Poor egg quality Is there hope

[samsara]

Hi all
I'm new so forgive me if I make mistakes. My DH and I have been married over 10 years and actively trying to get Pg for last 5 years. We tried Ruth Sharkey's herbs for 2 years with no luck and have done IUI 3x and IVF 7x. My egg quality is poor and 2x out of 7 have had no embryo to transfer but other times had 1 or 2 but no luck. I'm 34 and I wonder if there are any others out there who have had same problem with egg quality and had success. I've just started taking DHEA which I hope will help with egg quality also. Is there anything else I should be doing. I think my ovaries are prematurely aging and wondered if any success from others with this problem.
I've enjoyed reading other threads so far.
L

[SuperWoman]

Im not sure if I can help with your problem exactly, but I have heard that natrapaths can help. My DH went to one because of his low sperm count and we are convinced that gave us more eggs that were fertilised in our second EPU. He gave him acupunture and some herbs to take!

[samsara]

Thanks for the advise
Has anyone heard of or used DHEA to improve egg quality??
Love Lx

[Gravel]

Hi Samsara

I'm intrigued - what's DHEA :detective: ?

[samsara]

Hi Gravel
DHEA is a mild male hormone found in low dosages in females and mainly affects adrenal function, however as we age our levels drop off and there is some research in the US which suggests that lower levels can have an impact on egg quality and egg numbers. Centre for Human Reproduction in Chicago has a website that talks in more details about this. I have just started using this and am yet to see if it will help me at all. My specialist is happy to support me however he wants to wait and see before getting too excited as although preliminary findings are positive there hasnt been anything this year on further studies they are doing. There was also a paper presented o/sea and an article in Sterility and Fertility last year from the same IVF clinic. They say it can take 4 months to see the effects so I have a couple more months to go. We are desperate as my egg quality is very bad and we've been trying a long time now :gloomy: . 7 IVF attempts alone so happy to try anything. I have to keep a level head about these things though but I figure its worth a try. I wonder if anyone else out there has tried it with any success?????
Love Lx

[Gravel]

Thanks for that Samsara, have never heard of it but I sincerely hope it will do the trick for you!

[~beckkles~]

Samsara,
Welcome and I wish you all the best with your IVF journey. Personally I did about 19 cycles of IVF but was lucky enought not to have egg quality issues.
However a friend of mine is going through a similar situation and just had a better pickup coming off a "Flare " cycle. Before she was getting one or two folicles she had a pu of nine last cycle.
Bec

[samsara]

bekkles - What is a flare cycle? I have heard of another IVFer who did 19 cycles and finally fell with a DS. She was 40+ by that time so very exciting for her and him to finally have their dream come true. My last cycle I had 4 eggs but immature so no good:thumbsdown: I think I keep hanging in cos I keep trying new things.
Love Lx

[~beckkles~]

A flare is a cycle where there is no down regging on the contraception pill and synarel. It works from day 1 and mimicks more a normal 28 day cycle pu about day 12-15 depending on drug response. All my babies were IVF so in that I had 3 pregnancys just two had complications at 20 weeks:mad:
Good luck
Bec

[KCsunshine]

Hi Samsara
While I am a bit older than you, I was told at 39 that my egg quality was so poor that it was unlikely any pregnancy would proceed to term. I always had eggs to transfer (at blastocyst stage) but didn't get huge numbers (maximum 6 - probably related to age), still nothing. I had 3 natural pregnancies which ended around 8 weeks for no explicable reason - this apparently is related to egg quality.
We were basically told that while there is no reason for it my eggs prematurely aged so that they were where they should be at 49 rather than 39.
We are at the stage of looking for an egg donor, hope that you don't need to go down that path.
Kath

[samsara]

Hi KCSunshine
Have you looked into DHEA? There is info on the net about it. In America they have had some success. I'm trying it to see what if anything happens.

We've thought about egg donor too if our IVF doesn't work. I feel so crushed thinking about IVF not working. My heart goes out to you. I'm sending you a big cyber hug. All the very best with finding an egg donor. You can reply via PM if you want to talk.
Love L

[lizzieo]

Hi everyone,

I have only had one cycle so far, but ended up no embies at all as a result of poor egg quality. I am having my next EPU on saturday. This time we've gone for a flare cycle, so I'll let you know if that provides a better response. Otherwise I'll check out DHEA.

Samsara, when are you starting your cycle? I hope that the DHEA offers better results.

I know this all completely sucks. But hopefully if we try everything, something must work... eventually.

Take care,
Lizzie.

[samsara]

Hi Lizzie
Not doing anything for a couple of months as needed to recharge. We will wait and see with the DHEA. Good luck this time around. Hope you get some good ones.
Lx

[IAdoreYou]

Wow. You have been through quite alot.
I did the whole naturopath thing as well on my journey with brooke and I ended up really pushing that aside in the end.
Have you ever tried or taken Q-10 capsules? its for cell development and helps with egg quality. Don't bother google .. its not really on the internet about ttc. My Dr really LOOKED into it though and swore on it with regards to egg quality.

I took them after my 1st m/c ( blighted ovum ) porr egg quality and I'm POSITIVE thats part of the reason I have a healthy intelligent little girl today ..

once again GOODLUCK! prays coming your way.

