Dealing with azoospermia?

[Kashish]

Hey Mbaby..please give me the list of fertility supplements..and also its been about 3 years since we had tese..so Iam thinking its better to giv another go..we hav appointment with doc after 15 days..let see what the doctor has to say..also read about a new supplement called sperm hope..anyone who tried it?
If it doesnt have side effects I think we will try it..

 

[bubumaci]

Hi Kashish,
I am sorry you have had to make your way here!
Not quite sure how testicular failure is diagnosed, but my DH has unexplained NO-Azoospermia / Oligospermia. At the collections, he would produce none or sometimes very few sperm, with no motility and poor morphology.
For all our tries, they always used the fresh samples, finding just enough sperm to fertilise the retrieved eggs via ICSI - even though we did have a frozen sample, which was a miracle sample.
His urologist prescribed Tamoxifen, which DH took for 6 weeks. The reason I say miracle sample - in May 2012, he produced 13MIO (!!!) with 8% motility - they froze 6 straws.
We tried the tamoxifen last year in February, in the hope that we would get similar results and be able to do IMSI - but DH was back to the non-production / minimal production.
Our RE suggesting doing TESE for this try in February (since he felt that the reason all our tries were failing, was because of the bad quality sperm) ... DH underwent the TESE on the morning of my ER and I went from one hospital with his samples to the clinic for my ER ... even before I went in they told me that they had not been able to find anything to use in the TESE material and would be thawing 3 straws from the (MIRACLE) sample from 2012 ...
Incredibly, whatever it was that made that sample as good as it was (I mean, we are talking about an increase from mostly zero sperm to 13mio) is what brought us our miracle BFP.

I know that there have been several reports of success with Tamoxifen. In our case, I don't know why that one attempt 2 years ago was a success, but the drugs had no effect when we tried it again at the beginning of last year ... but perhaps that might be worth a try?

The other thing that is supposed to also be good for men (I have been taking it, as it supports cell-regeneration), is Coenzym Q10.

Deafgirl : so totally understand you Sweetie! But regardless what route you decide to journey down, you will always belong here and we will always be here for you

 

[Kashish]

Wow bubumaci..thanks for writing your story, its very inspiring and hopefully someday even i will get my bfp..
When fsh levels are very high and testerone levels are very low ..it indicates that it is primary testicular failure..
Before going for tese my dh tried coenzyme Q10 and many other medications prescribed by the doctor but it didnt help..but before we went for tese..sometime back when my dh got SA done if showed a count of 1 million sperms..but after that he never got that count again..he wasnt even taking any medication then..that time we were not aware that our ttc journey would be soo difficult ..so we didnt even get that sample freezed..now its like we just need one and are not able to find it..
Am going to give my last shot at ivf/icsi/tese..hope it works

 

[bubumaci]

Oh - and my DH was also totally against the idea of donor sperm. It was just after we had gone through try after try after try (and he knew how much I really wanted to be a Mother), that he started considering it. At the end of the day, we didn't have to go down that route, but he didn't remain opposed to it.
DH's FSH levels were 5.40 and his testosterone was 3.30 (which they said was at the low end, but subject to daily fluctuations).

How long did DH take the CoEnzyme Q10 for? I think all of these supplements do need to be taken for quite a while. And the Tamoxifen DH took, he was on for 6 weeks! It is promising, that you have had a sample with 1 million sperm. It indicates that there is some production going on there somewhere. And perhaps there is a chance of doing a slightly less invasive procedure than TESE (like the PESE), where they test several spots in the testes for sperm, as opposed to cutting out one chunk, where it is not even certain that production is taking place?

 

[Kashish]

He took the medications for about 2 months..and yes I have been reading about less invasive procedures..will definitely ask my doctor about it..

 

[sharon99]

Fingers crossed for you, Miki!

And Deafgal, thinking of you! Making these types of decisions is so difficult. It sounds like you are doing the right thing by focusing on you & your husband and having fun! We went to a few adoption informational meetings and it helped me to sort of grasp that idea as a "backup" plan if the IUIs didn't work. Wishing you much happiness & continued summer fun!

 

[Mikihob]

MBABY I don't have a beta scheduled. For some reason we never schedule one. I am taking a HPT next Wed, July 16. I am going crazy with symptoms. I am trying REALLY hard to not symptom spot. So far, it's not working.

Overall I am pretty much the same as usual, Clomid gives me nausea, fatigue and sore boobs. This months they are more sore than usual, I had sharp cramps two days ago and yesterday and had a dull crampy ache feeling in my low abdomen and pelvis but today I feel better. I am not sure if it's related to anything or just some new Clomid symptom or trigger related or what have you. I am trying to not read into anything so I don't get my hopes up too high.

I did take a HPT yesterday morning and confirmed my trigger is out of my system. That is good.

 

[Miraclbaby]

hey Kashish,
i think my dh has the same diagnose along with low t-level. I have to check again. Sorry cannot remember every detail.We scheduled or first mTese for September. Hopefully it will work out but I m trying to keep my hopes low.

