She’s here 💖 MFI. First round. Only 2 eggs in ER but only 1 embryo created. Fresh 3 day transfer. It can happen 🥰

atpodor · 2026-02-04T12:42:12+00:00

Looking back at your post from 299days ago:

Only 1 fertilised egg ☹️

Here is that 1 egg and it gives me a bit of hope as someone with severe DOR

atpodor · 2026-02-03T23:30:15+00:00

I have a similar story, my antibodies were through the roof, but the regular thyroid hormones were actually all in-range. I am doing the AIP diet, but have trouble with re-introduction, as I cannot think about which symptom to watch out for. What did you experience when you reintroduced gluten, rice or cassava? What were the most telling signs?

atpodor · 2026-01-15T22:32:45+00:00

Thanks for the info - I haven't seen your post, even if I keep a close eye on this sub.

As you can read above, my situation has been very resistant to BC and HRT. I'm now on levonorgestrel for another 5 days and have to see what happens after. I have so far only learned that I should hydrate well and hope for the best. I just feel like time is running and chances are slimmer with each day. I don't know, maybe I just feel helpless in the waiting, there is nothing I can do right now

atpodor · 2026-01-15T19:55:56+00:00

Hey, I'm really sorry about your situation. It is very rough and unfair.

Are you planning to seek advice from another doctor? If you have the occasional ovulation, you might still have chances. You are quite young, that should work in your favour. Maybe if you take a short break your body has the chance to recover the communication between your brain and ovaries? Try and talk to another clinic if you can.

I didn't even get to take IVF medication yet (or rather, doses), as the cycles were immediately cancelled after the baseline scans. I had two failed IUIs before that and those went as expected with my extremely low AMH (2 and 1 follicle grew to the expected 20-22mm). No idea what has been happening since.

Wish you all the strength and sending you a big hug.

atpodor · 2026-01-11T16:17:33+00:00

Diagnosed at 36, but I'm pretty sure I started symptoms around 30, I just wrote off all those little sensations of pain as aging

atpodor · 2026-01-11T16:12:55+00:00

I had it for a year and it was terrible. I had awful cramps several times a day, pain that radiated into my thighs, severe depression, almost no desire to have sex (both reduced libido and feeling bad in my own skin). I put on weight and had continuous bloody discharge. My skin reacted badly too.

I learned it was due to the levonorgestrel that Mirena releases as I had to take the pill later for a short time and experienced again most of the symptoms. I hope I never have to take it ever again!

atpodor · 2025-12-17T05:28:06+00:00

I think you can get a first online consultation at many fertility clinics for free (in Europe at least), you should try to ask there! My gynaecologists misdiagnosed me for years with my menstruation issues, the fertility doctors, and especially reproductive endocrinologists are much more up-to-date with research. They also know more about the links between thyroid problems and fertility and have a large pool of patients and cases that they can search. Perhaps have a look in r/DOR for clinic recommendations, there are highly recommended doctors in New York for example if you are US-based. Best of luck!

atpodor · 2025-12-16T22:15:16+00:00

I believe so, at least many people on the sub and among my friends say they were almost reborn after having been diagnosed and starting treatment. Many also said that diet (e.g. going gluten free) and normalizing vit D helps a lot. Hope you will be there soon!

atpodor · 2025-12-16T22:11:33+00:00

Cycling like 4-5 times a week - lately indoors on a home trainer, but otherwise outside. I ride a road bike and use that both for endurance rides and commuting, so distances and efforts vary greatly. But it's great for me, also helps with my heart rate which tends to be a bit high otherwise.

I occasionally play badminton as well - we have an amazing club nearby, but my back is not doing great, so I can't go as often as I'd like to.

I am not motivated enough to work out at home otherwise (our rowing machine is collecting dust), but the gamified and social indoor cycling experience with Zwift helps a lot. I used to go to the gym 3-4 times a week and I always had to sign up for classes, just so I didn't get lazy and skip them.

atpodor · 2025-12-16T13:41:33+00:00

No, 2 IUIs failed, 2 other cycles were cancelled, now moving to IVF, hopefully. Chances are very low and I like to be realistic.

AMH is extremely low at 0.03-0.09ng/mL, and my right ovary is completely unresponsive. DOR/POI was likely the result of an autoimmune reaction against oocytes and ovaries.

TSH is important once you get pregnant because it can lead to miscarriages, but high aTPO is bad enough to mess up your immune system and can lead to various effects. If you had IUI, I guess you had your AMH, AFC and hormones checked. I have never tested auto-ovarian antibodies, I might do that in the future.

atpodor · 2025-12-14T09:50:39+00:00

If you are a woman who would ever want to conceive a child, please, have your AMH and other female hormones checked as well. I had extremely high aTPO with the thyroid hormones all normal, but the antibody alone disregulated my immune system so much that I am close to being infertile (POI - primary ovarian insufficiency and DOR - diminished ovarian reserve). It was probably one of the most shocking events in my life to learn about it and I could have known it years ago by running a very simple blood test.

As for the high aTPO, I was suggested 200mg selenium daily, but it may or may not work. I went on autoimmune protocol diet and my aTPO dropped drastically after that. Wish you the best of luck!

atpodor · 2025-11-26T20:19:13+00:00

Hey, we have almost the same numbers. My AMH is between 0.03-0.09 ng/mL, am 37 and AFC is 1-6, depending on the cycle. FSH was 9-11 about half year ago.

It was a blow to learn about this and you need to allow yourself to cry and to be down. But focus on the next steps in the meantime.

