Success stories in early 40s

[Pickygirl28]

I'm 43 yrs and have a 11 old son natually. But many failed IUIs, IVFs, miscarriages trying to second child. Now on our last round of IVF and this time it is positive again. Just past 22 days but experiencing bleeding, research online leads me to this forum. Hope my case can turn into a successful one.

[Cookie43]

You've come to the right place. There are lots of very supportive women on this forum. I have a 14 year old daughter and am only now trying for a second. Life is complicated and there may be many years between opportunities to have a baby. Did you use your own eggs? I am sure you will be fine. 22 weeks is quite far along. Wishing you a continued healthy pregnancy.

[margi26]

Cookie, my understanding is that DHEA is still a bit controversial and not at all standard. I took it after reading information here and on the web. I took it for a few months prior to my successful IVF cycle. I went to a total of 4 clinics in almost 4 years and none of them suggested DHEA or other supplementation other than pre-natals between cycles. I hope that it is helpful to you!!

Did you go back for tests today? How are things looking?

[Cookie43]

Margi
I have been taking dhea for only a month. I can start the cycle tomorrow. Efts is 5.5 and estrogen 175 and progesterone 9.9. Finally got my period. My doctor uses DHEA for all her patients over 40. I am hoping to see some results even though it would have been better to take it for longer.

[Pickygirl28]

Cookie, thx for the encouraging words. Yes I'm using my own eggs but it's only 22 days not weeks
We learned to be cautious optimistic after the positive blood test, still when signs pointing to the
Wrong directions it's still scary. Haven't told anyone including families, most of them live oversee it gets
Harder esp. 2 MC previously .....

[Cookie43]

My bad...I didn't see the days not weeks.....what does your doctor say? Fingers crossed for you. Were you on DHEA?

[Cookie43]

Cookie, thx for the encouraging words. Yes I'm using my own eggs but it's only 22 days not weeks
We learned to be cautious optimistic after the positive blood test, still when signs pointing to the
Wrong directions it's still scary. Haven't told anyone including families, most of them live oversee it gets
Harder esp. 2 MC previously .....

Where are you located?

[Cookie43]

Ok ladies here's an update....
Fsh 5.5 and AMH 10.5.
On day 4 of global f injections. Start certitide on Sunday.
Ultrasound and bloods on Tuesday.

Here's hoping for the good egg! The one with no age related chromosomal defects....the free range, the organic, the hormone free (well actually that part is impossible because I am like a plucked chicken at the moment with my DHEA, inositol, l-argentine, coq10, magnezium, folio acid, omega x y z.....zzzzzzzzzzz

ahhh I miss wine.

[Cookie43]

Update....

On day 11 of my first cycle I had 6 follicles in total. 1@17.5, 1@16, 2@15, 1@14.5 all on the right. On the left 1@8.5


Changed clinics, doctors and started DHEA, coq10 etc

On day 8 of my second cycle (3 days earlier than 1st scan on 1st cycle)
12 follicles! 6 on left and 6 on right.
2@12, 4@11, 3@9, 2@7, 1 less than 7.

It's looking quietly promising and the sonographer noted that she couldn't get to see the whole right ovary.

Could this be DHEA starting to work? I sincerely hope so

[Cookie43]

12 eggs retrieved today. Thats almost 150% better than cycle 1! Let's hope for good fertilisation

[Cookie43]

9 eggs fertilised. Yay! 1 was immature and 1 was just a shell....now waiting one the 3 day update....

[SueQiwi]

Hi Cookie. These are fantastic numbers! wow. I am cheering for you.

[Cookie43]

Hi everyone

I had my 5 day transfer today. I transferred 2 blastocysts. The RE wouldn't let me do 3. So we are waiting to see if there is anything else to freeze. While we were waiting for the transfer DH and I decided that the next step is the USA if this doesnt work. Too many " can't do this, can't do that", in Australia and they have a "one size fits all" approach no matter what age you are.

Over the last 3 weeks I have never heard so many conflicting comments from doctors. I like this one:
Me: what day do you think I should do the transfer, on 3 or 5?
RE: I have been getting some luck with older women on day 3 but then transferring them on day 5 is good too. The fate of the embryo is the same whether you put it back on day 3 or 5.
Real ANSWER: we don't really know which is better - some studies show 5 some show no difference.
oh and by the way RE, you just contradicted yourself.....

I liked this one too:
ME: Why can't we transfer 3?
RE: I would advise you to do 1 or 2 and freeze any others. In fact FET may be better as the lining is a bit disrupted from the stimulation.
Real ANSWER 1: we are worried you'll have a multiple pregnancy and have complications.
But more real ANSWER: our medical insurer doesn't indemnify us should anything go wrong,
OR the government doesn't want to foot the bill for a complicated delivery and they have set guidelines for our clinic accordingly.
OR we are a commercial enterprise (you fill in the blanks)
And BTW there is no scientific evidence which any RE can cite to tell me that a FET is better than a fresh. Unless someone can point me in the direction of that...and if it was better, why did I just do a fresh transfer today?
ANSWER? They really don't know.

Let's face it, these REs trundle out the age card every chance they get to manage your expectations, but when it comes down to it in Australia they treat everyone the same.

My take...it's not OUR age that's the problem, it's the science and medical knowledge to date. It wasn't that long ago that the world thought stomach ulcers were caused by stress. It took a scientist in Australia to ingest the helicobacter bacteria to prove otherwise and he won the Nobel prize.

I think that scientists are the unsung heroes of IVF and in the future they are bound to create better opportunities for all men and women, despite age.

Thinking of you all,
Cookie

[Cookie43]

I was told that there was nothing to freeze today...
Seems a bit of a let down. 12 eggs, 9 fertilised. At 3 days I had 3 more than 8 cells, 2 8 cells, 1 7 cell and 1 6 cell.
On day 5 I had 2 blasts, 2 almost blasts, 3 compacting morulas.... And today nothing?
I suspect that the clinic has certain criteria for freezing so their stats look good. Call me a cynic....

Anyway...in the 2 week wait now and trying to distract myself....

[Wondercat]

Cookie43 - I am totally a 30-something crashing in the 40's thread... But yes, I agree that some clinics only freeze to extremely high criteria just to pad their numbers. My clinic says that they have a policy to only save the best so that they don't "waste the patients' time" with trying FET cycles with inferior embryos. I forget the exact numbers, but I think my last cycle I got 19 eggs, 17 fertilized, 2 transferred... and only 4 frosties. I don't think you're cynical at all, at least not more so than I am!

My fingers are crossed for your transfer success!!