 

[MBABY2014]

Kash:
Here is the list

Vitamin E-400- 1x day
Carnitine - 1x day
L-5 MTHF- 1x day
ERA-DHA - 1x day
L- Glutathoine- 1x day
Zinc Supreme- 1x day
Multi-vitamin

Hope this helps

 

[CanadianMaple]

Raelynn when is your next IUI?
Canadian Maple how are you doing?
Sunup welcome back!

My IUI went great! A little cramping after for a few hours. Laid on the couch ALL afternoon. Feeling good today.

Come on BFP, I am a waitin for you!!

Thanks for asking. FET #1 was BFN. I'm squeezing in one last FET before I go back to work. Aiming for Aug 25. Hoping it works, it may be my last attempt.

 

[Mikihob]

Update:

DIUI #3= BFN. AF started today, 2 days early. I am devastated.

We are now on a break. I will start BC for a few months in the hopes that it can control my PCOS and help me lose the excess weight that PCOS and Clomid caused me to gain the last 6 months. I had a huge breakdown this morning and am having a rough day. I keep thinking, just do one more, but I don't think I can handle another BFN right now. So emotional.

Thanks for the happy thoughts and prayers. I hope all you ladies are doing well. I will still be on here to cheer you ladies on.

CanadianMaple I will keep you in my thoughts that this next FET is the winner. Are you doing anything different this time around??

 

[bubumaci]

Oh Miki, I am so so sorry!! I was just thinking today, that your OTD is in two days ... We are here for you!

 

[MBABY2014]

Mik- so very sorry!! Maybe you might feel different in a week or so and might want to give it another try

Have you thought of IVF?

I know a lot of women IUI did not work after numerous attempts but IVF worked on the 1st shot!


Thinking of you and it's ok to have breakdowns and be emotional! Get it our!
Xo

 

[Mikihob]

MBABY we had planned on doing IVF but the money we took from the 401K for IVF was used on additional meds for DH and these IUI's and donor sperm. We are tapped. We are considering doing another 401K, but since we owe quite a bit in taxes due to the last one we are a little weery. I have thought of going to a doctor in Matamoros, Mexico. I have heard many great things and the prices are fair and they offer discounts for each "failure". It's something we are considering.

I was sure this time I was pregnant, that made it all the much harder. I never called my doc to let him know, DH and I still need to discuss it, once I am over the "grieving" period. Thanks!

 

[CanadianMaple]

Mikihob I'm so sorry. Getting my BFN felt like a slap in the face after azoo. I really felt like I should get my BFP with FET because of all I went through. Is there a way to switch donors? I have read that changing donors will sometimes help.

My protocol is the exact same this time around. I was hoping they would switch something, but it could have just been an issue with the embryo.

 

[deafgal01]

Miki there are really no words to prepare you or help you through this challenging time. It's hard when you have AF show and still nothing to show for all these tries.

 

[rdleela]

Miki and Canadian maple, I am SO sorry to read of your BFN's - there are no words for how disappointed I know you ladies are. I am so happy to hear both of you talking next steps, though, because so much of this game is just pure luck!!! And we must try, try again...all my best to both of you! Xoxo

 

[Mikihob]

CanadianMaple we have 3 IUI vials of that donor still to use. My period started, spotting 12dpo and today 13dpo flow started. I KNOW I O'd on July 2 so I wonder why my period started early?? Unless I ovulated between the ultrasound and my HCG trigger. Argh. We might have to switch donor's if he doesn't have any more samples for us to buy. He is just such a perfect match to DH, I doubt we will find anyone as close.

DH wants us to go one more time before taking a break. If this next one is a BFN, we would contact the IVF clinic and get a breakdown of all the costs and submit it for another 401K withdrawal (so much for retiring before we are 100 ) so we can afford IVF. During all of that I would get a couple months break before starting.

Advice ladies. Should I go again or take a break first? I want to go again and I don't. So confused.

 

[Olive333]

Mikihob - I understand so well what you are going through. I was really hoping that the third time was the charm for you. I also had 2 BFN's IUI's with donor and I was very devastated the last time and we are taking a break. We want to continue, but I just don't know when. I don't want too wait too long since I'm about to turn 34.

This is a decision that only you can make and think about what feels better for you, follow your instict.

I'm so affraid of the failure, but if you don't try its already a failed.

Good luck and hope that whatever decision you make is the right one for you.

 

[bubumaci]

Miki - were you taking progesterone or anything to support the luteal phase? If not, then perhaps you were really just having a shorter luteal phase this time round?
You were also testing your LH weren't you, and it didn't seem that you had your surge before the trigger - so you probably did ovulate after the trigger...
Have you in the past known the exact length of your ovulatory + luteal phases? Did they measure your progesterone this time around? So so frustrating

I am thinking, since you have been having natural cycles without meds (except trigger), that certainly physically you would be OK to go for it again right away. How do you feel? I get the wanting to take a break, but wanting to try again ... maybe sit a cycle out and really monitor the date of ovulation and then the length of the luteal phase (maybe even testing to make sure the hormone levels are where they should be, to determine whether or not you might need additional supplementary support after the next try)...?