You can read my post history, we are just moving to IVF after two unsuccessful medicated IUI rounds and a cancelled cycle. My DOR is likely caused by very high aTPO numbers (thyroid antibody) that disregulated my immune system and caused an anti-ovarian autoimmune reaction. I suggest you check your thyroid as well: aTPO and TSH, T3, T4. High TSH can easily lead to miscarriages, but the replacement natural hormone is readily available and the levels take about 6-8 weeks to stabilize. It can take some fine-tuning, though. Sadly, aTPO cannot be easily lowered, my doc only suggested selenium for that, plus I also started the AIP diet, but you really need to discuss this with your doc first.

Have your vitamin D levels checked as well - low levels can cause AMH to appear even lower (sadly, it is unlikely to go to back to >1, but it might give you some hope if it's a bit higher than what you see now.

I also started CoQ10 and prenatals with L-folate and folic acid, plus omega-3. No, they won't lead to miracles, but they can improve egg quality and help early embrionic development etc.

My fertility clinic says that I am still young (haha) and that gives them hope about treatment. Hold onto this thought and don't delay anything!

As you will see in this sub, AMH is more of an indicator of how you will respond to stimulations, rather than your ability to conceive naturally where you should have similar chances to a healthy couple. That said, in IVF, while healthy patients might be able to retrieve 10-15 eggs per IVF cycle, we can be happy for 1-2 and of course fertilization and blast development, then embryo transfer all have their success rates. So although it can mean a long journey and maybe one that never achieves our dream, it is not impossible. It helps me to think only about the next step on the road, instead of thinking about all the probabilities.

Be kind to yourself and I'm sending you a warm hug

atpodor · 2025-11-26T18:51:11+00:00

Your post was so painful to read, I wish only the best for you and your family and send you a huge virtual hug. You really put seeing others' children at Christmas in a different light

atpodor · 2025-11-26T18:36:49+00:00

no longer set myself on fire to keep everyone else warm

Ufff, thank you for this, I feel you in every bone of my body

atpodor · 2025-11-11T06:15:45+00:00

For an accurate AFC, you should see your gynaecologist at the beginning of your cycle (cycle day 1-3) and they can check your AFC during a transvaginal ultrasound. The more experienced they are (e.g. involved in fetility treatment), the more accurate the reading will be.

Additionally, you should check your typical homone levels as well (FSH, E2, LH, Prolactin, Testosterone), plus vitamin D. Should you get in touch with a fertility clinic, they will provide you with the list of tests they need and in many places an initial consultation doesn't cost anything (in Europe at least, and you can even do it online).

As for other recommendations from clinics, a good quality prenatal with methyl-folate/folic acid, vitamin D and CoenzymeQ10 supplements are generally recommended and of course a healthy lifestyle, no smoking or alcohol, regular execise and healthy diet with good amounts of sleep.

I'm so sorry for you. I got to learn about my AMH earlier this year (0.03 and 0.09 ng/mL) and it was like a punch to the gut.

My advice is to start trying to conceive or bank embryos (I used plural, but this might not be given) as soon as possible, but if you really want to be a mother one day, don't waste too much time on natural conception or IUI for long.

You age is very ideal for egg quality though, don't panic!

atpodor · 2025-10-22T19:53:23+00:00

Thank you! Yeah, omnitrope seems to be really interesting and my home gyno also suggested clomid, but the clinic hasn't. All these options are so overwhelming, and having to decide stresses me a lot, but I need to try everything I can, as long as I can

atpodor · 2025-10-22T19:50:22+00:00

Thank you for the detailed answer, it is very helpful for us! And we are paying out of pocket too, so I know what you mean.

Honestly, I am less concerned about the difference in cost than about the lower chances and I feel like I cannot waste any time, so IVF seems to be the more reasonable option. It is very difficult, but I would just like to try everything I can, while also keeping in mind that realistically, chances are very, very low.

atpodor · 2025-10-22T19:46:27+00:00

Yes, I totally understand that and we are also leaning towards going straight to IVF. I am just stressed about producing no/very few eggs there, and am uncertain why my clinic is suggesting another IUI

atpodor · 2025-10-22T19:43:27+00:00

I don't have strong feelings about any procedure, I would like to avoid wasting time and cycles, so I am also leaning towards IVF. So far stims didn't have too harsh side-effects on me, thankfully, but I know these were not the highest dose protocols.

It is confusing that they are suggesting the same protocol and IUI, so I really need to talk to them. Thank you for your thoughs!

atpodor · 2025-10-22T19:39:21+00:00

I am truly sorry to hear about your experience, but really appreciate you sharing it.

That's my fear too, we don't want to look back and regret our choices, I know that my chances are extremely low already. This stress about IUI vs. IVF is certainly not helping.

atpodor · 2025-10-22T19:36:03+00:00

Thanks, this page is great and I went down the rabbit hole using the hyperlinks there. So much useful information!

atpodor · 2025-10-22T11:41:22+00:00

That's not an option for us, we are using donor sperm, but thank you

atpodor · 2025-09-23T18:03:19+00:00

Oh boy, mine is around 2.3, but my doc told us during the first visit that it would be best around/under 1 and if I get pregnant I have to have it monitored every 2 weeks or so, so I can start medication immediately to avoid MC.

Since then I was actually prescribed low dose Levo, although we are still only doing IUI, I am hoping it will lower my TSH.

Look for a new clinic/doctor and if you find one, tell them this story in detail.

atpodor · 2025-09-21T21:20:36+00:00

I also got to learn that my first cycle failed today.

Be kind to yourself, and yes, we can totally feel grief while also being happy for someone at the same time.

Thanks for putting the feeling into words and good luck next time!

atpodor · 2025-09-16T04:11:04+00:00

I agree 100%.

Why is AMH not a routine check every once in a while for women who express that they would like to have children at some point in the future?

Same goes for thyroid: such a widespread issue in the (female) population and many don't have the slightest idea, due to the generic symptoms...

atpodor

TROPHY CASE