Hi gang,

I'm new to this site; however, I have found the information posted on here to the extremely helpful with other issues and hope that someone might be able to clear up some fertility questions for me.

I am a newlywed (first anniversary last Monday). My husband and I are graduate students and have been talking about getting pregnant in December as graduation nears. I just recently discussed this with my doc, and since I am 33, she ordered labs to test my hormone levels. It was my first visit since being in a new city. She tested my FSH levels, which resulted in an elevated reading of 10.4; however, it was drawn on day 5 or 6 of my period rather than the optimum day 3. We are retesting later in the month.

I am very concerned about this. The next step, of course, is to test on day 3, but that is a few weeks away. I realize that I can't expect any difinitive answers from anyone, but my question is this: how much of a difference can there be in FSH levels from day 3 to a day 5 through 7 (not exactly sure which day of my period I was on when I was tested). Do levels decrease or increase after day 3? Can I still hope for a good, low FSH level next month? The doctor did not want to discuss anything really until we test on day 3 as she did not want to speculate. But she did say that if I test at that level or higher during day 3 we need to "have a talk." I'm so worried as we do not have any children and would love to have them.

On a lighter note, I have always had very regular periods, albeit fluctuating slightly in length and strength. I have never missed one to date, which I assume has to be a good sign that I am still ovulating. However, I am very concerned about the potential for abnormalities stemming from poor egg quality.

Has anyone had a similar experience at the borderline level? If so, can you share with me your insight into what's ahead, what I can expect? Also, any speculation as to what I can expect from my next FSH test on day 3 as opposed to a day 5-7 reading?

Thank you so much.

Hi Gav :wave: Welcome to the boards!

I'm sorry I can't offer you any advice since I really don't know anything about FSH levels. I just didn't want to see your thread go unanswered :) Anyway, best of luck to you and congratulations on your recent anniversary :D Keep on trying!

Holly~

You're sweet :) I'm sort of surprised that no one has responded since 50 people have viewed it. I thought for sure someone would have something to say. I guess I'm just looking for reassurances like all of us. The more I read about it, the more confused I become. These boards provide such wonderful insight into such things (I'm also on the cervical cancer and menopause boards and have found them extremely helpful), but this one for some reason wasn't able to prompt a reply. I thought for sure someone out there would have something to share. Oh well.

Sure appreciate your input though :wave:

I think at your age, your egg quality might still be good, you may just have a lower amount of eggs left..(eg it's better to be 33 with your level than 40). I'm not absolutely sure about this though.

If you do have elevated fsh, i would consider aggressive fertility treatment now and not wait b/c treatment can take a long time. I don't think your results sound way high....I agree that research on fsh is confusing

Also, if you smoke, quit immediately and ask your doctor about taking vitamin E b/c I think it improves egg quality...try researching vitamins and you might find some helpful info.

I hope this helps!

Thank you so much. I did quit smoking a week and a day ago today, and I've been taking various vitamins for about 2 years now, although not regularly until I recommitted when I quit smoking: fish oil, a multivitamin, folic acid, and caltrate. I can easily add vitamin E to the mix. Until now, I had never heard that vitamin E helps with egg quality, but it's worth a try because I am, of course, worried about that.

I've read different opinions also on whether FSH levels increase/decrease after day three. I am hoping that I was tested later than I think I was after my period, but I had no reason to keep track of it to the day when I went for my doctor's appointment. Waiting until my next period to arrive so I can be retested has been a nightmare! I'm sure you can all relate to that.

But, it shouldn't be too long now. I'm stuffing my face like a pig, my breasts are tender, etc. I just hope it happens sooner rather than later.

I will keep you all posted on the results.

Thanks again for your support :)

I think you shouldn't take more than 200 vit E b/c it is fat soluable. I also read somewhere that coenzyme q-10 (30mg)???? might help but you might want to do a little research and of course let your doctor know of all the supplements you are taking to make sure you aren't overdosing, etc on anything.

It's good that you stopped smoking b/c my RE said smoking can cause fsh to rise.

Keep us posted on your results!

I will. Thank you so much for your input. I thought by now I would have started my period so that I can take my 3-day FSH test again, but I have not. I missed a few days of work this month, and two of the gals that I am the closest with there have been off on vacation. Maybe it messed up my cycle, who knows?

