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Bad eggs, high E2 levels, donor egg


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 :(
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Avatar universal
Hi Julie

Did you try another IVF? Did you get pregnant?
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi eri1188,

WOW WOW WOW!!!! I can't tell you how thrilled I am to know you're 5 weeks preg!!! Thank you so much for sharing your FSH levels. My very first FSH level was 6.7 and no one even bothered to look the high E2 level of 69. So until my first failed IVF, my infertility was "unexplained". Sigh. My latest FSh reading was 9 with E2 71. My RE has not yet adviced me to take the CCCT to find out my true FSH levels. I think I'll do that at the end of this cycle... which I'm hoping will never end... ha ha ha.

I'm doing an IUI+ injectible right now... I'm taking wheatgrass, spirulina, and some herbs. I've also been doing acupuncture and reproductive organ massage for the last 2 months.

Thanks again for your post and I wish you a happy 9 months:D

best,
Julie
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi SF,

You know, I know exactly what you mean about the body doing just what it wants no matter what you stuff into it:)) Although they recovered 10 eggs at my first IVF, only 5 of them were mature, the rest were dying or in atrophy:( Of the 5 that were ICSIed, only 2 fertilized and only 1 embryo made it to the transfer. I'm currently in the thick of my first IUI + Injectible. I'm taking 225 units of Gonal-f. I have about 5 good follicles and my RE was hoping 3 of them would release good eggs. Keeping my fingers tightly crossed!!

Wishing you all the best of luck.

Julie.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hello Savanha,

Wonderful to make your acquaintance:) It was so heart-warming to know that your bff concieved naturally at 46!!! And everything you said about giving our own eggs a chance rings sooo true. It's really very encouraging for me and I feel my spirits lifted. Thank you for that.

I have changed two REs, and somehow I always felt that my confidence took a beating when they gave me awful news. My present RE doesnt' always talk about gloom and doom, so I hope it stays that way:) Thank you for your wishes, I will keep you in my thoughts too. And your snowbaby too:) It's soo cute when you refer to it like that:))

best regards,
Julie
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I certainly know how getting that "diminished reserve" diagnosis can feel like the kiss of death! It happened to me at 33. I was BLOWN AWAY!! I thought my only issue was stage III endometriosis and then to find out I now had this was crushing! I think I cried for days!

There is hope though! Has your doctor told you what your FSH is? Here are mine in order of when they were taken.....7.0, 13.1, 12.0, 11.0, and 7.4  Upon receiveing this news, I immediately started doing my research and located one of the best fertility clinics in the nation and made and an appointment within 1 month. It was out of state and cost a little more, but WELL worth it as I am 5 weeks pregnant! I also did wheat grass, DHEA, false unicorn root, red clover, and red raspberry. Don't give up hope!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi julie,
i have been told about those levels but i would have to ask my clinic again,
the only reason they found with me was when i did my first ivf at 28 my eggs were to hard for the sperm to get into, it was terrible cause i thought this is the end , then the next ivf they did icsi and they all fertilised. The most eggs ive ever got was 5, does not matter about the human growth and 450 units of gonal my body will only produce what it wants.Its annoying but what do you do, get on with it and keep telling your mind its going to have a baby.. Have you read that book the secret... that helped me a lot.
love SF
Helpful - 0
413852 tn?1317308712
I do understand the low ovarian reserve situation, although I have a what they call "good"
reserve for my age...44. I've been ttc for going on 4 yrs. BFPx2 via IUI, but mc'd. I've had 3 IVF's that were all neg, but do have 1 snowbaby that dh & I will get transfered in June and prayerfully my son will be with us 9 mos. there after. ;o) I will do another IUI in either case...he is our snowbaby or will come via the IUI or maybe my son will be my snowbaby & my babygirl will be via IUI. ;o)

I just wanted to share a lil history b-4 I started to add a little something to your current treatment. My bff was 46 when she got preg naturally...had the baby @ 47. I'm not sure about her reserve. I've been reading up on older women getting preg naturally, etc. So many RE's are negative when it comes to  age, that I made up in my mind that I wasn't going to allow that to sink into my head or heart. I am realistic, but an opptimist as well. ;o) You still have "some" follicles right? I met a lady on a fert site that rec'd tx from one of the top fert clinics in the U.S., she went through 3 yrs. of tx w/o becoming preg...they told her she wouldn't become preg or that her chances were very...very slim. She became preg about 3/6 mos...can't remember which, after she had tried via RE's for so long.

My point is this...like someone else said...as long as you've gotten 2, 3 or even 4 different oppions (mk. sure to never offer any info to the new doc/RE until they have given your their findings) to be sure. If you are able, because I know it is hard...it is a decision that you & dh will make together. Try to take some time out...whether it is weeks or months to try to relax for a while. We get so caught up in this mess of a rollercoaster when going thru tx for infert that it wears on the body, heart & mind. As long as you have some follicles left...you have a chance to be blessed with your own. I understand you so very much in this area, because I am still there...I want my own, but am not opposed to Donor @ all. I just have to go the distance and feel complete in my own heart knowing that I've done all that I know & am capable of doing before I can move in another direction if needed. Be encouraged...I pray that your womb will be blessed to overflowing. ;o)

Cheers~
Savanha~~
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
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
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
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
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi kah, thanks for the info. Wishing you all the very best for your next ivf cycle:)

cheers,
Julie
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
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.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
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
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
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.
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Avatar universal
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:)
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Did you try ICSI with your late IVF?
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Avatar universal
I will snd you a msg...and give you more details. :O)
andy
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Avatar universal
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
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
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
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Avatar universal
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
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
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
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Avatar universal
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
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371365 tn?1208887849
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
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
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.  
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215752 tn?1278004771
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
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