Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Have you already addressed diet and lifestyle changes? The research article gives a nice overview and can be helpful: https://fertilityresearchandpractice.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s40738-015-0003-4

For the supplements mentioned by a previous poster, look into the absorption as not all are created equally. CoQ10, for example, can support fertility and is better absorbed in a water and fat-soluble formulation. For DHEA, make sure to work with your doctor as this can affect hormone levels.

-AA

That's a great article, thanks for sharing! Did your RE give you any advice or feedback about supplements or lifestyle changes? I got different recommendations from Shady Grove and GW, so now I'm uncertain what advice to follow (we're going to stay with GW, so probably them, unless it's worth asking about SG's advice).
--SS

AMA (formerly known as AA, from the TTC forum) here.

I'm at GW and they didn't give me any advice on supplements; granted, I didn't ask. I'm taking CoQ10 when I remember.

Anonymous wrote:Have you already addressed diet and lifestyle changes? The research article gives a nice overview and can be helpful: https://fertilityresearchandpractice.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s40738-015-0003-4

For the supplements mentioned by a previous poster, look into the absorption as not all are created equally. CoQ10, for example, can support fertility and is better absorbed in a water and fat-soluble formulation. For DHEA, make sure to work with your doctor as this can affect hormone levels.

-AA

LOL, we must have two AAs! I'm the one from the TTC forum. But I agree that the above is very useful.

To avoid confusion and add a little hilarity to our situations, I'm going to sign my posts AMA from now own.

Anonymous wrote:PP do you mind sharing what advice/feedback you about supplements and lifestyle changes from Shady Grove and GW?

GW said it couldn't hurt to try CoQ10, but advised against DHEA because of the low evidence in favor and high risk of side effects. They were also comfortable with my exercise (1-2/week), caffeine (1-2 cups/day), and alcohol (1 drink/day). SGF didn't seem to care about the CoQ10, I didn't ask about DHEA, and they encouraged more exercise and zero caffeine or alcohol. The research on all of those are pretty mixed and all of my intake is firmly in the "moderate" range, so I think it came down to one RE having more of an "you have to live your life while going through this process" attitude and the other erring on the side of minimizing any potential risk. My diet and weight are both fine to good and I never smoke (or use drugs), so neither RE commented on those.

Matt and Doree’s Eggcellent Adventure is a great IVF podcast

PP do you mind sharing what advice/feedback you about supplements and lifestyle changes from Shady Grove and GW?

Anonymous wrote:Have you already addressed diet and lifestyle changes? The research article gives a nice overview and can be helpful: https://fertilityresearchandpractice.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s40738-015-0003-4

For the supplements mentioned by a previous poster, look into the absorption as not all are created equally. CoQ10, for example, can support fertility and is better absorbed in a water and fat-soluble formulation. For DHEA, make sure to work with your doctor as this can affect hormone levels.

-AA

That's a great article, thanks for sharing! Did your RE give you any advice or feedback about supplements or lifestyle changes? I got different recommendations from Shady Grove and GW, so now I'm uncertain what advice to follow (we're going to stay with GW, so probably them, unless it's worth asking about SG's advice).
--SS

Have you already addressed diet and lifestyle changes? The research article gives a nice overview and can be helpful: https://fertilityresearchandpractice.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s40738-015-0003-4

For the supplements mentioned by a previous poster, look into the absorption as not all are created equally. CoQ10, for example, can support fertility and is better absorbed in a water and fat-soluble formulation. For DHEA, make sure to work with your doctor as this can affect hormone levels.

-AA

Anonymous wrote:Hey, AA, it may just be you and me here! My CD3 are slightly worse than yours, but not awful. That estradiol is a touch low (I think over 50 is best), but maybe that depends on your age? Mine, with DOR at age 34, was 53 for reference. With my numbers, I won't be disappointed if we can't bank any embryos, but hoping to get at least one good one per retrieval cycle. Did your RE talk about protocols yet? They said estrogen priming for me, which is what I expected with the DOR.

