Hi everyone. I met with my RE today as a follow up to my third failed IVF cycle. I did get the 20% success rate talk and then the 40% chance of miscarriage but she is willing to cycle me. Maybe even twice before I turn 40 (4 months) and insurance drops me. She also finally suggested that hubby and I take a "carrier" test as well as fragile x. Apparently this takes several weeks to come back so the cycle will start without it. I am going to be doing the same EPP/high stims protocol again because I have responded reasonably well. One thing she suggested was that I get a second opinion. I am at a very good clinic and am pretty sure that any of the other standard clinics around me, are going to say the same thing. I have tried both of the major protocols for poor responders. Any of the MA ladies have a suggestion on where I should go for this second opinion? Also, how does everyone on this board feel about acupuncture? I think I have decided to stop. It is costing a fortune and not really sure it's having any benefit. Thanks ladies.

Hi MrsKH- Are you thinking about getting a second opinion in MA or elsewhere? I think you go to Br.igham now? I think you might even see the doctor I had for my 1st cycle. If you want to stay in MA for the consult, I liked Dr. W.old at F.ertility Solutions when I did my monitoring, or I know others had a good experience with C.ardone but I don't have any personal experience with them. F.ertility Solutions vitrifies I believe, which is a bonus. They don't have any SART data b/c they're too new, but all the docs came from R.SC.

As for acupuncture, it is indeed very expensive (well, cheap compared to what medical doctors charge, but without insurance it's tough) but I really like mine and I actually think it's been helping. I've had really normal cycles and my FSH has lowered in the past few months I've been going. That may be a total coincidence, but I know I at least feel better after I go. I'm not sure where in MA you're from, but he's in Brookline if you're interested. But that being said, with all the expenses related to all of the IF related treatment, I can understand wanting to stop. Good luck with everything!

Thanks for the response Erin. I am at Bringham. I think for right now I need to stay in MA. My RE suggested Fertility Solutions or MA general. Can you tell me more about what they do when they vitrify. I have never heard of that. I know McIrish suggested Cardone so now I have two possible people to see.

I don't enjoy the acupuncture that's the problem. The first cycle that we did it, we got much better results than with our first IVF cycle. So, for the last cycle I was afraid to stop doing acupuncture. However, I think the change in success was probably really due to the change in protocol and not the acupuncture.

Okay, now I can't remember if she said RSC or Fertility Solutions...Ugh!

I have heard mixed things about R.SC and their lab. Vitrification is a newer process of embryo freezing if you have extra (which I'm think you might have since you said you had a good response to the high stim?) where the thaw rate tends to be in the 90%s vs. maybe 60%s for slow-freeze (what they do at Br.igham and really, most other places including C.ornell and C.ooper). If you don't have much of a chance to have extra embryos (I know I don't) it doesn't matter too much, but perhaps speaks to modern-ness of the lab. Dr. W.old was pretty encouraging about my situation (I have the same highest FSH that you do) in a way that my doc at B.righam really was not. In any case, I think it's worth checking them out for a 2nd opinion. Good luck!

Thanks Erin. I never have enough to freeze that's why I don't know about it. By a decent response I meant 4-8 eggs and 3 turning out good enough to implant. For me that was an accomplishment because my first IVF cycle was canceled due to only having two follicles and a very low Estrogen level. I will definitely keep Dr. Wold in mind.

Best of luck!

Mrs. KH- Dr. Wold at FS was my 2nd RE in Providence. I think she is only in Dedham once a week maybe? She is based at the Prov office. I like her and she did 3 of my IUI's. She is the one that sent me to Brigham when I had a secondary insurer that she didn't have an IVF contract with. She is also the one doing my local monitoring for my cycles with Dr. C.heck. I don't know that she would do anything different than you've had before. That's why I didn't do a consult for IVF now that I'm not claiming my secondary insurer.

