Tuesday, December 21, 2010

ICLW

Welcome! I had put myself on the last ICLW, only to discover that my baby had died 2 days into it.  Needless to say, not much commenting got done. This time I want to actually participate.

To sum up, I started 2010 eager to become a mommy. Given my age (30), my family history (a bunch of bunnies all) and initial testing results, I confidently thought it would be a breeze. Well, the good news, I got pregnant both times I tried. The bad, I lost both my angels, late in the first trimester.  Two pregnancy losses in less than 6 months can either shatter you or make you stronger and tougher than you were before. Thankfully, the latter has happened. I'm facing demons I never thought I'd never have to face, or more to the point, never could face; recurrent pregnancy loss, the possibility that I might never have biological children, and I'm still standing. 

The other thing, I'm a science geek. I'm an immunologist and am intimately familiar with human biology to start with. Now, after countless hours of reading, inventive google searches, trawling of message boards etc  I've learned enough about reproductive science to give REs a run for their money.   A lot of this blog is about the science and the mechanics of it all, and if any of you want to wade thorough it, there is a lot of discussion on things like PCOS, thyroid issues, egg quality etc. Though I'm really scared, I'm also fascinated by the biology and love talking about diagnosis, treatments, clues, both my own and anybody else's!

So welcome, and I look forward to reading your stories!
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The rest of this post is actually about science stuff (indulge me and read if you feel upto it!)

On Vitamin D and AMH

It looked like I might have PCOS which was compromising egg quality.  To investigate this further, we tested AMH, a hormone that seems to be elevated in women with PCOS. To my utter horror, AMH levels came back low, similar to that of a 37 year old's.  Interestingly, I had also found that I was Vitamin D3 deficient (I think every woman who has undiagnosed fertility problems and is not a lifeguard or something similar should get this one checked out).

On a hunch, I decided to look whether there was any link between VitaminD3 and AMH.  A google search yielded one single clue, this article (which basically says that vitamin D3 is capable of stimulating AMH production) written by a group at Stanford University.

I wrote to the scientists explaining my situation of low AMH and vitamin D3, and asked them if they knew of any studies correlating the two, and whether they were planning to do any.    This is the response I got back:

Thanks for your message which I will forward to Dr. Malloy.
The original connection of AMH and PCOS we made was not based on a study but an unusual finding we made in a child with a mutation in his vitamin D receptor. In other subsequent work it is clear that in some organs of the body, vitamin D stimulates AMH. There is no proof that vitamin d deficiency causes AMH deficiency. In any case, you should have your vitamin D deficiency treated. If it turns out that your AMH rises after treatment, I hope that you will let me know. We have considered such a study but to my knowledge no data bearing on this point are yet available.


It was definitely my POA to restore D3 to normal levels and then retest AMH. It is kind of exciting to know that if AMH goes up,  my story might assist in starting a new study which might end up identifying a major problem, if D3 indeed regulates AMH.  Its a pretty long shot, but at this point, a logical one.

Plus, I'm praying AMH goes up, I do not want to be saddled with a rapidly falling ovarian reserve at age 30 , that would really, really suck. So I'm praying Vitamin D is the answer that will fix all my problems, because right now, I have no other candidates to play biological white knight.

Disclaimer: I've had many theories, always inventive and sometimes even logical in the past few months.  Each and every one of them has been shot down by the evil universe.  The mental image I have of the process is Peeves the Poltergeist zooming over my head, laughing maniacally as he drops dung bombs on my theories.  One day, I will be right about something- looking forward to it!

22 comments:

  1. Happy first ICLW! I will be sure to take some extra doses of D3, though I never noticed my AMH being a problem. Hrm.

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  2. I started taking Vitamin D supplements in the fall of 2009 because of an article a family member read that it minimizes SAD...I wonder now if it also aided in my getting pregnant...I don't recall if I had my AMH tested...very interesting.