I am feeling a lot less afraid since being on this message board (and others). It has really helped calm me down and the fears and worries have subsided significantly. I am doing all that I can do; now, I just have to wait and see.

I will keep you all posted as to what the results are as soon as I get them.

Hi there!:wave: Just wanted to share with you my experience. I was 23 when we TTC baby #1, after a year of trying I went back to my OB and they ran a series of tests including an HSG. My blood work all came back normal including the HSG, fallopean tubes were clear, no endometrosis, etc. My regular OB never tested my FSH levels because I was so young. (BIG MISTAKE on her part!) I knew nothing about infertility at that point and did not know what to ask... MY OB put me on a few rounds of clomid and I ended up with a blighted ovum... After that, I was so frustrated I gave up TTC.... I let precious years slip by and after about 7 years I decided to lose about 50 lbs (OB always nagged me to do that from the start) Anyway, I lost the 50 lbs and went to the reproductive endocrinologist she referred me to. I ended up going straight to injectibles/IUI because of how long I had been TTC. My RE put me on Repronex and I produced one follicle, I was devastated at that! After that IUI was unsucessful, we did about 2 more rounds of injectibles and IUI, which they all failed due to me not producing more that one follicle at a time. At that point we discussed doing the CCCT, clomid challenge test to see where my FSH numbers were. I couldn't believe it took everybody that long to test my FSH!!!:blob_fire I didn't know what FSH was !!!! MY numbers came back 11.4 which told them I have diminished ovarian reserve/bad egg quality. That result explained a lot!! I was put on one more round of 150mg of clomid per day as a hail mary, then if that failed I was going to do donor egg IVF. The clomid worked that time and I gave birth to a HEALTHY baby girl. I also got pregnant two more times, one with no meds (miscarried that pregnancy due to bad egg quality) I then my regular OB put me on clomid again to do the CCCT again to see where my FSH levels were and the day of my blood draw, I couldn't make it due having to go out of town, four weeks later I turned up pregnant!!! (currently 38 weeks pregnant with my second child). From my experience, I would tell you DO NOT GIVE UP DUE TO HIGHER FSH LEVELS!!! After all 10.4 is not that bad!! It might take you a bit longer to conceive, higher FSH is challenging but not impossible. Sorry my post is so long, I just wanted to share my experience with you:D :D Good luck to you!!! Have you discussed Clomid with your OB??

Thank you very much for sharing your story with me. I found it very inspiring and encouraging. To answer your question, my RE and I have not discussed any treatment options yet for the simple fact that I have not had my FSH tested on the appropriate third-day yet. The 10.4 reading came back during a time that neither one of us were sure exactly where in my cycle I was when the blood was drawn (I think it was something like day 6 or 7 of my period, but I really have no clue). It was the next week that my pap came back abnormal, and we had to go through all that stuff (mild dysplasia). So, here we are, waiting for my period so that we can test again on day three and know more about where I am and what's going on. Who knows, maybe it will come back normal. But I have had so many of the emotional symptoms that I wouldn't be surprised if peri-menopause was the issue. I hardly know who I am anymore it seems like. The depression and loss of motivation is overwhelming and it seems there is nothing I can do about it but wait to see if this is the culprit. Until then, I live in limbo wondering what's wrong with me :(

But you ladies have helped me tremendously with your stories and encouragement. You all know how lonely this can be. It really helps.

Thank you

Hi--

I saw your post and wanted to say hello since I live in Evanston also. I hope you get better luck with your next FSH test, but also don't worry about it too much. I am 41, just had a daughter in January (conceived naturally, I was going to start IVF the next month), and tested at an FSH of 12 in March, 3 months post-partum. It was 5.5 in December 2005, so it had gone up quite a bit in the last year. Well, to make a long story short I am supposed to start IVF next month and the doctor was really worried about my high FSH, but I will most likely NOT start IVF next month because I am pregnant!! I took a blood test this morning and my HCG is 146 at 15 DPO. Yippee!

I have an appointment tomorrow to start getting all the pre-IVF tests done (hepatitus, HIV, and so on). I will still keep the appointment, because you never know when you are so "old". I will find out Monday if the HCG levels are rising nicely.

Anyway, I think it's great you stopped smoking because I am sure that will make a huge difference, and I wish you the best of luck. Write me back if you want to get together for tea or juice ;) sometime!

Beth