Dealing with azoospermia?

[Rainbow123]

That's great news MoBaby! XXX

 

[Chickensoup85]

Hello,

I was on this board almost exactly 3 years ago when we went though our first IVF for our son, now almost 2.5 years old. We are currently trying for a sibling. I had my egg collection today. From 14 follicles, they retrieved 6 mature eggs and I just wanted to some friendly people who understand to chat to.

I recognise a few names here from last time... hi!

Congratulations to those of you who have been successful and best of luck to those still on their journey.

 

[deafgal01]

That is great! Hopefully you won't have to try for long.

 

[rdleela]

Hi, chickensoup! I think I recall you from that long ago! Did you get a fert report yet? I hope you had some good luck!

 

[Chickensoup85]

Hi Rdleela, I think I recognise you too!

I got a call today to say that all 6 have multiple to between 3 and 6 cells. Great news I thought, until her next sentence started with unfortunately!

All 6 are badly fragmented and she wasn't very positive. She said they want to wait and do a 5 day transfer, just incase they are able to pick out a couple of better quality ones. However, she did say there is a 'real possibility' that we won't have any that make it to Saturday and, if there are, they will probably look at putting two back because the quality is so poor. My clinic are usually dead set against using 2 so it must be bad.

How are you? How is your journey going?

 

[rdleela]

Oh no, I'm sorry you didn't get a great fert report...I will hold out hope that you still get some good embryos making it to day 5!

We did an IVF last summer when my daughter turned 1, and we got zero embryos (only retrieved two immature eggs), so we used donor eggs to have our last child, who is almost 6 weeks old right now! We decided it was more cost effective for us to switch to DE than continuing on with my eggs. My first IVF attmpt was similar, so we couldn't expect better for a third fresh egg attempt on me.

We'll do anything for our babes, won't we? Hoping this cycle isn't a bust for you...

 

[MoBaby]

Chicken I want to give you hope! We had 22 eggs retrieved so great right! Well next day I got the dreaded call only 4 mature: this had never happened before, normally we only have 2-3 not mature. They matured 8 more in a dish and were able to fertilize 12 and make 6 embryos. Day 3 all 6 were there but they weren't great but wanted to go to day 5. We had 3 then but none were good quality or freezable or able to be tested so we were told to come in ASAP for a transfer. The embryologist told me it was unlikely to work. We transferred all 3 we had. One ended up hatching before I got there. Now I am holding my 4 week old son so we had a crap cycle (out of 5 ivf cycles) and ended up having the best success- first try with a new clinic! So don't lose hope!!

My first son is 2.5 so we must have cycled together then good luck!!

 

[Chickensoup85]

Thank you for your kind words rdleela and mobaby. Congratulations both of you on your babies! I'm so happy that everything has worked out for you.

MoBaby, we were cycling at a similar time, you had your first baby shortly before I had my son (I follow your blog - I hope you don't think I'm stalking! haha!). It's great to hear your story, it does give me hope.

I was half expecting them to call today to say they had lost them all but haven't heard anything so have everything crossed!

 

[MoBaby]

No no it's meant for everyone here to follow!! I don't share it with my family or friends.
All crossed!! Who knows you could end up with frosties!

 

[Rainbow123]

Good luck for Saturday Chickensoup!
XXX

 

[Chickensoup85]

Hi,

We went in this morning for the transfer, having not heard anything since Tuesday. They took us to the room and told me to strip off from the waist down. At this point, I said to the nurse, "Do they have some embryos to use? You won't make me do this and tell me to go home?!" She laughed but didn't give an answer!

Anyway, it was much better news than we had hoped for. Two of the embryos had made it to the early blastocyst stage this morning; however, because of the poor quality, they put them both back in. Just comparing it to my sons embryo picture, you can tell the difference in quality. Still, it was great news compared to what we had been prepared for!

Thanks for your support ladies!

 

[MoBaby]

That's excellent!!! Yay!! Fx for you!!

 

[MsRipple]

Fingers crossed Chicken soup!