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  3. Happy ICLW, Jay. I'll be interested to see if your AMH goes up too - keep us in the loop. As always, I'm praying for you and hoping that this new year brings you answers and a strong, healthy pregnancy.

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  4. Oh, I'm so excited I found your blog! I have low AMH and recurrent pregnancy loss too, and while I'm a linguist, I'm fascinated by science and the human body. Oooh, I'm so excited to read some of your prior posts!

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  5. I'm really excited to read your posts, I also have recurrent loss (current tally, 3 in a 6-month period) and some auto-immune issues (1:640 ANAs, but nothing else comes up a true positive, only slightly elevated but not enough to mean anything)
    I'll be really interested to read about some of the science behind all of this!

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  6. Good luck with this Jay, how long are you going to wait before the repeat AMH and what dose of D3 are you taking? Regardless of how or why, I do hope the AMH goes up for you!

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  7. I forgot to thank you for your comment! You are right about these blogs, and twitter...I have spent hours online! It has been such an amazing source of therapy and I only wish I had discovered this world a year ago. Pouring out my heartache and negative thoughts into my blog has made me so much more positive in my real life. The support here is unconditional and non-judgemental, which is what we all need. I hope you have a relaxing holiday and wish you all the every best with your AMH/D3 trial :)

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  8. Jay, you are so proactive in taking care of your health... you must drive your doctors crazy..:) But, it is important that you take charge of your health.

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  9. @Arohanui, I'm taking 50000 IU Vitamin D per week. This is one recommended dosage for correction at my deficiency level. It is recommended that levels be rechecked after 2 months.

    Baby Chase, haha, yes, doctors don't get happy when you have very decided opinions on everything! But I'm really glad I am the way I am, at least it gives me some illusion of control.

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  10. Here from ICLW!

    Good for you for taking charge and researching! I have heard many success stories from ladies who don't just listen to their doctors do their own research and are their own advocates!!

    Happy Holidays and Happy ICLW
    #50

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  11. stopping by from iclw (#100). oh my gosh. i'm so sorry for your losses. i'm glad that you are growing in the face of devastation, though. that's all you can do, right? and so interesting that you are an immunologist! i'm an armchair RE... ie, i have a human science background, but dont' work in the field and i find myself obsessed with research journal articles to help me :-) so it sounds like i'll be visiting more often!... happy holidays

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  12. So sorry for your losses. I know first hand all the demons that come out of the word work in the aftermath. You've definitely snagged a new follower! I hope that 2011 brings you a successful pregnancy and a rainbow baby to turn your world upside down! Lots of hope and love from ICLW #110!

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  13. Does any one know if the AMH Leveld os ICLW and Jay got increased after taking the Vitamin D3. Please let us know as that will help us a lot.

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  14. Kavitha, yes, if you look at later posts and the "science of infertility' and 'Timeline' pages you can see that yes, my AMH DID go up, from 1.1 to 5.6 ng/ml, when my vitamin D increased from 17 ng/ml to about 70 ng/ml.

    If you have  had low AMH result, and you are trying to figure out if this is falsely low, you should get 2 things tested

    Antral follicle counts (more antral follicles= more AMH= more eggs left, and vice versa)
    Vitamin D levels

    If you have a normal or high # of antral follicles and you have low vitamin D3 levels, then your situation may be similar to mine.

    But if you have a low antral follicle count and your AH results are correspondingly low, then you may just have diminished ovarian reserve.

    Even if this is the case, and you do find you are Vitamin D3 deficient, please correct it because I think this will improve your chances no matter what your ovarian reserve is like.

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  15. Thank you for sharing this and I am very sorry for your losses. I just had low AMH come back this week, but separately in earlier blood tests my Vitamin D is very low and 2 weeks ago Dr put me on tablets. Fingers x'd the Vitmin D is messing with my AMH. I will ask my Dr about the other tests you suggested.

