IVF cycle #4 age 43 - yielded one egg - fertilized

Just thought I’d write an encouraging post to those who are over 40 and are going through IVF.

I am 43 now but was 42 when started IVF. I conceived naturally @age 41and a half and had an MMC @6w5days. I TTCed for a year with no results.

I started IVF in July of 2021. I was still 42 then.

IVF cycle #1: a no-go.

— My FSH was 92!!!! and I didn’t even have a period for 45days. Doctor and I waited.

IVF cycle #2: canceled.

— Two good size follicles, one on each side. FSH was 32. E2levels were not high enough to indicate any viable eggs in follicles and they completely crashed after trigger, so retrieval was canceled the day before.

IVF cycle #3: no eggs retrieved.

— One good size follicle developed. FSH was 18. E2 levels were great, indicating a quality egg. However, no eggs were retrieved though because either the trigger didn’t work, or I was triggered early, or the doctor messed up and wasn’t able to retrieve upon aspiration.

IVF cycle #4: one egg retrieved and successfully fertilized. This was a MINI IVF cycle.

— I had two good size follicles that developed on each side almost simultaneously. My FSH was 7! All my lab-work indicated that there are two eggs there maturing nicely. I was triggered and my E2 went up to 781. ONE EGG OUT OF THE TWO WERE RETRIEVED and FERTILIZED. We now have one embryo on ice. 🙏

Anyone who is looking to go through IVF after 40, please understand that if your FSH is high and AMH is ultra low, you will need multiple cycles to go through just to have 1 fertilized egg. It is not impossible, but it takes a lot of emotions, time, effort, and money.

I know I am only at the beginning of this journey myself, yet I have done 4 cycles so far.

All I can say is, keep your faith, pray, keep believing that you can produce viable eggs, and have the right physician who actually wants what you do; who encourages and makes necessary changes along the way.

Don’t give up!