I just had my first RE appt last week, referred by OB/GYN. Left feeling “unsettled”. Office staff was OK, not as friendly or customer service oriented as I expected, resistant to billing my insurance for appt. RE was very to the point, sat behind his desk and in 5 minutes told us how bad our situation is, like we were to say “OK” to whatever he said and just walk out the door. I had lots of questions, so I just kept asking away. I did have AMH and thyroid drawn that day, already had FSH with OB/GYN. I have been hypothyroid for 1 yr, so he did adjust my dose to be around 2.
Here is the story: Me 39, DH 48. TTC for 1 yr. Labs: FSH 17, AMH <.1, Progesterone 5, Husband with good sperm analysis. RE says with my #s: 1-2% success with Follistim injections, HCG inj with IUI. RE says 0% success with no meds. RE says best chance IVF with DE (60-65%). We don't want IVF with DE. Will have HSG next cycle. Took 2 yrs to get pg with son, now 3 yrs old (no meds to get pg then). On Synthroid, dose just adjusted to get TSH 2.0
Some of my hesitation: 1. When I asked about HSG, RE said I don’t need one. When TTC#1 in 2006 (FSH then was 10), I had an HSG that showed right fallopian tube did not fill with contrast. I believe the dye may have helped open up a tube, so that 3 mths later I conceived without any fertility treatment. I thought HSG was standard before proceeding with tx. When I questioned further about benefit of HSG, RE said it would be fine to have one. 2. When I talked to nurse this week about lab results, I mentioned that it would be best to wait until my TSH is around 2 before proceeding with a cycle of Follistim/IUI. (Everything I have read and my OB/GYN also confirms that best chances for getting and keeping pregnant is TSH close to 2) The nurse said, no it is fine to do tx. When I questioned that, she put me on hold, came back on and said RE said it is fine to start tx next cycle before TSH back at 2 (my TSH last week was 0.01). ???? I told her that I’ll do HSG next cycle, but I’ll wait to do tx until TSH back at 2.
I’ve been doing research and found the Center for Human Reproduction in NYC specializes in “older” women TTC with high FSH’s. Anyone have any experience with them?? http://www.centerforhumanreprod.com/...e_ovaries.html The cost for phone consult with their RE is $450, same price and same service as in-office consultation. A coordinator is assigned to your case, requisition forms are sent to local office, then results sent to NYC office. The RE then prescribes tx and meds. They have had good results with DHEA taken before and during ART, increases chance of getting pg and decreases risk of pg. Not sure if I need to go this route with phone consult. Trying to gather info to see where we go from here. Does anyone know of a good RE within 2 hrs drive of N. Indiana that works with high FSH/low AMH?? Right now I drive 1 hr 15 min to RE in Ft Wayne, so a little further is fine for a really good RE.
Also, am I overreacting to my experience with this RE, or do I have cause to feel “unsettled”? He said if Follistim/IUI doesn’t work in 3-4 cycles, then it won’t work, and there is no other option than IVF/DE. He said IVF with my eggs is still 1-2%, same as IUI 1-2%, so no advantage to IVF. Our insurance doesn’t pay for IUI, and with our 3-4 cycle limit, I want to make sure everything is optimal before we start treatment.
Thanks in advance for any insight...
Here is the story: Me 39, DH 48. TTC for 1 yr. Labs: FSH 17, AMH <.1, Progesterone 5, Husband with good sperm analysis. RE says with my #s: 1-2% success with Follistim injections, HCG inj with IUI. RE says 0% success with no meds. RE says best chance IVF with DE (60-65%). We don't want IVF with DE. Will have HSG next cycle. Took 2 yrs to get pg with son, now 3 yrs old (no meds to get pg then). On Synthroid, dose just adjusted to get TSH 2.0
Some of my hesitation: 1. When I asked about HSG, RE said I don’t need one. When TTC#1 in 2006 (FSH then was 10), I had an HSG that showed right fallopian tube did not fill with contrast. I believe the dye may have helped open up a tube, so that 3 mths later I conceived without any fertility treatment. I thought HSG was standard before proceeding with tx. When I questioned further about benefit of HSG, RE said it would be fine to have one. 2. When I talked to nurse this week about lab results, I mentioned that it would be best to wait until my TSH is around 2 before proceeding with a cycle of Follistim/IUI. (Everything I have read and my OB/GYN also confirms that best chances for getting and keeping pregnant is TSH close to 2) The nurse said, no it is fine to do tx. When I questioned that, she put me on hold, came back on and said RE said it is fine to start tx next cycle before TSH back at 2 (my TSH last week was 0.01). ???? I told her that I’ll do HSG next cycle, but I’ll wait to do tx until TSH back at 2.
I’ve been doing research and found the Center for Human Reproduction in NYC specializes in “older” women TTC with high FSH’s. Anyone have any experience with them?? http://www.centerforhumanreprod.com/...e_ovaries.html The cost for phone consult with their RE is $450, same price and same service as in-office consultation. A coordinator is assigned to your case, requisition forms are sent to local office, then results sent to NYC office. The RE then prescribes tx and meds. They have had good results with DHEA taken before and during ART, increases chance of getting pg and decreases risk of pg. Not sure if I need to go this route with phone consult. Trying to gather info to see where we go from here. Does anyone know of a good RE within 2 hrs drive of N. Indiana that works with high FSH/low AMH?? Right now I drive 1 hr 15 min to RE in Ft Wayne, so a little further is fine for a really good RE.
Also, am I overreacting to my experience with this RE, or do I have cause to feel “unsettled”? He said if Follistim/IUI doesn’t work in 3-4 cycles, then it won’t work, and there is no other option than IVF/DE. He said IVF with my eggs is still 1-2%, same as IUI 1-2%, so no advantage to IVF. Our insurance doesn’t pay for IUI, and with our 3-4 cycle limit, I want to make sure everything is optimal before we start treatment.
Thanks in advance for any insight...
