Dealing with azoospermia?

[BabyBplease]

hello ladies I'm brand new to this site but after finding this forum decided to join. my BF is azoo and we just found out his FSH is 17.6 which def sucks! We are considering ditching the biopsy and going straight for a Micro-TESE which seems to have the best chance of sperm retrieval for this diagnosis and he's also awaiting the results of the Karytotyping / genetics tests which is supposedly the step before a biopsy.

I've basically read every study/ test/ medical paper ect I can find since I'm not working a lot these days. As for FNA sperm mapping the reason doctors like the renowned Dr Schlegel at Cornell advise against it is that it can cause potential testicular trauma and it's a diagnosis procedure which then means after you would still have to go thru the expensive Micro-Tese anyways. Schlegel studies of late have found that even a biopsy and serum FSH levels can not provide a definitive diagnosis of whether there will sperm found during the Micro-tese. So even if there is no sperm on a biopsy even with worst case Sertoli Only Syndrome there is still about a 20-30% chance of finding it with this surgery.

Mapping helps them in determining when doing said surgery where the best chance of finding these sperm would be if they did the surgery. So while it can be great in healing them find it and diagnosing it does not extract them and you risk damaging the few sperm there by puncturing the tests over muktiple areas with a fine needle. I'm not a dr by any means and just starting out of this journey so if anyone has more experience and a better understanding please correct me if I'm wrong!

The thing with all these is you have to have both the money to get them done as well as find a doctor who has had experience and success in doing so and that is where it sucks more than ever to be in this dreaded 1%.

I'm very happy to find online support and forums such as these and hope everyone is finding success our at least peace on their infertility journey it sure sucks!

It's overwhelming to go thru the 644 pages of this thread but I'm hoping to find some success stories to keep me going.

I'm so sorry Gem, Thoughts are with you!

I still come on here every now and then to see what's happening even though my journey is basically over, after we found out about DH's Sertoli Only Syndrome, its been so hard, we had a huge argument about donor sperm and he wont consider it so now we never talk about it but its constantly on my mind.

DH has also been so stubborn and wont go to counselling with me through our RE's Office.

He says he wont give up on having a biological baby, and so now Im researching sperm mapping, have any of you had it done or heard of it?
Why is it so controversial?

 

[BabyBplease]

Sorry for typos!

 

[CanadianMaple]

Hi everyone! I needed to pop in and say goodbye! I found out at 8w4d (Oct 5) that I had a blighted ovum. Empty sac, placenta but not baby. They made me wait to miscarry and finally let me get my D&C today.

I was nervous about miscarrying alone and this D&C has made me feel so relieved. I wasn't even so sedated that I couldn't talk throughout the 10 minute procedure. Recovery was a bit tougher, cramps and moderate bleeding, but it settled within an hour an a half. I went to mom's and slept and feel great tonight. Still bleeding a bit, but I am no longer terrified of something happening in the middle of the night.

This is the end of my IVF/TTC days. I will pop in from time to time, but I really feel like this chapter in my life is coming to a close. I gave my 2 best embryos a chance and it didn't work out. I guess they weren't meant to work out. I feel peaceful about knowing I tried and now I feel ready to live in the present and stop looking behind me.

Thank you for all of the support you have given me over these past few years and I wish you all the best.

 

[MoBaby]

Awww cm hate this for you! Hate to see you go!!

I know it's hard for you. Maybe you'll reconsider in the future? My little man is from my worst embryos, one which had been thawed, they didn't think it was going to survive, it did and they refrozen it and thawed it again! So the best embryos aren't necessarily the best.
I understand though. You've been through sooo much. You are so strong and brave for wanting to do this ttc stuff alone.

 

[deafgal01]

CM oh girl! That is sad. I'm sorry it didn't turn out the way you wanted.

 

[raelynn]

CM - I am so sorry to hear this. You have been through so much I just pray that you find peace in the decisions you make about the future! We'll miss you!

