Dealing with azoospermia?

[tulip11]

Sweetie - I would honestly tell you : cross that bridge if and when you should come to it. (I am an absolute master of worrying about things that I a) don't know if they will ever happen and b) way in advance, i.e. far too prematurely - so I probably should take my own advice). I can understand how very upset her utterance has made you... but this was not a statement given by a doctor / the clinic / person treating you and DH. Let them do their jobs, see what can be done.
The truth is - it may happen. It may happen that a SSR is performed and they cannot find anything useful (happened to my DH in the February try - we were just very lucky, that spring 2012 a miracle happened and they were able to freeze quite a bit of sperm from an ejaculation after 6 weeks of taking Tamoxifen ... other tries, they found just enough in the ejaculate to be able to do ICSI - this year in Feb, the TESE resulted in nothing and so they used some of the frozen samples). There is never a guarantee. There is never a guarantee that IUI, IVF, ICSI, IMSI will work. There is never a guarantee that healthy couples will be able to get pregnant naturally ...
Sadly, what should be the most natural thing in the world - reproduction - seems to be fraught with difficulties; for some, more than for others.

But my advice to you would be to a) be aware, that it may happen - it may be the case that they find nothing ... b) be aware, that they may find something and c) try not to worry about what you will do if the SSR does not work. You and DH will have some talking to do - together, together with your fertility specialist - and you will just have to cross that bridge if and when you come to it. But don't worry about unhatched eggs yet. You have no idea what is just around the corner and worrying will not do you (or DH) any good. This journey is such an unbelievably difficult one! But I firmly believe that being positive, trying to keep positive feelings, allowing yourself to be down, have a cry, let it out - but then also try to put it behind you and then look forward to the next steps is incredibly important so that you keep your sanity and don't lose yourself.

Thanks thanks alot for such great support.Yes you are very right . I am truly thankful to all you beautiful ladies out there who are here to support each other. My prayers are always with you guys . xoxoxoxxoxoxoxoxoxxo

 

[babadespls]

Today one lady which is mutual friend she told me that your hubby fsh is high which is 13.2 and there is no chance to find sperm and this truly disappointed me and on way back to home I cried a lot and for a while everything seemed so useless to me all the hopes which I had gone for a second. Now i am feeling so low and thinking if we can't find sperm then what will happen?

Hi Tulip,

I have done so much research on this topic, and there are many different opinions, but the newest research suggests that elevated FSH doesn't have any accurate prediction if there is sperm production or not, before fertility specialists wouldn't perform a SSR on anyone with elevated FSH and now they do, I read about trial where they found usable spermatozoa in a mans testicles whose FSH levels was in the 60's, and was used in a successful pregnancy with a live birth.

I'm not giving you or me false hope, I'm just saying it is possible, it has been recorded, it has happened and maybe we will be one of those lucky ones.

Oh and also older research suggests that one has a lower chance of finding usable sperm if FSH is higher than 20, under 20 and you have a better chance.

 

[arzoo]

Hi
If we want to go on private route as I am thinking of Dr Ramsey what would be the procedure as NHS is giving us free first attempt? Do we have to tell them that we want to go through private or if we mention the desired Dr name so they will refer us?

Hi Tulip,

I dont know if someone has already responded to your question, just catching up on the posts as I have been away for couple of weeks.

We used Ramsey, but privately. We had the option to use MR Ramsey via NHS but that is because Mr Ramsey practises in the fertility clinic where we were referred to.

We still went ahead privately, as NHS has a lot of limitations, we wanted to have a synchronised cycle and that was not possible via NHS.

 

[deafgal01]

Tulip,

That lady was rude to say such a thing. The ladies in here have brought up valid evidence based on research we know of. That lady did not know what she was talking about obviously! people can really say the most inappropriate things sometimes!

 

[tulip11]

Tulip,

That lady was rude to say such a thing. The ladies in here have brought up valid evidence based on research we know of. That lady did not know what she was talking about obviously! people can really say the most inappropriate things sometimes!

yes and I have seen people like her who got pregnant easily so they dont care about others pain they think getting pregnant is so easy . They dont care how their words can hurt others. Infact my SIL recently gave birth to baby boy she was saying the other day that getting pregnant is such horrible thing and I am fed up of getting pregnant everytime its this and that so me and my hubby were sitting there that time so that time we both were thinking that you are fed up and we are struggling to get this blessing. She and those who get pregnant so easily are so blessed but they are so ungrateful for what they have. They should ask those like us who are waiting for this precious moment .

 

[gem10]

Bub, thank youfor your kind words. What you said really makes sense. I am not ready to give up yet. I called my RE this morning bc AF came last night...that bitch!! Lol. Hopefully we can start FET right away.

MBABY I have been doing accupuncture for a long time now. The only reason we did a single embryo transfer is bc I have a bicornurate uterus so if I were to get pregnant with twins it could cause serious problems down the road. With DHs embryos it wasnt as big of an issue because we knew the embryos werent as strong so the chances of multiples were very low.

So looks like third time wasnt a charm, so looking toward number four.

TulipI wouldnt listen to any advice from people who are not going through this or a medical profesional. I have gotten sooo much "advice" from people about getting pregnant when they hardly know what IVF is. The bottom line is you wont know until the surgery is done whether there are sperm or not. Its stinks to have to wait, trust me I know,, but stay strong and stay positive as much as possible!

