Dealing with azoospermia?

[raelynn]

CM - I'm with Stinas on this. It took a long time for hubby and I to be able to discuss things without him shutting down but I stuck with it. You both need to get your personal feelings out on the table so you can see where the other one is coming from. Just keep trying and if it is too much, just set aside a little bit of time each week to talk things over. Eventually, you two will have to weight your options and come up with a decision together. Marriage is all about communication and compromise. Infertility just puts a lot more strain on everything but once you work through it, it will be a big relief just to know you've come to a decision together. Best of luck!

 

[MJ73]

CM, oh hun, so sorry you're going through this . If it's any comfort it's taken Simon nearly 2 years to get his head around the idea of donor sperm & even then it was only when all other avenues had exhausted. Already we've probably borrowed & spent close to $30k AU; for us it was about following the path if least regret, but everyone has to do what's right for them. Hang in there CM, some days are darker than others. Infertility, especially azoo puts a huge strain on our relationships. I've found that it's especially messed with Simon's sense of self & who he is as a man. Not to mention the way that it messes with our sex life. Simon & I went from making love 5 times a week to being lucky if we made love once a month... The things that I hold onto on the tough days are what we do have in common, the places where we meet rather than the areas where we differ. Somehow, slowly things do get better. The bad days become fewer & the good days more common & you realise within yourself a strength, dignity & determination (as evident in all the girls on this thread) to just get through it, however you can....

My Mum used to say to me "How do you eat an elephant?" (I used to think 'Why the hell would I want to eat an elephant?') But of course the answer is "One mouthful at a time"... And that's what we're all doing, chomping away at that (azoo) elephant one mouthful at a time. On the days when I'm too tired & exhausted or just too full of grief to take a mouthful, I come on here & I'm so inspired & comforted that I just grab that bloody elephant by the trunk & start chomping... Peace & strength to you Canadian You are not alone.

 

[Mercury1]

So..... had the urology follow-up today. Genetic test results not yet back, although I guess not so much emphasis on that as they think it's purely related to undescended testicles esp as there were sperm a few years ago. And from the 5 samples he's given at Hammersmith we have the grand total of 1 immotile sperm which they've frozen, but he's advised us not to rely just on that!!!!!

So offered a referral to UCH and Suks Minhas for mTESE, but I've asked for one to Mr Ramsay instead, and he was happy to do that. He talked about Schelgel and Cornell and said that although he was the pioneer, the microscopes here are the same, it's just that Schelgel will spend hours and hours looking and has an embryologist on standby to analyse the samples straight away which is why his results are better. Not that it matters much, but I think I've read before that Ramsay says the technology is different

OH is not happy to say the least. I think he's come to terms with needing surgery pretty easily after a wobble before, but this is such a long and stressful journey and at the moment I feel like I'm dealing with a toddler who's going to have a tantrum any minute and lie on the floor and scream that it's not fair. Which it isn't, but the prospect of having to seriously consider donor sperm is getting increasingly likely, and that would be a painful thing. Coming out the other side both on board with DS would be great, but the process of getting there could be tough.

Next step is IVF assessment for me tomorrow to go on the waiting list, and then wait for the appt with Mr R. And still waiting for the genetic results and hoping they haven't been lost so we'd be back on the wait for them before moving forward

Sending lots of positive thoughts to all of you. This bit feels tough enough, but must be more manageable than for those of you who're at the treatment stage where the stakes are so high and a rollercoaster of emotions

 

[deafgal01]

Oh it's a tough week for the ladies here. Hope you get some good news from Mr. R. I'm glad you were able to get referral to him.

CM and SND- that's horrible. Feels like a step backwards doesn't it? I hope that you're able to sit down and have a proper chat with your husband over the donor thing.

all around to all of you who need an extra hug this week. Hang in there. This journey isn't easy- and life's really not fair. But we'll all get there eventually and stare in wonder at our babies when we have them.

 

[Deb111]

CM - From what I can remember FSH can be pushed up to the high 30's even low 40's.

