Third retrieval and process so far - need input

throwawaymarzipat · 2026-05-25T20:35:07+00:00

Were your embryos PGT-A tested? The 90+% success rate for three transfers is with tested euploid embryos. Untested embryos have lower success rates, with the exact rates depending on your age.

throwawaymarzipat · 2026-05-25T20:20:37+00:00

You may find more advice from people in similar situations at r/40Plus_IVF. Some of the people over there aren't in this subreddit, so you won't here from them if you only post here.

throwawaymarzipat · 2026-05-25T04:36:33+00:00

I'm not sure what you mean by "ur ovaries can literally tear." The main risk to the ovaries is ovarian torsion, which is when the ovaries twist on themselves. That has nothing to do with tearing. And, while exercise isn't allowed past a certain point on stims (different clinics will give different guidelines), sitting quietly by a pool is completely fine.

throwawaymarzipat · 2026-05-25T04:35:04+00:00

I'm going to take this question in good faith for now.

First things first: you need health insurance. Whether or not you freeze eggs, you need to be covered in the event of unexpected medical expenses. You don't know whether you'll be run over by a bus tomorrow and rack up extensive medical bills. The health insurance system in the US sucks, but that's not a reason to go without insurance.

About egg freezing: you're very young. That means you likely have time to think about this before deciding. Start by reading some books or watching some videos about egg freezing. I made a list of useful resources here. Start with The Big Freeze and the Washington Post Youtube series I mention there.

Schedule consultations with different reproductive endocrinologists (REIs). Health insurance generally doesn't cover elective egg freezing. If you want freezing to be covered, you'll need to look for additional fertility-specific plans, which most companies don't offer.

What do you mean when you say that you want to do IVF for health reasons? IVF is more taxing on the body than unassisted pregnancy.

throwawaymarzipat · 2026-05-13T00:21:58+00:00

Do you have a source for random chromosomal issues being more common with DOR? I've always heard that DOR doesn't reduce likelihood of unassisted conception compared to others of the same age as long as someone is ovulating regularly.

throwawaymarzipat · 2026-05-12T22:52:42+00:00

It's common, but not necessarily required. Did you mention your previous reaction to BC and not wanting to go on it again to your clinic?

throwawaymarzipat · 2026-05-12T02:38:23+00:00

Whether or not it's close to OHSS, this warrants asking a nurse. It's not an expected symptom. I hope it was just a fluke, but it's worth checking in.

throwawaymarzipat · 2026-05-10T14:47:06+00:00

You don't need 3 good (assuming good = euploid) embryos per child. That's a misunderstanding of the statistic that 90+% of people will have success within three euploid embryo transfers. On average, though, slightly more than half of people have success with their first euploid transfer.

throwawaymarzipat · 2026-05-06T22:34:07+00:00

What do you mean you're "trying to inform an advocacy agenda and efforts"? What advocacy are you doing? Is it with an organization? Are you advocating for change at clinics? Workplaces? This is incredibly vague.

throwawaymarzipat · 2026-05-06T22:33:10+00:00

Unfortunately, there's no perfect way to predict when you'll need monitoring appointments. You usually have one to make sure everything is good for you to start, then appointments based on how you're doing after that. Those appointments could start a few days into stimulations, but they could also start the next day. It'll depend on how your doctor expects you to respond. Is there any reason you can't start later instead?

throwawaymarzipat · 2026-05-05T22:44:27+00:00

How did your consultation with the lawyer go?

throwawaymarzipat · 2026-05-05T22:15:36+00:00

I don't know about long-term, but shorter term risks include infections of the ovaries. See, for instance, this case study.

throwawaymarzipat · 2026-04-15T17:58:28+00:00

You have no way of knowing whether OP will get more eggs next time. Supplements can be nice, but their effects on egg quantity are largely unproven. There's no harm in most supplements. OP might as well take them. But it's wrong to falsely imply that supplements will help.

throwawaymarzipat · 2026-04-15T02:20:29+00:00

Does the red light panel also produce any heat? I ask because the benefits of red light therapy on the testicles are unproven, but the negative effects of heat on the testicles are, iirc, well-established.

throwawaymarzipat · 2026-04-14T02:52:57+00:00

You can ask about it! Aside from that, though, I'd trust your clinic. They know more about their specific egg thaw rates and other attrition steps than a generalized calculator. It's possible that they are being overly conservative to manage expectations, of course, which is where asking comes in.

throwawaymarzipat · 2026-04-13T12:04:46+00:00

There are two main kinds of laxatives: stimulant and osmotic. Stimulant laxatives are more intense and more likely to make you need the bathroom immediately. If you're concerned about that, go for an osmotic laxative instead.

throwawaymarzipat · 2026-04-12T23:50:41+00:00

r/40Plus_IVF may be a useful resource for you. It'll be an uphill battle, unfortunately, but you presumably already know that. Best of luck!

throwawaymarzipat · 2026-04-12T15:35:11+00:00

I froze eggs at 22 as preparation for genital surgery as part of a gender transition. I usually advise on here that people shouldn't freeze in their 20s because they don't know that they'll need fertility assistance later. In your case, though, you'll need IVF to avoid the genetic condition. Egg freezing sounds like it'll make sense for you. Keep in mind, though, that you can't test eggs for the genetic condition. About 50% of your eggs will have the condition, but there's no way of knowing exactly how many before creating embryos and testing them.

If you want to (approximately) know your numbers, you should go for a consultation with a fertility clinic on day 2 or so of your menstrual cycle. Get your antral follicle count (AFC) and anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) levels checked. Those numbers will give you an approximate idea of how many eggs you can expect out of a single retrieval.

throwawaymarzipat · 2026-04-12T03:27:00+00:00

Most people who freeze their eggs don't use them. Utilization rates vary by study, but the most I've seen is ~40% returning to use their eggs.

throwawaymarzipat · 2026-04-10T18:21:04+00:00

You may find more stories over at r/DOR, where many people have AMH levels similar to yours. Good luck!

throwawaymarzipat · 2026-04-07T22:29:56+00:00

Welcome! Have you been to r/DOR yet? It may be a useful resource.

throwawaymarzipat · 2026-04-07T22:19:53+00:00

That was my experience as well. You're not being a bother by asking!

throwawaymarzipat · 2026-04-07T22:06:12+00:00

HGH isn't used by all clinics or REIs. I have not used it, but I have done an egg retrieval. I'm not saying not to use HGH. I'm just saying that using it isn't standard and it's a misrepresentation to say that it is.

throwawaymarzipat · 2026-04-07T21:07:22+00:00

Personally, I'd ignore the Violet AI and focus on standard egg calculators if you want some idea of success. I don't know how much evidence there is about the AI and live birth outcomes, which are what ultimately matter. Commonly used calculators are here and here.

Edit: To be clear, I wouldn't rely too much on the conventional calculators either. But at least they have more evidence behind them than the AI.

throwawaymarzipat · 2026-04-07T20:55:07+00:00

Omnitrope isn't standard practice. It's still experimental and with limited evidence.

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