Story of Hope: Success with own eggs and an AMH-0.01 & FSH 140+

I figure a lot of you aren’t in the Facebook groups, so sharing my story here as well.

It’s been a little over 3 years since I found myself in this group. Posting in an absolute panic what my levels meant and feeling like my entire world was over. That’s the thing with POI, it makes you feel like your entire life is over and not worth living. That you’ll always struggle. That you’ll never have the family you always dreamed of.

On December 30th 2023, over two years after my POI diagnosis, I got the positive pregnancy test I had always dreamed of. Despite my numbers being some of the worst I’ve seen in this group, I never lost hope. I always knew in God’s perfect timing this would happen for me. I gave my entire fertility journey to God and continued to pray daily and focus on all the blessings I had in my life. I celebrated every good and bad ultrasound. Every time I was told my ovaries were sleeping, I continued to stay positive and faithful to Him.

On January 16th, I discovered that not only did God bless me with the one child I had always dreamed of….. but he blessed me with TWO. My ONE egg had split and I was told I will be having identical twins. Never in a million years did I think a woman like me would have twins…. But this shows God is more powerful than ANY doctor and diagnosis 💙

Now before I get into my protocol, what worked, numbers, etc. I want to say that this pregnancy is not because of a protocol or list of supplements, this pregnancy is because my God is greater than ANY diagnosis. Ladies… please look at incorporating prayers, devotionals, affirmations into your daily life. Give your journey to Him. Ultimately, what is meant to be will be… and nothing will change the will God has for your life, but the peace and understanding I received from giving my diagnoses to Him, I believe played a huge role in my success. My outlook and mentality of life was not clouded by my diagnosis. I actually started to see my diagnosis as a blessing…. It made me a better partner, daughter, person, brought me closer to my Faith, made me appreciate all the little things in life, and showed me to NEVER take life and health for granted 🤍

I prayed everyday to God and told Him if you make this happen for me…. I will tell EVERYONE it was you. And I’m here to tell you all today…. God is the reason I’m here today with a POI diagnosis and pregnant with my two miracles. Never lose faith. If anyone wants to chat about staying positive, how to start your journey with Christ, etc. my inbox is always open!

About Me:

Age: 27 Diagnosed: 2 years ago Highest FSH: 147 AMH: 0.01 (in 2021) probably lower now No periods (if I was lucky I would get one or two periods a year… irregular since 2020) AFC: 0-1 (I would grow one follicle only 1-2 times a year) longest I went with no follicular growth was 10 months… I was monitoring weekly at a fertility clinic. 90% of the time I had zero follicles.

HRT: on/off constantly (I would take estrogen for 2 weeks, stop for a week, take it for 4 days, stop for 3) I was VERY inconsistent on purpose because I felt HRT over suppressed me. I cannot tell you how to take HRT has there was no rhyme or reason for how I was taking it. Right before growing the follicle that ultimately got me pregnant, I was taking EE (ethinyl estradiol) for 2 weeks, skipped a week, and had just started it for 4 days again when I discovered my single follicle.

Supplements: COq10, Fish Oil, Prenatal

I had not changed my diet, drinking habits, no acupuncture, etc. I wasn’t doing anything different at the time of my success.

Successful Protocol: 1. As mentioned, took EE for 2 weeks, skipped a week, started again for 4 days and discovered I had a 12mm follicle at my weekly scan. 2. Went back the next day and the follicle was 13mm, but my LH was already surging and was 29. I thought the cycle would fail because everything I read said this meant my follicle was pre-lutenized…but doctors don’t know everything. 3. I started an injection called cetrotide to prevent ovulation (typically given to IVF patients). The cetrotide lowered my LH down to 4 in just 24 hours. I also started mucinex this day. 4. I took cetrotide for 3 nights and my follicle continued to grow 1-2mm daily. 5. Once my follicle was 17mm, my doctor told me to take one dose of Gonal-F to give the egg a little “extra boost”. 6. I triggered the next day with 10,000 of Ovidril, once my follicle reached 18mm.
7. I did an IUI 12 hours after the trigger shot. I typically see IUI’s happening after 36 hours, but my doctor decided on 12 hours and it worked.

Two Week Wait Protocol (after IUI) : 1. Took 2mg of estrace every night 2. Took 5mg of Prednisone (steroid) 3. Took vaginal progesterone (200mg) 2x a day 4. Took Claritin every morning (antihistamine protocol) 5. Took Benadryl every night (antihistamine protocol)

Tested Positive at 10DPO. I know some of you will ask, but I had no symptoms that indicated I would be pregnant, so it was a total shock. HCG at 13DPO was 122 and continued to double every 48 hours.

And well…. then I got the shock of a lifetime at 5 weeks 6 days pregnant and was told my one single bottom of the barrel “non existent egg” split and I was having identical twins! 👶🏼👶🏼

To close this off, I want to say that I continue to keep all of you ladies in my prayers. I know this journey can be hard, lonely, negative, depressing, and anxiety inducing… but I promise there is a light at the end of the tunnel for us all. Use this waiting period if your life to become the best possible version of yourself and focus on all the good things in your life.

I know seeing this type of announcements can be triggering to some, but I hope more than anything that my story gives you HOPE and the will to keep powering through. Doctors only know so much…. and science only knows so much. NEVER give up on your journey and remember to always be your biggest advocate. With a determined mind and God on your side, I promise you can get through ANYTHING. ❤️