 

[OzMalak]

Hi All
This is my first post here. My DH was recently diagnosed with azoospermia. We had been TTC for 6 months and nothing and I just thought that it would be me but unfortunately his first SA came back zero sperm in sample. We were suprised and trying to figure our why, how etc? Then we did a second one and it came back the same

We have since got to a FS which then got DH to do blood tests and referred us to a urologist. We have recently seen the urologist which came back that his FSH level were very high and his LH was a little bit high. The next step is to do his biopsy (TESA) where they will determine is he has steroli or not. The urologist said that they will take a sample and first thing will determine if there are any sperm. If there is they will freeze some of them and then the rest of the sample gets sent for biposy, if no sperm then all of it will be sent for biopsy.

So that is our story so far. DH is not interested in donor sperm at all so for us that is not an option.

I have to read this entire thread but until I finish reading does anyone have any success stories about NOA azoospermia and biological children?

As others have probably thought ... why are we the 1% that is happens to?

 

[gem10]

Cm I am so sorry for your loss. I have just recently gone through something similar. I applaud you for your bravery in trying, and evem more so for knowing you are ready to move on. I am so happy you have found peace of mind in your decision. I will keep you in my thoughts and pray that you have blessings come your way in the future.

 

[bubumaci]

CM ... :

OzMalak welcome to the group! Even though it is sad that you have to join it - this is really a group of fabulous women!

Yes - we have NOA / Oligospermia (no explanation for the lack of sperm or, when there are a few found, why the quality is bad) - and our baby that is on its way is biological

 

[OzMalak]

CM ... :

OzMalak welcome to the group! Even though it is sad that you have to join it - this is really a group of fabulous women!

Yes - we have NOA / Oligospermia (no explanation for the lack of sperm or, when there are a few found, why the quality is bad) - and our baby that is on its way is biological

That is great news! I hope you don't mind me asking you a few questions. I was wondering at what point they found the sperm ... TESA or TESE/M-TESE? Also how many did they find? Also I was wondering if all the blood tests etc came back normal?

 

[bubumaci]

No, I don't mind you asking at all ... I had written a really long reply and then when I went to send, it was all gone ...
What I would suggest (because most of the information is there), is that you take a look at my journal (link is in my signature) and if you still have some questions, then I will be most happy to answer them.

In a nutshell : All blood tests and genetic testing was normal. Urologist found no blockages. And the one TESE he did have, the material was useless - nothing found ... to this day, we have no explanation as to why he has no sperm (or occasionally a few swimmers) and when there is something, why they are non-motile with really bad morphology ... But, we did experience a miracle

 

[MoBaby]

Our case is same as bubu except we didn't do the tese/mtese . Opted out and kept our fingers crossed and I'm feeding my miracle right now

 

[sharon99]

Gem, I am so, so sorry. There are no words. My heart hurts for you and I hope you're resting and taking care of yourself. Many hugs.

Canadian Maple, I'm sorry to hear about your loss as well. My heart goes out to you, too.

 

[sharon99]

Just wanted to let everyone know- our little boy was born 2 weeks ago today! He was 7 lbs, 10 oz., and perfectly healthy. Two weeks later, we can't stop staring at him, or believing how lucky we are.

Anyone who might be curious- any worries I had about DH bonding with the baby (we used a donor) were completely unfounded. I have to remind DH that I'm in the room sometimes, he is so smitten with the baby. We talk about the donor sometimes (this morning DH asked if the donor was overweight- this baby is chunky!). I'm glad DH can talk so easily about it- more easily than I can, actually- I am still sometimes afraid of hurting his feelings by bringing it up.

Congrats to the newly pregnant ladies! And welcome to new members- as others have said, I'm sorry that you're here, but I hope you'll find support here, as I certainly did. And Bubumaci, good luck in the final countdown to delivery!!

 

[Olive333]

Sharon - Congrats on your baby!

 

[bubumaci]

Sharon, that's wonderful. Congratulations on your baby boy

 

[MoBaby]

Congrats Sharon!!!

 

[MBABY2014]

Gem..thinking of you..please don't give up

So sorry CM...;(

BabyB- success story over here too!

Sharon- how wonderful!! Congratulations!!

 

[tulip11]

A big hello to everyone
Congratulations to ladies who got their BFP'S and on birth of new babies. Best of luck to all those who are struggling. Today is our first appointment of fertility treatment. Let's see what they will discuss as they sent us two forms to fill it. Hope for the best.

 

[deafgal01]

Good luck tulip!