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  16. I just got back from Fert Doc yesterday afternoon, 37 yrs old no children yet, AMH .79, Vit D 20, 4 eggs on left 7 on the right agh! Sono and HSG very good, 2 hr GTT wasnt too hot either @ 91-144-101, hence starting Metformin tomorrow and will start Vitamin D drops too. I am scared, looking at IUI soon want to get up to snuff with insulin and D levels first for 2-3 months, hope all is not lost, think I will get a fertility bracelet :-/

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  17. Hi Jay
    I just wanted to get a suggestion/advice from ur side .Since I am also on the same boat.I have low amh of 1.4 and my dr has adviced me to go with Vitamin D3 of 60000IU weekly. I am not Vitamin D3 deficient as per my previous year health check up.Actually I dont know my D3 values.So my question is it safe to take 60000 IU weekly , since I dont have a defciency.Do I need to check my levels first before proceeding..Pls let me know
    Thanks

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  18.  Hi Selena, ,60000 weekly is a massive dose,  and I've never advocated such large doses without testing your vitamin D levels and then supplementing with what you need to bring it to the 30-45 ng/ml range.

    Just blindly supplementing, with such large doses, is irresponsible IMO, because Vitamin D is a hormone that regulates 1000s of processes in your body, getting too high is definitely not a good idea.

    Best of luck!

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  19.  Hi Jay
    Thanks a lot for your suggestion.As per ur advice I had a test on my vitamin d levels.My D2 level is 6 and D3 16 .Overall 22
    So I am vitamin d deficient.My dr suggested to take ergocalciferol 50000iu per week for 8 weeks and thereafter 2000iu daily
    But what I have read from internet is to go for chlecalciferol , thats the best for the body .
    Do u have any suggestions on this related to infertility , my AMH level is 1.4.
    Also I have been asked to take DHEA 75Mg per day y my RE , He never check for the DHEA Levels before prescribing
    Is it ok to take them for 3 months?

    Please provide me with your inputs on this.Thanks a lot for ur reply

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  20.  Hi Jay
    Thanks a lot for your reply
    I had my vitamin D level checked.The results are D2-6,D3-16 , Total -22.So My RE had asked me to go for ergocalciferol 50000iu per week for 8 weeks and thereafter 2000 iu daily.I would like to get a suggestion from your side if I have to go for ergocalciferol or not? Upon my knowledge cholecalciferol is best for the body , thats what one of my previous RE also suggested.MY AMH is 1.4.Whats ur opinion on this?
    One more thing I am also asked to take 75mg of DHEA to improve my AMH level .My RE Never check for DHEA Levels before prescribing .Do u have any idea if this is safe to take without checking levels.
    Thanks.Waiting for ur reply

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  21.  Hi Jay
    Thanks a lot for your reply
    I had my vitamin D level
    checked.The results are D2-6,D3-16 , Total -22.So My RE had asked me to
    go for ergocalciferol 50000iu per week for 8 weeks and thereafter 2000
    iu daily.I would like to get a suggestion from your side if I have to go
    for ergocalciferol or not? Upon my knowledge cholecalciferol is best
    for the body , thats what one of my previous RE also suggested.MY AMH is
    1.4.Whats ur opinion on this?
    One more thing I am also asked to take
    75mg of DHEA to improve my AMH level .My RE Never check for DHEA Levels
    before prescribing .Do u have any idea if this is safe to take without
    checking levels.
    Thanks.Waiting for ur reply

    ReplyDelete
  22. Hi Jay
    Checked my vitamin D Lveles.They are D2-6,D316 , Total 22.so i am deficeint.My RE prescribed ergocalciferol 50000iu per week for 8 weeks and then 2000 iu daily.Bu would like to get a suggestion from ur side if I have to go for ergocalciferol or cholecalciferol .I have read that cholecalciferol is the best .My AMH level is 1.4.
    Whats ur opinion .?
    Also I am asked to take DHEA 75 Mg.My RE never check for my DHEA Levels before prescribing.Any idea if is safe to have them without checking
    Ur opinions will be highly appreciated
    Thanks

    ReplyDelete