Dealing with azoospermia?

[bluelily]

Hi all,
This is my first time on so hopefully I'm posting correctly.
My husband & I have been TTC for nearly 18 mths. To date hubby has had 2SA which both showed no sperm. Referred to consultant who we saw start Dec hoping to get some answers. Apart from a look & feel of hubby's bits he then went on to tell us that that there are 2 reasons for no sperm, 1. a blockage & 2. not producing any & that he thought we fell into the latter.
As you can imagine it felt like the rug had ben wipped out from below us. Both were in a state of shock so couldn't ask any questions.
He went on to say our options - sperm doner, adoption.... & testicular biopsy but said he didn't thnk would find anything but there might be a small chance??
As you can imagine we are very confused - how does he know this already?
He took bood tests from us & sent us on our way, & we are hopefully due to see him again sometime this month.
Just wondering how consultant would know all this & if so should he have not explained this to us?
We are both totally devastated & trying to hold things together whilst not knowing much to be able to move on from.

Thanks in advance

 

[Deb111]

Welcome bluelily. Im sorry you find yourself in this situation. He is probably - not very helpfully - basing this on.previous experience. As you say without an ultrasound and / or bloods he cant begin to know.

Got to dash but keep your chin up. Its a tough journey - just keep talking x c

 

[AuCa]

Hi bluelily, and sorry to hear about your diagnosis
I think we can all relate to what you are going through right now, and it is definitely not pretty,

I second Deb - he won't know for sure until you guys did all sorts of tests (not just blood tests but also genetic tests and ultrasounds). Don't give up hope yet. I also wonder if you maybe should get a 2nd opinion at some time point.

 

[bluelily]

Thanks for your replies ladies!
Yeah we have agreed that we we need to be more prepared when we next go to our consultant and those are things we will have to ask about. If anyone has anymore advise on what to ask we would be much appreciated as we are still a bit lost as to what to expect/what we should be asking etc.
Good luck to everyone here going through the same thing - its good to know we are not alone. x

 

[MrsG30]

Thanks for your replies ladies!
Yeah we have agreed that we we need to be more prepared when we next go to our consultant and those are things we will have to ask about. If anyone has anymore advise on what to ask we would be much appreciated as we are still a bit lost as to what to expect/what we should be asking etc.
Good luck to everyone here going through the same thing - its good to know we are not alone. x

were all in the same boat here hun- try and keep faith like the others girls said.
hopefully after a few more tests/consultations you will be clearer on what comes next hun.

in the meantime stay strong and look after each other

 

[Deb111]

Thanks for your replies ladies!
Yeah we have agreed that we we need to be more prepared when we next go to our consultant and those are things we will have to ask about. If anyone has anymore advise on what to ask we would be much appreciated as we are still a bit lost as to what to expect/what we should be asking etc.
Good luck to everyone here going through the same thing - its good to know we are not alone. x

I put a spoiler on the first page of this group with some things to ask at firsr appt x

 

[Verity Belle]

Sorry been away few days, any new people hello and welcome everybody here is very nice and welcoming.
Hope everyone is ok, had a horrid day today found out someone i work with everyday is pregnant, had a bit of a melt down, i am really pleased for her but also on a selfish level really sad for myself, sorry for rambling xx

 

[rdleela]

Sorry been away few days, any new people hello and welcome everybody here is very nice and welcoming.
Hope everyone is ok, had a horrid day today found out someone i work with everyday is pregnant, had a bit of a melt down, i am really pleased for her but also on a selfish level really sad for myself, sorry for rambling xx

I don't think it's selfish AT ALL to feel sad for yourself!!! It is the hardest thing ever to feel happy for someone else while feeling very, very sad for yourself, please don't let yourselves think you are being selfish in having these feelings, they are very normal and are not "bad"...after sometime, and realization that you are NOT a selfish bitch - you will start to take in the pregnancy announcements without running to the bathroom sobbing

A pregnancy announcement is just a reminder of what you can't have...for now
You are not bitter at that person, you are bitter at your own situation...

 

[AuCa]

Hi ladies,

a question for the more experienced amongst you - we just got a bunch of results back for DH, and I was wondering if we can possibly draw any conclusions from this...

His FSH/LH, and prolactin are all normal, but his testosterone is low.
As for genetic testing, Y chromosome microdeletions are not present, still waiting for karyotype results.

Is there anything the hormone level results are telling us? (our consult is only in 2 weeks, and I'm getting impatient)

 

[Deb111]

Normal fsh and lh suggest there may be a blockage but that production is normal. Theres no guarantee though but would in my opinion suggest an ultrasound to look for a blockage

 

[AuCa]

Thanks Deb! I don't know why our doc hasn't ordered an ultrasound yet, so frustrating (he mentioned it but didn't want to order it). His reasoning was that there was a handful of sperm in the SA, so likely not a blockage.

