Why I Blog
My husband and I were given a 1% chance of conceiving on our own – all because of one hormone level: AMH.
I am finding it very difficult to talk about infertility and reproductive assistance with others, but it seems that every time I do, I learn more and gain strength.
Being diagnosed with infertility of any kind is brutal. When searching for others who were in my situation, I found many single posts on fertility blogs, but not many journeys through the process of Low AMH testing, diagnosis, treatments, and future outcomes.
After my miscarriage in early 2012, I followed my own curiosities about an MTHFR gene mutation and actually tested positive. This mutation can prevent a body from properly utilizing B vitamins (this is critical since folic acid is a B vitamin). Due to my MTHFR homozygous c677t diagnosis, I have added folate but not folic acid. I changed my prenatal to a food-based vitamin so the folate is food-based and more easily used by my body. I have added an additional folate as methylfolate, b-12 as methylcobalamin, and b-6 as p-5-p (pyridoxal-5′-phosphate). All these forms of b vitamins are more easily used. I also take a low dose aspirin each day.
*Update: As of May 2015, I was also diagnosed with Asherman’s Syndrome, grade IV – there is no grade V. My careful doc and surgeon has done amazing work to restore function to my endometrial lining, with the help of pharmaceuticals, surgery, and hormone therapy, I was able to grow a lining of 7.2. There is hope.
I would love to prove statistics wrong and make the infertility journey for someone else much shorter.
I am hoping that what I have learned and will learn can help another person as they search for answers in their own journey.
One Percent Chance 
Jan 24, 2012 @ 11:32:49
I will learn, understand and get inspiration from your story. I am 31 and diagnosed POF. Dis not generate any follies on my last IUI. Would love to know what you did to get here. Congratulations!
Jan 24, 2012 @ 20:10:52
I hope my story can help. I’ve learned that there is no magic fix. It will all take time, but in the end, I know I will be happy no matter what the outcome. I will know I have done my best. (And I’m loving the acupuncture – makes me feel better inside and out even if nobody else can tell a difference)!
Jul 06, 2013 @ 02:56:21
Hi there,
I have just stumbled upon your blog and couldn’t believe some of the similarities between your situation and mine. I am 30yrs old (1 month older than you) and live in Australia. My AMH was undetectable 1 yr ago but fortunately It appears that I still have a few follicles and eggs remaining. I am compound heterozygous MTHFR C667T/A1298C. I was similarly told I had next to no chance of pregnancy and to expect menopause within the next few years. This came as a huge surprise given that I had naturally conceived my daughter when I was 27 after the first try. Since then I had 1 early miscarriage and 3 ectopic pregnancieslast year (all naturally conceived). Given that I no longer have Fallopian tubes (following the ectopics), IVF is now my only option. Although my thyroid levels are normal, I have thyroid antibodies so I am prescribed 50mcg thyroxine for support. My first IVF cycle in Feb this year (long protocol) only produced 4 follicles despite being on the highest dose of Gonal F (450). Surprisingly all 4 eggs retrieved fertilised and 3 blastocytes resulted. One transferred (others didn’t make it to freeze) – BFN. Second IVF cycle in April (short protcol without birth control pills this time) retrieved 10 eggs, 8 fertilised, 6 blastocytes, 1 transferred (4 frozen) – chemical pregnancy. Currently waiting on first beta HCG tomorrow following FET this month (but got a positive HPT today). I have switched to methylfolate and folinic acid a few days ago post my MTHFR diagnosis – thinking of adding in P5P and methylcobalamin to the regime. I am also on daily enoxaparin (clexane) injections this cycle and had acupunture pre and post transfer. I haven’t done PGD yet but this is the next step if my current cycle fails.
Anyway… enough about me. Just wanted to reach out and say congratulations on your pregnancy and to thank you for taking the time to share your experiences on your blog. I find it so comforting to know that I am not the only person dealing with premature diminished reserve and confusing gene mutations :-/
All the best,
Liz
Jul 06, 2013 @ 19:03:33
Thanks, Liz! It sounds like you are on the right track. Hoping you get your take-home baby this time. Keep in touch!
