40 is too old, you should freeze eggs late 20s and early 30s

OP, if you could post your numbers (AMH, FSH, and more importantly antral follicle count) that will give a better picture as to what your odds of success look like other than "I got 2 eggs, how can I improve." Your body fluctuates monthly, true, but e.g. if your AMH is .2 the likelihood of you getting 8-10 eggs at retrieval are very low and you need to manage your expectations.

There are 40+ yo who have gotten pregnant successfully, but they are certainly not the majority. While others are telling you things you likely don't want to hear, it's because there's unfortunately a lot of truth to what they are saying. That said, if your heart is set on doing everything you can so you will live with no regrets, then I understand that. BUT - that's why it's important to hear your #s and protocol... bc based on those, a lot of us on this board can probably tell whether your RE is being honest with you, or just taking your money. The unfortunate part of this infertility world is we become very well-versed in protocols, chances, #s, etc.

E.g. if you're DOR (AMH less than ~.1, FSH higher than 10) then your RE should be being aggressive with your protocol... ie doing an estrogen priming or microdose lupron flare protocol. It sounds like you weren't on that. To an earlier person's post, if you were using BC beforehand but you're DOR, that's likely a bad call. Your chances of success depend on your numbers but also the RE who's working with you. You should be working with one who specializes in your diagnosis, not just any doctor.

If you're uncomfortable posting or answering any of the above I understand that, but then I do think there's a bit of denial at play and if that's the case, there's really nothing any of us can say that will help. In any case, best of luck to you whatever you end up doing!

I’ve only read the last few pages, but OP, I think the reason you’re not getting a lot of the responses you are looking for is because it just really hasn’t happened for people your age doing what you’re trying to do. It is almost statistically impossible, especially after such a terrible first retrieval cycle. I wish you luck in creating your family however you’re able to do so.

My ovaries responded similarly. We were doing IVF. I was 35. Did four rounds. Got pregnant with the last fertilized egg that lived long enough to be put back in. Hit menopause at 41. This was ten years ago but it was and is hard to accept that my body had real limits, and earlier than I anticipated.

(sorry - PP here- I should have said, more than twice as many as her goal…I wound up over 50)

“20 mature eggs after three retrievals at age 40, especially after only producing two your first retrieval, has a 0% chance of happening. I’m really sorry but your doctor is not being ethically honest with you. The best thing you can do to prepare for later retrievals is to cancel them and get some of your money back that you can funnel into egg or embryo adoption. I’m really sorry”

fwiw, though, I had more than twice as many mature eggs over three retrievals at age 41-42.5, after a first cycle that was basically a total bust. Now, most of those embryos didn’t both keep growing to day 6 AND test PGS normal. But several did, and the very first one we transferred via FET at age 43 became my amazing daughter.

Obviously I was doing IVF, vs egg retrieval. But 40 is NOT the end of the line for most women, statistically. Anyone can have a bad month for any number of reasons, but do just fine the next. I know I did.

I did IVF a decade ago, so I am not up to date on the research. But as I recall, empty follicle syndrome is different from few follicles or lots of immature eggs. So you started at 10-11 follies and ended up w two mature eggs. How the cycle progressed and whether follicles disappeared or didn’t progress or were empty makes a difference, I think.

Also your protocol. I was older than you and had strong cycles with every follicle (10-12 per cycle) having a mature egg retrieved and fertilized and progress . . . on a low dose protocol. Older ovaries are sensitive to high doses of gonadotropins. So maybe if you were on a high dose regimen, ask your RE about a lower stim protocol. Worked for me but I also had pretty low FSH. Also know that if you are a low responder, research shows that response tops out at 450 IUs daily max, maybe lower.

Best of luck to you. I stopped 10 years ago and now have to go get the result to bed. 😊

What clinic are you at, OP?

Anonymous wrote:Yes, I realize the eggs need to be genetically sound…hence why I chose to pay for 3 cycles. All projections led me to believe that I would achieve at least 20 eggs in 3 cycles. All I hoping for is one miracle healthy baby, not a basketball team.

20 mature eggs after three retrievals at age 40, especially after only producing two your first retrieval, has a 0% chance of happening. I’m really sorry but your doctor is not being ethically honest with you. The best thing you can do to prepare for later retrievals is to cancel them and get some of your money back that you can funnel into egg or embryo adoption. I’m really sorry.

I agree with many of the others here. Freezing eggs is not going to do much for you if your desire is to thaw the eggs and turn them into embryos resulting in a viable birth.

I would take a pause on the next cycle of retrieval and determine if you are ready to select a sperm donor and create embryos to be frozen. You don’t have to make the choice now to transfer embryos and have a baby, but frozen embryos or what you should be aiming for with your age and the low aggressive. I hate to be so blunt, but there is no way I would go through two more rounds of egg retrievals just to freeze eggs. I think it will be a huge waste of your time.

Anonymous wrote:I mean going "full blast" has its downsides. My friend had to be hospitalized multiple times for ovarian hyperstimulation. They took liters of fluid out of her abdomen. She said it was incredibly painful.

That's not what full blast means, and I doubt OP has to worry about OHS at 40 with two eggs last time.

Back when I was trying years ago the doctors chant was “it only takes one!” Turns out not really true. Overwhelmingly success rates correlated to number of healthy embryos over 12. So did the doctor offer you a refund on this info that you were a very young 40 year old?

I mean going "full blast" has its downsides. My friend had to be hospitalized multiple times for ovarian hyperstimulation. They took liters of fluid out of her abdomen. She said it was incredibly painful.

Anonymous wrote:I did not respond as well to the hormone protocol originally prescribed. The number of follicles and eggs changes every month, and based on my hormone levels, my doctor and I were expecting at least 5 mature eggs, hence the disappointment.

Your doctor is leading you on. Both of you were “hoping” for a better cycle?

Anonymous wrote:Folks: I know the basics of women’s fertility. I don’t need recommendations regarding my life choices from complete strangers. I came on here welcoming recommendations for increasing my success rates, regardless of what the stats may be. I’m already committed to this process, so any additionally commentary (as well intentioned as it may be), is pointless and is only throwing salt on a raw wound.

I’m sorry but I really don’t think you know the basics. You are very old for egg freezing and in a few short years you will be a very old mom. If you want a baby do it now. Time is not on your side not matter what else is happening in your life. And BTW having kids in your 40s is pretty hard.