Dealing with azoospermia?

[Shellvz]

Hi Ladies,

Wishing you all the best in your cycles and treatment plans. I have been reading the posts but haven't had much to add.

We don't see FS till Dec 10th so it has been a time of processing and absorbing for us still. Read lots of articles online and watched a few videos on youtube about male infertility and treatments.

Seems quite complex - feeling slightly overwhelmed by the road before us.

This is my first cycle knowing that a BFP highly unlikely if not impossible. I haven't been in this place before. Week two of 2ww and nothing to wait for. All my usual pmt symptoms have kicked in and now I know that they mean nothing - yet the habit of a year of ttc and reading into every symptom is a hard habit to break.

My Aunty died on Friday so I have a funeral to go to tomorrow. It will be lovely to catch up with all the family but I am hoping no-one asks me questions about when I will have a baby. I am making sure the outfit I choose to wear is flattering and won't give an impression of a baby bump!

It is difficult to believe that we are in this place. It helps to know that we are not alone. Sometimes I feel like a fraud writing on this baby bump thread as I can't get pregnant naturally. It will need a miracle or medical intervention for us and that is something we are still coming to terms with.

 

[CanadianMaple]

I'm so sorry you're going through this. I found that part to be the hardest, I went from charting and peeing on any stick I could to nothing. It took about a cycle to get used to, and even now with a donor IUI cycle, I could care less if I ever took my temperature again.

I had a really tough time waiting for answers. We saw our FS within about 6 weeks, but then we had to wait for genetic testing to come in before our urologist would even see us. I don't remember seeing anyone else having to wait like that just to talk to a specialist. But, looking back, I think all the waiting really did wonders for me with processing the news and it helped me be ready for the next hurdle.

I remember there was a time where I posted all the time about how mad I was and how frustrated I felt. If you need to do that, we're here for you and totally understand.

 

[Stinas]

cm - Thank you!! All fingers and toes crossed for you!

 

[gloomydays]

Hi ladies, I hope you are all well, I am almost through the reading phase, page 270ish so I still have a ways to go to catch up. I was wondering if you could help me... I know there's the spoiler on the first page BUT I'm confused and wondering, my DH has a followup app tomorrow, he has has the testosterone blood test, I've written on the list for the 2nd SA to be certrifuged, what other blood tests do I need to get him to do straight away? Thanks for your help ladies

 

[Deb111]

Cm - i can have a year off work and they have to keep my job open. The maternity package where i work is the ABSOLUTE minimum that they have to give me I get 90% of my salary for 6 weeks and then i drop down to about 25% for another 32 weeks i think and then nothing for the other 14 weeks or so so i may end up going back then, but at least 6 weeks of that would be the summer holidays.

Shelley - as cm says, the waiting is horrible, but in retrospect it does give you some valuable time to process things and also do some research. Appointments are a lot easier when you know what to ask and have some understanding of what you are being told. Feeling overwhelmed is totally normal - this is not something anyone ever expects to go through and you will be going through a type of grief too. Be as proactive as you can - it really helps to feel you are doing something.

Gloomy - you need to get test, lh, fsh, prolactin, oestradiol. If you can get them to do a karyotype test, cystic fibrosis carrier test and a y chromosone micro deletion test then even better but you may struggle to get them at this stage. Im sure the other ladies will jump in if ive forgotten anything x x

 

[Soili]

Shellvz, I couldn't have said it better than you did... Our situation is a bit different (DH has sperm, but 100% immotile), but it means the same thing in the aspect of hoping to fall pregnant naturally. It's been 5 months since we found out. I still use OPK, because my cycles vary a bit and I like to know when to expect AF. But this cycle was the first time we didn't BD on schedule. I think I'm only now starting to come in terms with the idea... ICSI is the only way to go for us.

I'm not sure if it's ok for me to post here... There doesn't seem to be anyone at all on the board in the exact same boat. This is the only group I'm reading, but hesitate to post.

 

[snd80]

Well, news not good on my end. I'm afraid the bank is not going to give us the full amount. I'm just plain hurt. I should have known better than to get my hopes up. I was put on a embryo adoption list, behind 6 others I might add, so I am once again at a hault. I just can't win for losing!!!! I'm past the part of crying and am now pissed!!! Not one or two blows, but now three!!! Life is just so cruel!

Hope you girls are doing well. I'll keep cheering from the sidelines!!! to each of you!

 

[deafgal01]

Soili- I'm glad you posted in here. It is more than ok for you to post in here.

Snd- Banks are greedy *******s, that's all I have to say to that. I hope you find a way.

 

[CanadianMaple]

I'm sorry snd. I really believe you're way too determined to stop now. I hope you find a way around this lately hurdle. You've been through way too much.

I'm getting nervous for Friday's blood test. If the LH is high, it's all called off. I had some fertile-like CM today and it made me worry that my LH was high. I have gotten EWCM this early in the cycle when my LH was too high in the past...but I just hope it's the Clomid.

 

[deafgal01]

Cm hope u still get to try this cycle instead of having it cancelled.

 

[WannabemomRN]

I've read many of the posts on this thread. I have a similar story as some others on here:
I'm an RN. My husband and I have been together 4.5 years, married 15 months. TTC almost one year. After 7 months my gynecologist was concerned that the issue may be my husband. After first SA it came back with ZERO sperm in the centrifuge. We now have an appt scheduled with urologist on the 16th. We have only discussed adoption and IVF with HIS sperm. I am worried that for some unknown reason there may be no production of sperm. If that's the case if he is opposed to sperm donation or embryonic donation I am afraid that I will resent him. Any helpful ideas?