My husband's mtese ended up not being successful.

After 2 sessions with a counselor and discussion amongst ourselves, we decided to move forward using donor and to not wait more than a few months as I am over 35.
I took the lead on reviewing donors as my husband seemed weirded out by the process. When I brought up the sperm donor selection my husband was super uncomfortable and said that he still felt neutral or slightly negative about using a donor. But he thinks we should proceed as we have no alternative (since his concern is about genetic connections, adoption doesn't solve the issue for him) and we are both getting older and just do not have the biological time to give a few years to see how he really feels. We talked and talked and I cried of course. He's not sure what will make him more comfortable and how long it will take. We did end up looking at a few of the donor profiles together and picked one out of the few I selected.

On the one hand I don't want to wait and feel like he will be an amazing father. And from what he has said waiting a few months won't necessarily change things. On the other the hand what if he is never comfortable, not even after our child is born? Is this uncertainty fair a child? Will it ruin our marriage? What is funny to me is that I asked him how he would feel if we needed to use donor eggs and he said he would feel almost the same - that from a biological point of view he selected me as a mate (got to love scientists) and that to have a new biological mate would be distressing. I don't feel nearly as strongly about this.

Would love to get any perspectives out there from others who have had similar issues come up.

 

[MoBaby]

Totally understandable! We never did donor because my husband was not on board. We could have easily did donor iui and probably been successful since I have no fertility issues (besides a misshapen uterus but my fertility is great). So we spent tons of money on ivf/icsi. When he finally decided something else needed to be done we got preggo with our last 2 embryos.
I'm not sure when he will feel comfortable. Just make sure he is involved as much as he can be.
You have eggs already, right? So it's basically getting you ready from this point which doesn't take long.
I think sticking with counseling is the way to go for now.
I'm sorry the mtese was unsuccessful. At least your husband won't have that what if in the back of his mind. Like what if the mtese would have found some? It didn't so he knows now what the answer is.

 

[rdleela]

Best of luck, chickensoup! That's awesome that two made it!!

Ripple, we just used donor eggs, he's now 6 weeks old. I love him every bit as much as my daughter, who is biologically mine. It may take him sometime to get used to the idea. Honestly, I rarely think about it. I usually just think about it when I'm in a forum like this and someone is asking questions. do you guys have to go for counseling as a part of the donor process? We had to, and I would definitely recommend it, especially if he isn't all for it right now. He needs time for it to all sink in.

 

[Hopeful Cat]

My baby girl is almost 5 months old now and i think about the donor and im grateful for the generosity that person had to give me and my husband this wonderful daughter. It's not something that will be easy for us, but a part of who she is that we will go through together as a family. We love her unconditionally and the fact she isnt biologically related to my husband makes him no less her father. MsRipple, i hope you and your husband go through the process as smoothly as we have.

 

[MsRipple]

I hope so too. We did a long session with a counselor a few weeks ago. I'm pressing him to continue as we move forward.

 

[Hopeful Cat]

Back at the start of our ivf journey dh was first up against the idea of donor but when i voiced that the alternative was to stop me from passing on genes he was a little more open. Then after years of failed cycles and being forced to face the next step we were both eager just to do whatever it took to bring our baby into the world (no matter the genetics). I still had lots of frozen eggs so donor sperm was just the next logical step for us. I think using icsi was far easier for us to consider than if the sperm was to be inserted into me. Seems more like u are putting a person back in rather than procreating with another if u know what i mean. We had many counselling sessions too before they put us on the donor waiting list. I hope they help you work out your path

 

[MoBaby]

Chicken how are you doing?

 

[Chickensoup85]

Hi MoBaby. Not doing too well I'm afraid. I started spotting and cramping yesterday morning so think it's all over. Spotting is getting darker and heavier. It's not even OTD until Wednesday. We were told the chances were low. I hate being in limbo though, wish period would just start now.

MsRipple, I'm sorry you are in such a horrible situation. No experience but my thoughts are with you.