Total number of antral follicles
| Expected response to injectable ovarian stimulating drug (FSH product) and chances for success |
Less than 4
| Extremely low count, very poor (or no) response to stimulation and a cancelled cycle expected. Should seriously consider not attempting IVF at all. Rare pregnancies if IVF attempted. |
4-7
| Low count, we are concerned about a possible/probable poor response to the stimulation drugs. Likely to need high doses of FSH product to stimulate ovaries adequately. Higher than average rate of IVF cycle cancellation. Lower than average pregnancy rates for those cases that make it to egg retrieval. The reduction in success rates is more pronounced beyond age 35. |
8-10
| Somewhat reduced count. Higher than average rate of IVF cycle cancellation. Slightly reduced chances for pregnancy as a group. |
11-14
| Normal (but intermediate) count, the response to drug stimulation is sometimes low, but usually good. Slight increased risk for IVF cycle cancellation. Pregnancy rates as a group only slightly reduced compared to the "best" group. |
15-26
| Normal (good) antral count, should have an excellent response to ovarian stimulation. Likely to respond well to low doses of FSH product. Very low risk for IVF cycle cancellation. Some risk for ovarian overstimulation. Best pregnancy rates overall as a group. |
Over 26
| High count, watch for polycystic ovary type of ovarian response. Likely to have a high response to low doses of FSH product. Higher than average risk for overstimulation. Very good pregnancy rate overall as a group, but some cases in the group have egg quality issues and lower chances for pregnancy. |
So far this puts me in the "excellent response" group but a little on the high end because there is usually a few follicles that you cannot see on the ultrasound. It's not expected that all of these will mature and the hope is that they won't so that I do not end up with OHSS(ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome) because in a situation like that the cycle could be canceled or they would freeze my eggs and we would need to wait to transfer them back. I need to really monitor what I eat and drink A LOT of water to help prevent this from happening. I will be started off on a lower dose of the stimulation meds. 75 units of Gonal-f and 1 vile of Menopur. I had a great response to 100mg of Clomid so it isn't expected to take much to make my eggs grow. I feel pretty good about the dosage. I was extremely worried about over-suppression so I was so happy to see so many follicles this morning. Restores my faith in the program. I was beginning to feel like a number not a patient. Although I still do feel a lot like a number...it truly is like a deli counter. I go up take a number..wait for my number to be called...get my blood done go back and wait to be called again. Everyone is extremely nice though and I understand their rush they have about 120 some patients in each cycle (that's only counting the females having the IVF done) and although they have quite a few doctors there are only two nurses. Some of the doctors are students who are already doctors but are continuing into reproductive endocrinology which is who we had this morning but the head doctors over see all of the student doctors.
So far we are off to a great start. This is no doubt going to be a very stressful time. Getting up at 3am this morning to make it there by 6:30 was awful. I am dreading having to do it again but for now it's what works for us. We will probably only do that three more times before I start staying up there. Life will get really crazy then. I'm a little more excited than nervous at the moment. That changes hourly but right now I feel like our chances are good. Everyone keep your fingers crossed for us and thank you all for your support.
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