Nov 05, 2013 @ 03:16:32
Just a quick update. I am now 22wks pregnant! AMH clearly isn’t everything. Glad to see your pregnancy is progressing well. All the best. x
Nov 05, 2013 @ 18:35:55
That is just the BEST news! Congrats! Thank you SO MUCH for sharing your update. I wish you a happy and healthy 3rd trimester – it’s coming quickly : )
Aug 21, 2013 @ 03:04:14
37 years old, was hoping to freeze my eggs and both FSH and AMH came back off the charts low. So devastated. I never intentionally forsook the pursuit of family, it was always a dream and now I don’t know how to deal with this devastating news, and to do it alone.
Aug 21, 2013 @ 07:58:57
Hi Lisa. It’s not the end. The news is completely crushing and I wish those who say things like that to people like us would have some sensitivity and give us inspiration rather than focus on scaring us into doing something. Don’t give up on your dream to have children.
Aug 21, 2013 @ 03:05:43
The doc said I have one percent chance of getting pregnant naturally. Which is what led me to search out your blog.
Aug 21, 2013 @ 08:01:18
Why do they say things like that? It’s just awful. What does it really mean anyway? I found a new clinic that didn’t fixate on the negative and instead focused on what they could do for me. I hope you can find somewhere that will support you. I’m still on this road but I will answer any questions you have any time.
Oct 31, 2013 @ 08:44:15
I am so happy I found your blog! My husband and I are going through PGD (my husband is a carrier for fragile x syndrome). As soon as I read it my heart sank into my stomach and tears began to well in my eyes! FINALLY someone who did what we are about to go through! Congratulations on the pregnancy! I AM intently reading all of your blog posts and seeing myself in each word – God is good, he led me to the comfort of your blog :) We start our lupron on Nov. 11 then the transfer (due to PGD ) will be at the end of Jan. Long wait, but I am hoping the wait is worth it!
Nov 01, 2013 @ 20:33:37
I agree! It feels like such a long wait between retrieval and transfer, but I was so glad I had time to get my body back to happy again after the retrieval. I will be thinking of you and hoping you’ll update me with your results.
Dec 21, 2015 @ 10:06:08
Thank you for keeping up the blog! I’m 29, all blood data similar to you, Day 3 FSH 5.4, but AMH 0.93. On top of that I carry an inversion on one of my X chromosomes. So sounds like chances are even lower. But seeing your results gave us hope — I’d really like to find out whether AMH 0.93 means going into menopause in 3 years…
Dec 21, 2015 @ 13:07:29
Wow! Well, I’d love to tell you that 4 years after my initial diagnosis with low AMH, I’m cycling regularly, but I can’t help you out… as you can see. Nobody really knows WHAT is going on with my body, but I have a thriving baby boy who amazes me every day, so I’d like to think we beat the odds on this one.
My best advice is to find a doc who doesn’t let the AMH scare them. My current doc didn’t focus on my slim chances. He focused on his supreme abilities and that completely changed my mindset. No longer was I the problem, but I was now in the hands of a very skilled doc who would do everything he could to send me home with a baby.
There is a lot to say about the success and the power of positive thinking (I know, it’s really hard to do when you’re facing all this).
Please, keep me updated on your situation. Sending you lots of love!
Dec 22, 2015 @ 18:58:22
At AMH 0.93, my AFC is same as yours too — 13 (no meds). Did you ever check your Vitamin D level? I’m a little low on that and supposedly Vitamin D is needed to activate AMH gene. May I ask for the 13 fertilized eggs did you used ICSI or natural fertilization or half and half? I just started acupunture and Chinese herbs. Will keep you posted my situation. Doctor seems to think my case is gene related given my X inversion. But no one knows for sure… Have you ever checked for reproductive immunology issues? Though highly unlikely, my acupuncturist mentioned some women’s body may produce antibodies to attack the ovaries. My acupunturist seems fairly positive for my case… Even suggest keep trying natural. We’ll see…
Dec 22, 2015 @ 21:01:03
My vitamin D is checked each time and it’s never been an issue (but I have been supplementing for a few years anyway). We used ICSI because my doc didn’t want to chance them not fertilizing naturally. Acupuncture is my favorite. I don’t know that it made a difference physically, but I can confirm, without a doubt, that my mental well-being benefitted from it in a big way. No immunology issues for me. They checked those out, too.
I do have a genetic mutation that affects my ability to utilize B vitamins (MTHFR). To treat it, I take low dose aspirin and a different form and higher amounts of B12, B6 and folate.