[IAdoreYou]

just wanted to add what info I had on Q10 .. I'm popping them again now getting ready to ttc # 2. Don't forget we all started as a cluster of cells and miscarriage/s and infertility is so DRAINING and sometimes feels never-ending! I know with my blighted ovum there was a sac just no heartbeat!

just wanted to paste this ...

Coenzyme Q-10
Because it is very similar to the structure of vitamin E, Co-Q10 is a powerful antioxidant/vitamin found in human tissue. Co-Q10 is a vital component of the energy production in all cells, especially in the heart and brain. It plays an important role in the effectiveness of the immune system and fighting the ageing process. Co-Q10 helps to improve the efficiency of energy production while helping to boost existing immune cell capacities. Vital Greens contains the body's optimum recommended daily allowance for this important nutrient.

leaving now. GOODLUCK! sorry if I sound like i'm preaching ..

[samsara]

Thanks for the info on Co-Q10. Do you need to get a prescription to get it or can you ask for it over the counter?? I think I'll definitely try it. I'm so tired of getting poor eggs. Good luck with no.2. Are you doing IUI or IVF??
Lx

[Miss Ellie]

Samsara, Co-enzyme Q10 isn't a prescription medication, I used to take it and bought it from the same supplier as I get my herbal and vitamin supplements. I buy online through www.goldenglow.com.au.

Our Angel is Pink, thanks for the information, after reading what you posted I will be ordering some this weekend as I need to stock up on other herbal and vitamin stuff. I've also been taking zinc, calcium and magnesium, and folate to help with pregnancy and I've heard it can help if DH takes zinc if there are any sperm issues.

[IAdoreYou]

Goodluck Miss Ellie and yep and natural shops stock it Sam!
:thumbsup: goodluck girls .. very excited for you. ALSO sending lots of prays your way.

[mercimum]

Hi samsara.
I am 34 years old and today my hubby and I were told that I have poor egg quality. We have done 3 attempts at iui but had too many follicles 14 each time. Then ist attempt at ivf, transfer was supposed to be today but they degenerated 45min before transfer. :gloomy: I thankyou for your letter it has helped me. Knowing that someone else has had the same problem. We now have to wait 6-8wks before trying on the flare cycle. So I am going to try having some accupunture and get on some q-10 tabs. fingers crossed.
This is my second child, just as hard as the first. took 2 1/2 yrs for the first.
mercimum

[Hels*Bels]

Hi Samsara,
I don't have any advice for you as my story was the other way around, my DH is infertile so we needed donor sperm. I just wanted to throw some baby dust your way. It took us 5 years to conceive our miracle bub, so hang in there and good luck :hugs:

[boab]

Hi there.

My partner and I started IVF in Jan of this year. His vas. reversal didn't work so there was no other way. Even though the need wasn't on my side, I still has PCOS as well as hormonal imbalances and was reaching that 'old' age of almost 35. So I prepared my body a few months in advance.


I started taking Maca in the powder form (put it into a drink) to get things into gear and get things balanced. The below info comes from this site: http://www.xtremeherbs.com.au/

"Rather than addressing a specific symptom, powerful adaptogens such as Maca are used to assist your body to function optimally. Maca balances and stabilizes the body's systems, boosts the immune system and harmonizes the body's overall vitality.
women choose to take Maca Powder as an alternative to taking artificial hormones. What makes Maca so effective is that rather than introducing hormones from outside (whether chemical or natural) Maca nutritionally supports the glands in the body to optimal function according to the individual’s unique requirements."

I also used a Natural Progesterone cream as well - basically used myself as a guinea pig. You need a doctors prescription for that but make sure it's natural and a % of 3.2. For more info, go to: http://www.johnleemd.com/

I ended up having to stop both products as my ovaries overstimulated, even though they dropped the dosage of Puregon. I believe both these products helped. We had to cancel that cycle and try again 2 months later. Half the dose, only 5 eggs on one side (the other side didn't do anything as the dosage had been put right down due to previous problem and I had stopped taking the Maca and Pcream) Only 3 good eggs out of that lot which were fertilised. One implanted and are now 17weeks pregnant. I kept up with my own progesterone cream after the doctor said I could stop their pessaries. Just going with instinct.

From a male side, the first teaser my partner had - no boys moving. The second time, after using Maca twice a day for 3 weeks - movers. Not hypo and moving all over the place, but good enough to fertilise.

So don't ever lose hope.
Do your research and see what you think of these products.
Good luck:)

[jo-anne.36]

hi i would like to welcome you samsara i do'nt think i would be much help to you as iam in need of an egg donor my eggs are of poor quality to i never herd of dhea to my doctor did'nt tell me i was told that they could not me with my eggs they told me my only hope was donor eggs or adoption how did you get to hear about dhea joanne

[samsara]

Hi Joanne
I stumbled across DHEA on the internet at the Centre for Human reproduction Chicago. I've just had another unsuccessful attempt but the interesting thing was that I produced 15 eggs (previous cycle 4 eggs and none any good) and we didn't use icsi but it seems we should have as at least 7 of the eggs were of good quality but they didn't fertilise so next time we will do icsi. This is the best I've had so far. My Dr has dropped the dhea dosage to 25mg and it seems to be working. Unfortunately my ovaries overstim'd this time so I will have to wait 2 months before trying again - bummer. We may still end up going down egg donor path as I'm getting tired of all this and just want to move past the IVF and start a family. We'll see what happens at the end of the year. Good luck to you.
L