of transfer, so I just stay longer than 5 days. We will celebrate our 9th wedding anniversary over there also next week

Today is my last of U/S in Austin. Found something not good . My Dr. here found polyp, the size is a concern, but my Dr. in NY will decide. If he think I have to remove it, then I still go, collect the eggs, freeze it and come back after the polyp surgery.

Never seen the polyp before this. Probably my Dr. here not looking that deep.

Good luck

 

[drsquid]

congrats crystal and good luck rona.. wow insurance that covers fertility.. thatd be nice..

did my 2nd gonal f shot last night. within an hour i was exhausted and felt like crap.. could be unrelated as i was pretty damn tired to start with (still adjusting to jet lag from vacation, plus work and gym). just feeling somewhat meh but if it works it is worth it. fingers crossed the supply of meds arrives today without difficulty as i used all the docs office gave me (and dont get off work til 7 so i cant get more). had the box mailed to work because it needs a signature, and that can be a bit of a cluster at times.

 

[sarahincanada]

good luck rona! and too bad about the polyp but hopefully it will either not be a problem or the surgery will end up helping so good to know about it. will you have internet to keep us updated during your stay?