We've had a neighbourhood watch meeting here tonight but I promise to dig out the info for you tomorrow. I will also track down the info on my LTTTC journal about the relationship between pushing up the FSH and raising T

 

[Stinas]

MJ73 - Very well said!!! I really like the elephant....its a good thing to think of on our off days.!

Mercury1 - Im sorry your apt didnt go so well. I hope your next apt goes much better! Getting the azoo diagnoses is bad as it is, but when we go to these apts and get worse news just plain old sucks. It really is not fair.

I agree with deafgal01...its been a pretty shitty week for our thread.....I hope it turns around soon!

This time next week I will have a better understanding as to whats causing the azoo. DH apt with the urologist where they go in to see where the potential blockage is tuesday. I pray every single day that its an easy fix...even though none of this is easy to begin with.
I pray for us all to conquer this azoo crap! It really does put such a damper on things. I heard 2 stories today of trash people treating their kids like rag dolls and getting them taken away(thank god). I just dont understand how we are not able to have kids, but these people are....it just drives me crazy....i know i have said it before, but I will continue to say it....it really makes you question many beliefs we might have grown up with. Just makes my mind go nuts! Sorry for the rant!

 

[Suzie1985]

Hi ladies,

Mind if I join you here?

I am 26 and my DH is 39. TTC for one year with no joys. Decided to get some tests done privately a couple of weeks ago. Mine came back fine but hubby's SA wasn't good. All we got told was his result wasn't good and we needed to repeat the tests and then started talking to us about IVF. To say we were shocked is an understatement.

Went on holiday for a couple of weeks and received the results in the post. They basically say he produced 0.45ml in volume and that single immotile sperm seen initially. 18 immotile sperm seen on wet slide. I'm guessing that isn't good?

Anyway I sent him off to his drs to do another sample and he was told to phone the hospital to do this.
Hospital said to bring in a sample ASAP. Not sure how long results will take though?
Dr never mentioned any blood tests though which you ladies mention in your posts?

I have also booked an appointment with a urologist to hopefully find out some answers.

Sorry to waffle. Sometimes it helps to talk x

 

[deafgal01]

Oh Suzie- feel free to join us. Hopefully they find sperms in the new SA from your husband. It's frustrating waiting for all the results and appointments, isn't it? The fact that they found sperms is good... The fact that the number is pretty low, not great but at least they have something to work with. Keep us posted on the upcoming appts and feel free to nose thru this forum to see where we all have started from and are currently at now.

 

[Mercury1]

Hi Suzie :wave: sorry to hear your news.

Repeating the sample is pretty standard - the counts can vary enormously and a bad result could be a one-off. It's unlikely to come back as normal, but there's a huge difference between something and nothing in the samples. The results should get sent back to the GP, so likely to be a week or two at least before you can get them. I would say though that what jumps out is his volume seems rather low - one possibility could be retrograde ejaculation - I don't know too much about diagnosing it, but cloudy urine after sex can be a pointer if he has that as well, as the sperm are ending up back down the wrong tube rather than where they should be........

Please also check the samples are centrifuged (should say on the report) as it's a more thorough technique. Then the urologist will do all the bloods and examinations you've read about to see if the issue is a blockage or if it's a production problem. Then once you know where the problem is you can work on getting good swimmers out! Simple! (if only)

Hope that helps as a starting point! Good luck....

AFM - now on the waiting list for ICSI. Apparently the PCT offer 2 funded cycles, but the waiting list is 3 years!!!!!! Still, need the Ramsay/mTese experience as that may not even be an option if he can't work his magic. So plenty of time to start saving

Positive thoughts to everyone! If you're in the UK then I hope the sunshine is helping with these tough times xx

 

[Stinas]

Suzie1985 - Im sorry you ended up here!....but on the bright side...all these lovely ladies are AMAZING and a HUGE help!!! If some sperm is found and it is good....be happy for that....but just to warn you....it is a long road...hopefully it wont have to be, but apts seem to be a huge issue when it comes to waiting. So book whatever you need to book the day you are told to book. It helps to get it done right away.