 

[silverbell]

I've read many of the posts on this thread. I have a similar story as some others on here:
I'm an RN. My husband and I have been together 4.5 years, married 15 months. TTC almost one year. After 7 months my gynecologist was concerned that the issue may be my husband. After first SA it came back with ZERO sperm in the centrifuge. We now have an appt scheduled with urologist on the 16th. We have only discussed adoption and IVF with HIS sperm. I am worried that for some unknown reason there may be no production of sperm. If that's the case if he is opposed to sperm donation or embryonic donation I am afraid that I will resent him. Any helpful ideas?

I'm sorry you've found yourself here. All I would say is just try to relax as much as is possible (I know it's difficult, believe me) and try to take a step back at the moment and just let things play out. If there is no production of sperm then it may well be that your husband will 'come around' to the idea of donor sperm or embryonic donation. But right now it's just a huge load of 'what ifs' with lots of unanswered questions. As soon as you know a bit more then you can approach talking about the alternative options. Thinking of you and your husband Hope you get lots of answers in 5 days' time.

 

[silverbell]

CM - I'm sure it's just the Clomid. Hope all goes well tomorrow

SND - I'm so sorry. I do agree with CM though - you're waayyyy too determined to let this stop you I do hope a lovely load of luck turns up on your doorstep very, very soon

 

[Arimas]

I've read many of the posts on this thread. I have a similar story as some others on here:
I'm an RN. My husband and I have been together 4.5 years, married 15 months. TTC almost one year. After 7 months my gynecologist was concerned that the issue may be my husband. After first SA it came back with ZERO sperm in the centrifuge. We now have an appt scheduled with urologist on the 16th. We have only discussed adoption and IVF with HIS sperm. I am worried that for some unknown reason there may be no production of sperm. If that's the case if he is opposed to sperm donation or embryonic donation I am afraid that I will resent him. Any helpful ideas?

So sorry to hear about zero sperm result. When my DH had that result they did many tests such as 1) check urine after ejaculation to see if he has retrograde ejaculation 2) checked if he has cystic fibrosis 3) did another two SA just to make sure there is zero sperm
Luckily they did find sperm when they did his TESE (testicular biopsy) and we have been using the sperm from there for IVF but no luck so far. Also ask to see if ur DH is missing his vas deferens (tube that travels mature sperm) He might have blockage?

Give it time, maybe after all of these tests he will come around if there is no sperm found, but i hope that you do find some

 

[SunUp]

So sorry SND! I know there is an answer, somehow, that will make you a mom! Will send you lots of hugs!

CM- Fingers crossed for a good blood test!

 

[deafgal01]

RN- if he says no to the idea, give him time. It might take a while to get him to come around to the idea of "half donation" for your forever baby. But definitely get the answers before addressing these ideas. Most men are the type that like to wait til they cross that bridge before dealing with stuff.

 

[snd80]

Thank you girls for you kind thoughts and words. My precious aunt called me this morning and told me I could have her credit card line of credit if I could make the payments on it. Of course I said no... I couldn't afford another pmt right now, but it was so nice to know that she would have done that for me; although her bank might have become curious as to why a woman her age was charging fertility treatments/drugs!

So here is my freakin' Plan D or E; I can't keep up anymore.... my truck will be paid off in exactally one year, so that is $300 a month. IFFFFFFFFFFF I can keep myself (and my marriage) together between now and then, I will start the IVF. Until then, I think I am going to wait til about Apr or May to try one last IUI (a complete waste of time and $, I already know) and hopefully by SOME MIRACLE of GOD it might work!!!!!!!!!!!!!! In the mean time, I'm going to kill it in the gym. That is all I know to do, unless Publisher's Clearing House decides to show up at my "worthless" house (according to my bank) before then!!!

So wait, wait, wait!!!! I'm so sick of all this waiting! Maybe they will call with an available embryo to adopt in the mean time... I CAN scrap up $5 grand for that pretty quick! But other than that, I am just a sitting duck in a pond. Isn't life just SOOO grand!!!!

Ok, enough bitching for today! Thanks for listening!!!!!

 

[deafgal01]

Aw Snd, that is a hilarious thought- charging up your aunt's cc and having the bank wonder why the heck she's getting that stuff at her age. I hope you get your bfp soon (and the money for it).

 

[SunUp]

Snd! Life is so unfair at times! Bug hugs! If I win the lottery- i'll help out, waiting is the worst!

 

[CanadianMaple]

SND, I'm sorry. Let's hope that if you do one more IUI, it works and all the worry about paying for an IVF cycle won't ever have to happen.

AFM- I think my LH level was too high on Friday. They are waiting until tomorrow's appointment for more b/w and an u/s to say for sure what's happening. I had an almost +OPK on Thursday (cd7) and way too much fertile CF for it to be under 10. It makes me so sad. Cross your fingers that they can salvage this cycle if it was high. I think it's lower again like it usually goes, so maybe if the number is back below 10, they will still let it happen. I wasn't prepared for my body to have a hard time since the IF was azoospermia. I had a pregnancy with my son without any problems and wasn't mentally prepared for my body to change so much in 5 years.