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Over 3 Years TTC - Low AMH - First IVF Success

I am still in disbelief that I actually get to post a success story!! I promised myself once I got pregnant (and I always had faith I would!) that I would share my complete story in hopes of giving someone else out there with similar roadblocks faith that they can get pregnant! 8 weeks and counting...

About 3.5 years ago my DH and I decided to start trying. I quickly identified that I had a short luteal phase (about 9 days) and I knew something was off. I asked my regular OB about it (probably 6 months later) and she quickly prescribed clomid. We put off taking the clomid for a while (my DH was scared for multiples) and I tried natural approaches such as B6 and other things to increase my progesterone level. Nothing. I started the clomid after about a year... my OB had done no tests and provided no monitoring. My period still came early... even after a cycle of doubling the clomid dose. I decided to see a specialist.

After some initial testing we learned my AMH level was only .55 (I was 30 at the time). I had diminished ovarian reserve (DOR) although they never stated it that way. Everything else seems to be generally okay. They added urgency to our situation, but still didn't push that hard. 3 medicated IUI's later, still nothing. All BFN's. I had never seen a positive test. I also tried DHEA during these cycles. I'm not sure it helped anything, it just make me breakout terribly!! I was also on CoQ10 and Royal Jelly (which I continued throughout).

I decided to switch RE's because I just didn't have the best feeling about their protocol and all of their testing. For any of you in Atlanta, I switched to RBA and love them! I also added acupuncture and I really think it helped!! After running similar tests and seeing my very low AMH the new doctor was frustrated I even wasted money on the IUI's and said we need to move straight to IVF. We took a few months off to prepare ourselves and then began. My first cycle, on almost the max dose of medication produced only 3 follicles... I was devastated, they wanted to cancel my cycle and convert to IUI. We did. Another BFN.

Our next round my RE put me on the max amount of meds and a lupron flare protocol. Even though the new protocol didn't help that much, I did show 5 follicles. We were still very disappointed, but I was on the max meds, so we had to go for it!! 3 eggs were retrieved from 5 follicles. I cried in the recovery room. Everyone kept saying "it's quality over quantity", but it was hard for me to believe. Most women my age would be retrieving 15-20 eggs! Day 1 report, 2 of the 3 fertilized with ICSI!! I was pleased, but still very anxious. Day 2, both 5-6 cell good looking embryos!! My RE tried to push for a 5 day transfer, but I reminded them of the fact that since this was all I could get, I planed to put both back in, so they agreed we might as well move forward with a day 3 transfer. On Day 3 I had two beautiful 6 and 8 cell embryo's, grade A and B. 10 days later I received my Beta results... I never POAS... I just couldn't imagine seeing anything but one lonely line. Beta was 212!! I was pregnant!!!! We couldn't believe it. Beta was very high too and the chance of twins was up there!

Fast forward... all the subsequent Beta's were great and ultrasound at 6 weeks revealed 1 happy and healthy baby :) I am still over the moon and in disbelief. I'm still scared as hell too! I'm 8 weeks today and hoping everything continues to go smoothly!!!

So, it can happen! IVF works for women with low AMH and women who have never had anything close to success before. I hope my story inspired someone out there to keep their head up!! :)

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