Dealing with azoospermia?

[bump_fever]

Shazney,
I do ask a lot of What if's...can't help myself really. I've always been a planner and organizer and it's hard when I can't do that.
Going from Low count to zero happened somewhere in the last 4 years. There were MANY low count samples before when we tried IUI, so we know he "can" make sperm, but for some reason it stopped. DH gave 3 samples since Nov 2013, all zero count. The samples were collected appropriately.

 

[CanadianMaple]

Just an update. I think I'm miscarrying. Actually, I know I am. Bleeding and clots. This journey really stinks.

 

[bump_fever]

CanadianMaple, *hugs*

 

[Jacks10]

Hello everyone, I thought I would say hello! Please may I join you girls?

Soooo as an introduction to me and my story... TTC since Dec 2012. I started monitoring ovulation by cycle 2 (temps, mucous, clear blue, the lot), and just knew something wasn't right. I started investigating IVF by cycle 4, and DH thought I was mental. I knew we were doing everything right so I guessed something was wrong. Assumed it was me (didn't we all?) and maybe at worst DH could have low sperm count too. It seemed the only thing limiting IVF was the money. I tried to convince my Gp I had pcos on cycle 6 , and had all the tests (wasn't given clomid).

DH has had 6 SAs since then, all have been zero. We had no reason at all for the azoospermia, this was a complete bombshell, we didn't know anything about it beforehand. If we had known all along it may not have been such a shock but we both were so convinced it was me that all our 'worst case scenario' planning was based on needing IVF. If only we were so lucky! :

Lots of love to every single one of you,
Jac

 

[Jacks10]

Oh CM, that's really sad, I'm so sorry

 

[raelynn]

CanadianMaple - I am so sorry you're going through a miscarriage. Life is so unfair sometimes. I know how bad it hurts and I'll be praying for you during this tough time.

 

[rdleela]

Awh, Becky, I am so very, very sorry...xoxo

Welcome to the new girls...it sucks to be here but the support and information is the best!

Jacks, the source of my hubby's azoos is a hernia repair surgery as a baby, and undescended testicles...we didn't know until after his SA, when his mom said "oh hey, you know..."

 

[SunUp]

CM, sending big hugs. Thinking of you.

 

[arzoo]

CanadianMaple - really sorry to hear about the MC. Hugs..

Jacks10 - We were also under the care of Mr R. So , please feel free to PM any questions you have.

 

[Jacks10]

CanadianMaple - really sorry to hear about the MC. Hugs..

Jacks10 - We were also under the care of Mr R. So , please feel free to PM any questions you have.

Thanks arzoo. How do I send PMs?

 

[arzoo]

I am not able to send you a message Jacks

 

[arzoo]

You can send me a message by clicking on my name and then you will get the option to send me a messge. I tried to send you one but I think you have set your profie in a way I cant send you a message.
I am more than happy to answer any questions you have , in the forum as well.

 

[Jacks10]

Weird, I can't seem to work it out. Checked my profile settings and nothing seems to block PMs. I'm sure in just being a bit dim!

Ah well. I was hoping to ask a bit about tamoxifen, as I had a read of your diary and saw your DH was on it. Just wondered if you'd share some details, dose, duration, and whether hubby had normal fsh? I know it's silly to compare situations and hope that my experience might be similar but, y'know...

 

[arzoo]

Jacks. I think he was taking 10 mgs a day one tablet. Dh had high FSH. I had got him welman for men. But Mr R suggested that dh takes proxeed a sachet a day. And I think dh was on these for about 6 months. Initially was supposed to be on it for 3 months but we had few things in our way to get sorted out before we could go ahead with the MTese.

It's natural to want to compare situations I used to do the same.

 

[Deb111]

CM - I'm so sorry you're going through this. Thoughts and prayers are with you xx

Jacks - I seem to remember you can't send or receive PM's until you've made 10 posts or something like that?
A quick note about Tamoxifen - my hubby was on that initially, but it pushed his oestradiol up too which isn't good when you're trying to make sperm. I'm pretty sure it was to do with him being overweight - something about the fat being metabolised, but just thought I'd mention it so you're aware. He ended up on anastrazole instead.

Thanks for all the lovely comments girls. When we got our diagnosis, there was just no info out there. It seemed pretty uncommon, so the chances of ever meeting anyone in person who was dealing with azoo seemed highly unlikely. I'd got chatting to Flake-y who was dealing with azoo too and just thought I'd start a thread to try and get some support and guidance myself from others further down the line. There are so many causes of, and possible treatments for azoo that we've been able to share. I find this such an empowering group of the most amazing women, supporting total strangers but united by having been thrown into a situation that just floors you and leaves you feeling so isolated, whilst also trying to be strong for our partners. I have to say I feel incredibly honoured to have 'met' you all

Thanks for the PM's so far. I will do some updating on the front page hopefully on Thursday.

Hugs to you all xx

 

[Jacks10]

Thanks Deb, that might explain it!

And thanks both for the info on tamoxifen/anastrazole.

Plus geting stressed with DH as he is on stag do this weekend and has another planned for end of September and at both he will be drinking loads, despite me explaining that he needs to be teetotal fpr 3m before tese. Anyone else have this battle with their OHs before tese?

 

[Deb111]

I have many problems with dh Jacks lol but drinking isnt one of them as he is tee total!

Who is your appt with at the lister? Presume your husband is under Mr Ramsay too?

 

[arzoo]

Jacks : We also used Lister, just one thing to bear in mind or something you should clarify clearly before the procedure is the cost of Histology

We were initially told it would cost us around £350 -400. In my DH's case Mr R send 8 samples to the lab and in our final bill we were charged 8 times that amount. When we spoke to Mr R about this,he was surprised and said this was not the case and we should follow up with Lister and claim the additional money back. Which we did (couple of phone calls and letters) and we got some of it back. Obviously in the begining it was a big shock to us as we were not expecting this additonal approx 2k.So please make sure you clarify what the costs will be.

Regarding drining. DH did not completely stop drinking. He was never a brig drinker ,so a pint here and there was fine , is what we thought. Also it was awkard to explain to friends why he was not drinking, so he would get the drink and I would help him finish it at times

 

[Jacks10]

Wow arzoo, I didn't realise they charged for histology on top of the £3500 the mTESE will cost, thanks for the warning!

Eeek I think the whole cycle is going to cost over £13k then even if they don't find swimmers. Still, if it helps us move on one way or another, it is just money. I just wish we had a bit more of it

But I'm getting ahead of myself again, have to keep remembering to try one step at a time. Azoo is a tough diagnosis for people who plan,plan and over-plan their life like me!

Shaznay have you and OH been referred to a fertility clinic? I think they are a good place to start with options and funding. If all you've had are the SA results then there's still a few more tests they'll probably want to run before advising if you might need SSR and icsi etc.

Bump I completely get what you mean about kicking yourself for not starting earlier. I do the same, keep reflecting on all the years DH and I faffed about thinking it wasn't the right time. I try to ignore it now and remind myself that I will look back in 10y and feel cross with myself for wasting so much of my life regretting the past when I can't change it. I really believe life does tend to work out ok in the end.

 

[Jacks10]

I feel like I know far more about mTESE and azoo than I do about IVF. I don't have a clue about all these terms down reg, short protocol, stim, lining grades etc etc etc. however I reckon I could draw a nifty diagram of the testis in any biology exam!!! Hoping I can just be told what to do by nurses and not get too involved in understanding the decisions- I am not confident at all that we will have any swimmers so I feel like I am protecting myself from deflation by not getting too involved in the egg collection side of things