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Post by mwilmot on Feb 1, 2010 19:31:59 GMT -5
It's been a while since I've been on the site. I'm getting ready to start IVF #3 and the last 2 IVFs I've had empty follicles and wondered if it happened to anyone else. Basically on an ultrasound it looks like the follicles are ready but when they do the retrieval only a few actually have eggs in them. IVF cycle #1 I had 7 follicles and they retrieved only 2 eggs - one fertilized but no pregnancy. IVF cycle #2, I had 9 follicles and they retrieve 3 eggs, 2 fertilized and I had faint pregnancy signs but subsequent blood tests showed I was not pregnant.
When I question my RE about it - he said he sees empty follicles often in women with severe endo. I have stage IV and just had my 4th endo surgery (this time both tubes were removed).
Also, has anyone taken DHEA in preparation for IVF? He has me on that as well and what I've been reading about it, it ilooks great. I have been on for a few weeks and have not had any side effects (which is unusual for me).
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Post by Karen on Feb 1, 2010 22:51:16 GMT -5
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Post by mwilmot on Feb 2, 2010 17:10:54 GMT -5
Thank you Karen! I read her intro and it sounds so similar to mine so I'll reach out to her.
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Post by janmac78 on Feb 18, 2010 14:08:49 GMT -5
Hi there - I don't know if I have endometriosis or not, but your story sounded so familiar to me that I just had to respond. My husband and I recently went down the IVF road in hopes of a baby. Everything looked perfect until we got to the egg retrieval. The nurses had counted 9 follicles on one ovary and stopped counting at 10 on the other. When my doctor went to retrieve them, however, he only got 2...and they weren't very good in quality. We have decided not to go down the IVF road again (at least for now), because we felt like we were pushed into a bit. My doctor did an HSG and found that my tubes are blocked, so he said IVF was the only way to go. It might be the answer, but I still want to know why my tubes are blocked. I've suspected endometriosis because the only other common cause for blocked tubes is PID from an STD. Well, my husband was my first, so I know I've never had an STD. I've been diagnosed with PCOS, but my last doctor told me that I don't have a "classic case"?!?!! What does that mean? I should have asked him, but I was so devastated by the poor egg count and the negative pregnancy test that I just didn't even want to talk to him anymore. I just wanted to go home. Now I wonder if the cysts I have on my ovaries are from endometriosis, and that's why I don't have a classic case? I'm very frustrated with the OBGYN's in my area because none of them want to investigate what is really wrong with me. I complain of symptoms like painful PMS, and we discovered I have blocked tubes, but no one wants to find out WHY!! I have an appt with a new OBGYN next week that I hope will listen to me and work with me...as his website boasts. I guess we'll see. I mostly just wanted to share my story with you and thank you for posting something about empty follicles. Now that you have shared your story, I know to bring that up as a possibility with my new doctor. Maybe that will help tip the scales to make him want to investigate further. I hate to sound like a hypochondriac, but when you're 32 years old, infertile, and can't figure out why all of this is happening, you just want answers!! Thanks for your story!!
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Post by mwilmot on Feb 18, 2010 14:29:14 GMT -5
Thanks janmac78 for sharing! I'm doing a bunch of different stuff for this IVF that my RE is hoping will help with the egg quality and empty follicle issue. I'll let you know how it goes so you can research the changes I am doing and ask your RE to see if it will work for you.
When I had my first surgery my tubes were blocked and they opened them and we checked 6 months later and they were open. However, they were the cause of extreme pain (I didn't know that the tubes could cause that much pain) so they were removed. I have endo affecting a lot of areas (bladder, bowels, ovaries, uterus). It took me a few gynos to believe me that I had issues. Most of them just said that pain was normal with periods and didn't believe me it was something different. I'm so glad I found my doctor a few years ago and he has listened.
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Post by Karen on Feb 18, 2010 18:43:25 GMT -5
Janmac78, please please please push your doc to find the answers! You're right, all those things are not normal. Whether it's endo or something else, you deserve to know what you're up against.
As for PCOS and your doctor's comments about you not being a 'classic case', it could be that you don't have the string of cysts on your ovaries that *can* be an indicator of PCOS, but you still CAN have PCOS without it! I'm assuming you were diagnosed via symptoms/lab work?
Before your appointment with the next doc, consider preparing a list of outcomes, what you want to get out of the appointment. And share it with him when you see him! You HAVE to be your own advocate.
(Oh, and feel free to post an intro post - we'd love to know more about you and your background!)
And mwilmot, please post back if you have any success!!
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Post by Karen on Feb 19, 2010 7:01:06 GMT -5
Oh, and a few more things... since you mentioned PCOS, might be worth checking out some threads on PCOS. I'm not too familiar with the ins and outs, but have several friends that have it. The insulin resistance diet is suggested for women with PCOS and might be worth reading up on, can help balance your hormones. And, it's something YOU can do to feel more in control of what's going on inside of you. Read through some of the threads on it - it might trigger some ideas and thoughts regarding empty follicles!
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Post by mwilmot on Mar 24, 2010 14:29:01 GMT -5
Well I had success with way more follicles but not with the outcome (I had another 'chemical pregnancy'). I know the Lupron affects me so this time they used the antagonist protocol, DHEA, and HGH (human growth hormone). I had over 12 follicles and they retrieved 5 eggs. 3 fertilized and were of the highest quality. I really think the antagonist protocal was the key as well as the DHEA.
So I had success with getting pregnant - now I just need to find out how to keep things moving (that seems to be my new problem).
Good luck!
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Post by Karen on Mar 24, 2010 19:50:23 GMT -5
Yay for better eggs, but boo for chemical pregnancies! What's your luteal phase? If it's shorter than 12-14 days, that could be part of the problem. It's something that can be helped with diet changes, progesterone, and vit B, among other things.
You're getting there - fingers crossed things progress!
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