Erin- I think you are a few years younger than us, right? I am 38 and Mrs. KH is 39. The reason I mention this is that Dr. W.old wasn't that encouraging to me with my numbers (17.3 FSH, AMH 0.3). Since you are younger in your 30's your eggs in general are probably better than ours? Of course Mrs. KH's eggs are better than mine too as she responded better and had good quality embies...I'll just shut up now! LOL

But I believe the same doc who is giving Mrs.KH a 20% chance and willing to cycle her twice, essentially threw me out of the practice when my FSH hit 18 after one failed cycle at age 32, so maybe there's something better going on for you guys despite the age difference? I'm starting to wonder if she was just having a really bad day that day, since she went into a really long diatribe about her personal life and how it related to my case, and prior to that day had been relatively hopeful. Anyway, I'm off on a tangent... I guess the point was that for me, my B.righam Dr. "A" gave me the "DE only" speech where Dr. W.old expressed hope.

I guess my point is that maybe W.old was more encouraging to you due to a younger age whereas A.shby was more looking at your response. I also have a poor response and got the DE boot by B.righam and maybe less encouragment from W.old due to my age? That's my theory anyway:-) Mrs. KH may be better off than you and I since her embryos look good on paper and she gets more of them!!

I hear you, but Dr. A actually was reassuring about my chances after my 1st cycle, and only gave me the DE speech once she saw that my FSH went up to 18 (was previously 15) in the interim, which lead me to believe that she was booting me solely on the basis of the FSH. Again, it may not have been about me and she may just have been having a (really) bad day, since it was actually a very bizarre encounter, but that's really getting away from the point! Dr. W.old heard both my history and highest FSH and was positive about my chances. I guess that's the distinction I was making, if that makes sense...

Sorry I have been away for the past two days visiting my BFF who just adopted...so cute. Erin, I don't think she could have been booting you solely on the basis of your FSH. Mine has been 18.8 since I started IVF and she continues to cycle me. I really love Dr. RA but I realize she's not for everyone. She's pretty no nonsense...tell it like it is. I am the type of person that appreciates that but I can also see how others could take it as being discouraging. She has also made reference to me about her own personal struggles with IF and treatment. I actually find it comforting. I know it has absolutely no connection to her medical ability but I like feeling like she understands. Anyway, the reason I am considering a second opinion is not because I don't think she's a great RE but High FSH is not her specialty. If I'm getting another opinion, I want it from someone that has a different view or is going to think outside the box. Does that make sense?

It definitely makes sense, and not to harp on it, but her struggles with IF are not what she disclosed to me. It was something else personal, and she was comparing me to someone else in her personal life who I had very little in common with (I don't want to reveal her issues, but it was very off-topic and very much confused me and my DH). I also would be comforted by hearing about my RE's experience with IF, but this was not that. In terms of her being no nonsense, I also appreciated that... It was just when the "I think this will work" turned into "your only chance is with DE" followed by a long diatribe that was not about me (and the only thing that changed was my FSH going up to 18- we had already talked after my 1st cycle and she was still optimistic) that I started to feel mistrustful of her. That's why I wonder if it might have been this personal issue she was dealing with at the time, given that she seems okay with your FSH. I'm not saying she's a bad RE... This was just my experience.

In any case, I definitely didn't want to make this about me- I'm sorry. I just wanted to clarify where I was coming from because if I had had the experiences you're describing, I would not have had an issue. I think a second opinion is always wise, even if it just ends up reinforcing your first opinion so that you know you're doing the right thing. Wishing you lots of luck wherever you land!

Sorry to barge in but wanted to caution you about Ma.ss Gen...from the research I did and from some first hand accounts from other High FSHers it seems they are very High FSH unfriendly.
I am at Brigham too but prior had been referred to Cardone and to a doc at B.oston IVF.

Good luck!

Thank you! I wasn't leaning towards Mass General anyway. I had surgery there a few years ago (not IF related) and it wasn't the best experience. Thanks for the response.