 

[MrsG30]

Sorry been away few days, any new people hello and welcome everybody here is very nice and welcoming.
Hope everyone is ok, had a horrid day today found out someone i work with everyday is pregnant, had a bit of a melt down, i am really pleased for her
but also on a selfish level really sad for myself, sorry for rambling xx

Im with you on that hun- one of my besties is pregnant and i am estatic for her, i love her shes my mate but by god its makes me furious, sad, upset, angry the whole lot.

your not alone- got the baby shower and birth to contend with yet.
she is really supportive but how can she really understand why is is expecting.

Im pleased you lot are here with knowledge experience and too listen xxx

 

[Deb111]

Thanks Deb! I don't know why our doc hasn't ordered an ultrasound yet, so frustrating (he mentioned it but didn't want to order it). His reasoning was that there was a handful of sperm in the SA, so likely not a blockage.

Maybe not a TOTAL blockage?? My hubby didnt have a scan but then his bloods didnt suggest a blockage so maybe your dr was waiting for blood results x

 

[MrsG30]

Ladies.

any advise would be helpful
We have recieved a letter from our FS this morning- from what i can gather this isnt great news:
FSH @ 35.1 Testosterone "on the low" side which indicates the primary problem is with the testes growing sperm rather than a blockage.

I presumed this as he had bad mumps age at the age for 20.

We have a uroligst app in May but am i right in thinking the chnace of sperm being found are very low based on this?

thanks

 

[tulip11]

Hi Mrs G30 my DH had done all his blood test n ll hormones levels came back normal gp said no further action required our first appointment with urologist ill be on April 19th.. my question is that is this
The first time yur dh had blood tests ? Or does these blood tests indicate something more what kind of azoospermia that would be ?

 

[MrsG30]

Hi Mrs G30 my DH had done all his blood test n ll hormones levels came back normal gp said no further action required our first appointment with urologist ill be on April 19th.. my question is that is this
The first time yur dh had blood tests ? Or does these blood tests indicate something more what kind of azoospermia that would be ?

Tulip- the letter states "rather than a blockage problem" so I think that is suggesting "NOA"
He has 2 SA and 1 lot of bloods.
Weve been to our FS and it was them than referred us to the urolgist and we go there early may

 

[AuCa]

Hi MrsG30,

this is a finding common for non-obstructive azoospermia. I think Deb and some others have explained it in previous posts - your DH has what is called "primary testicular failure", which means that the problem is within his testes (that's also why he has low testosterone). The body then tries to increase production and ramps up the FSH/LH.

As for the chance of finding sperm, I'm not sure unfortunately.
Did he have tests for karyotype and Y chromosome microdeletions? But as you said, it's probably due to mumps.
I guess the only way to find out is through TESE.

My DH seems to have a similar thing. We first thought that his FSH was normal (one doc told us that), but then the specialized urologist told us that it is slightly elevated (his is 8), and his testosterone is also low-ish. However, he is not completely azoospermic, there is always a few single sperm in his ejaculate. I'm guessing this is related to his hormone levels which are not entirely off the chart.

 

[AuCa]

Hi Mrs G30 my DH had done all his blood test n ll hormones levels came back normal gp said no further action required our first appointment with urologist ill be on April 19th.. my question is that is this
The first time yur dh had blood tests ? Or does these blood tests indicate something more what kind of azoospermia that would be ?

Tulip, what were his levels?
You might want to discuss this with your specialist, as I think GPs often don't realize that the levels are in fact NOT normal. Our GP, and one doc who is not specialized on male infertility both told us that DH's levels are normal, but in reality they are not at all. Only the urologist specialized on male infertility knew enough to tell us that.
GPs just look at the reference ranges, and if it is within the range they think it is normal. But often it is not, even if it is within the range (for example, somewhat low testosterone levels could be normal for a man in his 60s, but not for a man in his 30s; but a GP most likely won't know).

 

[MrsG30]

Hi MrsG30,

this is a finding common for non-obstructive azoospermia. I think Deb and some others have explained it in previous posts - your DH has what is called "primary testicular failure", which means that the problem is within his testes (that's also why he has low testosterone). The body then tries to increase production and ramps up the FSH/LH.

As for the chance of finding sperm, I'm not sure unfortunately.
Did he have tests for karyotype and Y chromosome microdeletions? But as you said, it's probably due to mumps.
I guess the only way to find out is through TESE.

My DH seems to have a similar thing. We first thought that his FSH was normal (one doc told us that), but then the specialized urologist told us that it is slightly elevated (his is 8), and his testosterone is also low-ish. However, he is not completely azoospermic, there is always a few single sperm in his ejaculate. I'm guessing this is related to his hormone levels which are not entirely off the chart.

Hi Hun.
Had a total meltdown after getting this letter- although i was sure this was the case its just hit me hard.
Hubby keeps saying whats the point in having any thing done we should go straight to donor! im so confused.

I was sure the mumps had caused trauma but i really hoped there would be a few sperms in there so at least my hubby could have a shot at it.
I know i might be jumping a head and maybe they will find something but i feel so deflated, not even for me but for my hubby

I waiting for Debs to come along i know she is soo clued up

I just cant seem to pull myself round today

thanks for replying xxx

 

[AuCa]

I'm so sorry MrsG30

I don't think you should give up yet. Does he have a TESE scheduled already?