Thanks others for the tips. I can't speak for everyone, but yes, I read TCOYF years ago and have been on FF for 4ish years. I started It Starts with the Egg, but aside from CoQ10, my RE didn't recommend anything else (and discouraged DHEA). I should probably finish it soon though, since we're getting close to starting IVF. No BPA, yes CoQ10, DHEA, melatonin, and "clean/organic" eating, right? I had a hard time getting through the author talking about her successes.

--SS

Have you tried acupuncture? I highly recommend Dr. Gao in foggy bottom

Hey, AA, it may just be you and me here! My CD3 are slightly worse than yours, but not awful. That estradiol is a touch low (I think over 50 is best), but maybe that depends on your age? Mine, with DOR at age 34, was 53 for reference. With my numbers, I won't be disappointed if we can't bank any embryos, but hoping to get at least one good one per retrieval cycle. Did your RE talk about protocols yet? They said estrogen priming for me, which is what I expected with the DOR.

Thanks others for the tips. I can't speak for everyone, but yes, I read TCOYF years ago and have been on FF for 4ish years. I started It Starts with the Egg, but aside from CoQ10, my RE didn't recommend anything else (and discouraged DHEA). I should probably finish it soon though, since we're getting close to starting IVF. No BPA, yes CoQ10, DHEA, melatonin, and "clean/organic" eating, right? I had a hard time getting through the author talking about her successes.

--SS

Have you checked out fertility friend? It's not 100 percent anonymous which in the end is much better if you are truly looking for support. You create a username and that follows you. You can find groups or form groups of people starting a cycle same time as you etc. I've passed that stage but out core group stayed together for 4 years until everyone had their babies and we've continued our friendships in real life. I couldn't have survived the process without those ladies.

--AA (forgot to sign above)

Hey, SS, thanks for starting the thread! My DH is on some antibiotics for an infection and has been told he can't have his sample analyzed until 2 weeks after his last antibiotic pill, so we are waiting... and in the meantime not trying too hard with TTC because it's just been a really stressful month. I hate to lose a month but I don't feel like I had a choice in the matter.

I've done all my tests at GW and have the following results:

AFC 7 one cycle and 9 the next
AMH 0.98 (1 is "low normal," so I'm going with normal, lol!)
Estradiol 37.8 (seems fine?)
LH 5.8
FSH 11.9 (on the high side)

We've agreed to go straight to IVF, but with DH on antibiotics and me traveling in early October, we probably can't start until late October.

Read "Taking charge of your fertility" by Toni Weschler to help you better understand when you are ovulating when TTC and "It starts with the egg" by Rebecca Fett to help you explore other ways (supplements, lifestyle changes) to improve outcomes. These two books were amazingly helpful to me in our journey. The first helped us naturally conceive DC 1 three years ago and now the second I am using in prepping for IVF. My best wishes.

I don't think folks on this side are as eager to compare notes and track progress in a running thread. There's a lot less good news but also a lot more specific to ask about / compare notes. Sounds like you could really use a support group to find your people and get that we're-in-this-together feeling.

Good luck to you. - XP

This is an offshoot from an ongoing TWW thread in the TTC forum. I'm on cycle 10 (as of today) of TTC #2 and dealing with DOR and MFI. We're hoping to start IVF in January and I wanted to open up a discussion for anyone else who's looking to start IVF or other interventions in the next few months.

We're currently at GW and getting a second opinion from SGF in a few days. I'm 34, so the RE is concerned about the DOR and urging us to go right to IVF because of the MFI, but isn't able to be specific until we meet the diagnostic criteria for infertility. Three more cycles and we'll be able to finally move forward! I'm still a tiny bit hopeful that it can happen on it's own, but it is very unlikely to happen. In the meanwhile, I'm making an effort to get in better shape physically and get all of the testing and insurance approvals in place. Next step will be to educate myself on DOR protocols for IVF.

Anyone else at a similar place and want to compare notes?

(--SS)