Can anyone help - a question for a friend

[Dolly]

A friend of mine is 29 and has done 2 cycles of IVF over a period of 2 years. She was recently advised by an NHS IVF specialist that the more times you do IVF the quicker you use up your “ovarian reserve” and also the drugs become less effective, egg quality reduces and therefore the more you do it the less likely it is to work.

I have to admit that I havn’t heard this – and I did say that I would ask my consultant about it when I went in for EC – but of course had other things on my mind and forgot! I would have thought that at 29 with a good FSH level – ovarian reserve shouldn’t really be an issue for her.

I just wondered if anyone else had any knowledge of this that I can pass on to her.

Thanks for your help.

Dolly

[Tessa]

Hi Dolly

I must say I haven't heard this before...... it makes sense, but at 29, I wouldn't think she should have any concerns???

Sorry I can't help, but I'm sure there is someone here who can.
Cheers
Tessa

[sophiejane]

I thought it was the opposite. That the more times you did it the better, as your body can learn to become pregnant.
Maybe worth posting on fertlity friends site as they have trained nurse responders.

[LittleP]

Dolly

I'm afraid I don't know, but have to say that now you've raised the question I will be very interested to hear the answer.

Little P

[ogr1]

the best thing for her is to ask her doc..
but i was told that each time you had a better chane..

i do have to say befor ivf my periods where a hit and miss. never new when it was comming. and they where very light. would go for months with nothing..

ans sence ivf they come every month and it stays for a good 7 days..

[Kat]

Hi
Is this Dolly from ages ago? If so , how are you? If you're a different one, hi.
Anyway, found this for you -

Even before birth, a woman's eggs begin to diminish in number. During the 20th gestation week, a female embryo contains about seven million eggs. At birth, the number of eggs has already dropped to about 200,000. The number of eggs continues to decline as the woman ages, until no eggs remain (menopause).
Fortunately, women are naturally equipped with an ample supply of extra eggs. The number of eggs a woman has at birth far exceeds the average number of menstrual cycles she will have during her lifetime. Therefore, when women undergo fertility treatment to boost egg production, the risk for premature menopause is no different than it would be for other women

Seems to be saying that IVF doesn't affect reserves....I have to say it was never mentioned to me and I have had 6 cycles but then my eggs are cr@p anyway so maybe it wasn't relevant...

Funny what you said Becky about your periods, mine were always 30-33 days before tmts and now since having all my tmts they are about 25 days. It does strange things to your body.

Anyway, hope that helped,
Lots of love
Kat xx

[Sand]

Thanks for that Kat .. I must admit Dolly's post did worry me a little, but your extract does make sense.

Sandra x