Mercury1 - 3 YEARS!!!?!?!? WTF?!! Seriously...I really dont understand why there are waiting lists at all. Just go in and find the damn sperm! grrrr!!!! Makes me sooo mad! Dont they understand how difficult this already is for us!?! I hope it all happens a whole lot sooner than that for you.

 

[tigerlily1975]

Hi Mercury

Are you under Hammersmith? We're under Queen Charlotte's, but we're under Hammersmith IVF, so I'm really shocked by the waiting list as THREE years!! We've our ICSI planning appt next week, so I'll be 'interested' to see what they say to us! Considering the additional difficulties we face being 35+, can they really expect us to wait that long?

I hope you get your appointment with the magical Mr Ramsay soon!

to all!!

C xx

 

[Suzie1985]

Thank you girls.

I know the volume isn't much but he has never ejaculated much. He did say he struggled to get it all in the pot. so maybe there was loads more that ended up elsewhere lol.
Can't seen the word centrifuged anywhere on the report?
To be honest really wast impressed with where we went for it doing. They looked at us like they had never seen anything like it and made us feel very small.

Think we are going to bring our appointment with Mr Ramsay forward to the end of June instead of end of July. I have no patience. Think I'll need to work on this.
Does anyone else find his PA really difficult to get hold of? Or is it just me? X

 

[Deb111]

Welcome Suzie

I've never had a problem getting hold of Mr Ramsay's PA - if she doesn't answer, she's always called back within 10/15 mins. Are you calling the number ending in 7669? I think there's a couple of different numbers for her - maybe one is better than the other?

MJ - meant to say when I posted yesterday, LOVE the elephant analogy

 

[tigerlily1975]

Hello Suzie,

Firstly very sorry to see you here with us, but it's good you've found us, it's not easy going through this 'alone'. Everyone here is fantastic, if you need support, advice or even just to have a moan.. you really couldn't have found a better place or a nicer bunch of ladies.

As Stinas said, the good news is that they found some, that really is a huge step you've overcome there. Hopefully the 2nd SA will come back with some better news for both of you.

From what I hear, Mr Ramsay is the man, hopefully he'll be able to help you, too.



C xx

 

[Suzie1985]

Your words mean a lot girls. Never expected to find myself here, but then who does.

Slowly getting through all the pages and trying to get to know everyone.

Yes Deb, called the number ending in 669. Maybe I'll have better luck tomorrow when I ring x

 

[Mercury1]

Stinas - tell me about it!!!! the urologist at the local hospital did say it's ironic that they do the sperm-hunting on the NHS, but then it gets left in the freezer for 3 years! I'm not focusing on it too much at the moment, as just hoping there is sperm to hunt for, but it is crazy!

Tigerlily - I'm in Wandsworth, but they don't have an IVF unit anymore. OH got sent to Hammersmith as they have the nearest freezing services (for the 1 sperm we have ) but they expect us to go to St Heliers/The Bridge for the tx I think. I get the impression it's particularly bad here - Croydon PCT is next door, and that's 6 months. Surrey have only just re-instated funding, so it's all changing. Hope your meeting goes smoothly - how much sperm do you have waiting?

I'm still a bit annoyed that this appointment today was so pointless. For the first time I felt like we was just a number and not being taken seriously. The urologists and GPs have been so good so far. OH didn't really notice as he's still reeling from yesterday's news, but has been out to buy co-enzyme Q10, Zinc and brazil nuts of his own accord. Who says nagging doesn't pay off

 

[Mercury1]

Suzie - someone on another site has said that Mr R is on holiday until tomorrow which might be why there's some delays in getting back to you.

 

[Suzie1985]

Managed to get through and brought our appointment through to end of June. Better than end of July x

 

[SunUp]

Hey girls!
Just caught up with the posts, I haven't been on much due to working like crazy... but I really hope we get some good news soon, we need some joy on this thread.

Although, the elephant thing was amazing and I love it!

Sending hugs and loads of baby dust in all you girls direction so we can get some more BFPs on here!!!

 

[Deb111]

Suzie - someone on another site has said that Mr R is on holiday until tomorrow which might be why there's some delays in getting back to you.

I had an email from him on Tuesday