 

[arzoo]

Tulip regarding elevated FSH and any other sort of research , I agree with what the ladies have said here. All my DH blood tests and results gave us no hope. We were given percentage success rate of 10 %. which is very low apparently. When these numbers were not favourable for me I just chose to ignore them. When they are favourable I cling on to them as a ray of hope.
Despite all these low percentages and changes of success, we found sperms (mTese) and I am now pregnant 5 months with twins. Hope my experience gives you hope. After all its hope that keeps us wanting to try and push ahead despite all these adversities

 

[tulip11]

Tulip regarding elevated FSH and any other sort of research , I agree with what the ladies have said here. All my DH blood tests and results gave us no hope. We were given percentage success rate of 10 %. which is very low apparently. When these numbers were not favourable for me I just chose to ignore them. When they are favourable I cling on to them as a ray of hope.
Despite all these low percentages and changes of success, we found sperms (mTese) and I am not pregnant 5 months with twins. Hope my experience gives you hope. After all its hope that keeps us wanting to try and push ahead despite all these adversities

Congrats have a H&H 9 months thanks for such a lovely reply

 

[rdleela]

Gem, my fresh failed cycle ended exactly as yours did - early pink spotting for a couple of days that turned into AF...I had really high estrogen levels before transfer, but no OHSS. I believe that my uterus wasn't ready or willing to accept an embryo at that time...my second cycle after that IVF is when I got pregnant naturally - at the time of IVF I was thoroughly disappointed in my body, but after I got pregnant I knew it was because of the high estrogen levels in my IVF process the embryos didn't stick. We'll be doing IVF again next summer, and if my estrogen goes sky-high again, I'll be telling them to freeze ALL my embryos for a FET instead of doing a fresh.

I hope a FET, after your body gets a little break, will be your ticket!

 

[gem10]

Well ladies my RE let me go have my beta today rather than prolong it to Friday. The sooner they get the negative, the sooner we can start our next step. This sucks!!!! But DH are on our way to the beach and when I get that call I will be going for a cocktail...theres always a silver lining I guess!

 

[Mikihob]

Tulip as far as I know (from reading and talking to others) some doctors like to put in one to decrease odds of multiples, but some doctors will put in two if asked. If you have a super high chance of conception they might only opt for one, but if you have fertility problems and are doing ICSI, etc, they might want to put 2 in. I know some doctors now are trying increase the odds with one egg to avoid multiples and some insurance companies even offer special financing if you opt for only one egg to get put in.

gem I am so, so sorry AF started. Watch some funny brain cell killing movies. I am here for you as the other ladies are too. I was really hoping and praying you got your BFP. I love that you are keeping your chin up and getting ready for an FET. Your OHSS could have caused an issue with proper implantation so maybe this FET will do the trick. My eldest step-daughter is in the process of a divorce and a terrible custody battle for her daughter. She starts dating this guy and about 1-2 months later she takes out her birth control. Now she is about 8 weeks pregnant. Two dads, two babies AND she might lose her daughter to her ex because of her eccentric behavior. I feel your frustration with everyone else getting pregnant and popping out babies.

BumpHopes I am currently in the TWW with DS IUI. I chose to go this route first, since I had pretty good chances. If it’s a BFN, I move onto DS IVF.

MBABY you’re killing me. KILLING ME! 1 week. It’s like the TWW is even longer!

Deafgal if it doesn’t come back you should test just in case, and if nothing still, you might need a progesterone treatment to get it started. Maybe even BCP for a month if you think the drugs messed up your hormones. I hope AF comes soon. It’s so frustrating that some months (most) you want AF to stay away and then she shows up, then those months you want her, she’s nowhere to be found. How rude!

I hope I caught everyone. to you all!!

 

[deafgal01]

Get that drink gem!

And a drink for this lady! The dumb af finally showed a week late!

 

[Mikihob]

deafgal I am glad AF showed finally, sorry she was so mean to be late.

 

[bubumaci]

Yay for the ... glad that she has finally arrived and you can move forward. Crazy isn't it - when you don't want her to come, in she flies and when you want her to come, she takes her time ...

 

[MBABY2014]

Gem- major bummer but so glad you are feeling positive and ready to move on!!

My fresh did not work- but my FET did! Hoping you have the same luck!

I didn't know about your uterus- makes sense to only put in 1 now!!


Mik- how you feeling??

A zoo- when are you due?

Redella- gettung close girl!! How you feeling??

 

[Rainbow123]

BumpHopes - We tried IUI with DS before IVF and it worked for us. We were incredibly lucky because it worked first time! The chances of it working are roughly 1 in 5. Our plan was to try 3 unmedicated IUIs (triggered with a shot of Pregnyl to make sure the egg was released to coincide with the IUI), then 3 medicated IUIs (which has an increased chance of multiples) before doing IVF, however the FS was pretty optimistic we wouldn't need to go down IVF route. I can recommend giving it a go, but only if you are going to be closely monitored by having the growth of your follicles tracked, plus triggering your egg release with a shot of Pregnyl to make sure everything is in the right place at the right time.
XXX

 

[Mikihob]

MBABY I am feeling ok. Cold is still here, just a stuffy nose and sore throat- never really progressed into a death cold. I am fatigued, have severe headaches and mild cramping. Off and on it feels similar to AF and then it feels different. I am trying to sleep longer and take little naps, cough drops for the sore throat and laying down when the headache gets bad. I have a couple days left until testing and want it to be here now!!

 

[melissaelaine]

Hi all! Just got an update from my DH about his appointment. Results aren't great. Details are in my journal, but the takeaway is that his numbers were back down. 4 non-motile sperm. So, it is looking like we'll be moving forward with my cycle and doing tese.

 

[Mikihob]

I am sorry that the results weren't as hoped melissa. Do you have a date for the tese??

 

[gem10]

Wishing you good luck tomorrow Mik!

AFM I went for my appt today. It took everything I had not to cry while I was there. Theu say my bicornorate uterus could be affecting implantation. So we have our FET scheduled for Sept 12th. We have to decids on one or two to transfer, and I really dont know what to do. Two increases the odds that it will work, but if they both take they could be at risk in my uterus. Ugh....thoughts ladies?