Dealing with azoospermia?

[Deb111]

Wow - I can't believe that your appt with Mr R has come round so soon and not long til centre parcs either

I wouldn't worry too much about them not being able to see your left ovary - don't know anything about the bubbles, but they couldn't see mine on my NHS scan either - but it was definitely there - well the private scan at The Lister found it anyway

 

[Pamplemousse]

Thank you so much for message. It really has helped me feel that all is not lost.
How is eveything going for you?!

I'm very glad

I had my gynae appt this week. Had vaginal exam, swabs and dildo-cam . I have an unusually tiny cervical opening. Right ovary perfect. Left ovary couldn't be visualised due to lots of bubbles covering area. No cysts or tumours. HSG dye scan referral made - could be couple of months wait. Having day 2 to 4 bloods done (tomorrow) and day 19 bloods done (day 21 is too late for me with my shorter 26-day cycles).

Just waiting for DH's appointment with Mr Ramsay now in 1.5 weeks when he'll get put on the list for the mTESE The sooner he gets that, the better. It'll be nice to know for sure exactly where we stand instead of just guessing all the time.

Ooh, good luck to you!! I keep hearing about Dr Ramsay, he seems to be the Man!

I know what you mean about waiting for results, once you have answers (no matter how awful they are) you feel as if you can keep moving forward.

Can I ask what the TESE involves? My DH is due to have a blood test on Tuesday, the results will hopefully shed some light on what is causing the problem. Fingers crossed it will be good news for all of us!!

 

[wibble wobble]

Hi everyone I'm still lurking, I'm keeping up with all your posts and journeys but mine is still at a stand still until the 28th at least when hubby has his tese. Good luck for your appointment on the same day silverbell.
me and hubby had a heart to heart about our situation a few days ago. He's trying not to get his hopes up on them finding sperm as it's a 40% chance (I actually think this is quite high) He's already talking about sperm donor, he says he has no problem with raising a child that has no biological link to him... he just wants me to be happy and is prepared to do anything it takes to make it happen

 

[Sar187]

Hi everyone! Welcome to desperate and pamplemousse, sorry you ladies are having to join us but this is a great board and very supportive!

Lupron has been going well for me I haven't had any side effects at all from it aside from some headaches which I'm not even sure can be blamed on the lupron. My Baseline ultrasound went well, they said everything looked great. I finished BCP's on the 14th and start Stims(gonal-f) tomorrow. So as of tomorrow I will be on Lupron and gonal-f which will be 3 injections a day. Retrieval for both Hubby and I is officially scheduled for October 3rd as of right now. Hopefully everything goes as planned and that date doesn't change!

 

[silverbell]

Can I ask what the TESE involves? My DH is due to have a blood test on Tuesday, the results will hopefully shed some light on what is causing the problem. Fingers crossed it will be good news for all of us!!

It's the microTESE that DH is having, which I believe is only performed in the UK by Mr R. It's a very advanced biopsy of the testicles under strong microscopes to try to find sperm.

Hope the blood test has went well today and that you get the results soon.

Hi everyone I'm still lurking, I'm keeping up with all your posts and journeys but mine is still at a stand still until the 28th at least when hubby has his tese. Good luck for your appointment on the same day silverbell.
me and hubby had a heart to heart about our situation a few days ago. He's trying not to get his hopes up on them finding sperm as it's a 40% chance (I actually think this is quite high) He's already talking about sperm donor, he says he has no problem with raising a child that has no biological link to him... he just wants me to be happy and is prepared to do anything it takes to make it happen

That's great news, ww. I am pleased to hear there is a back-up plan in place should things not be great news following the TESE on 28th (though I am praying that they find lots of lovely, healthy sperm for you both). I was worried about what my DH would think of donor sperm initially, but he was all for it and says that he would much rather the child was biologically one of ours rather than neither of ours. He said he loved me so much he would have no problem loving a child that had half my DNA

Hi everyone! Welcome to desperate and pamplemousse, sorry you ladies are having to join us but this is a great board and very supportive!

Lupron has been going well for me I haven't had any side effects at all from it aside from some headaches which I'm not even sure can be blamed on the lupron. My Baseline ultrasound went well, they said everything looked great. I finished BCP's on the 14th and start Stims(gonal-f) tomorrow. So as of tomorrow I will be on Lupron and gonal-f which will be 3 injections a day. Retrieval for both Hubby and I is officially scheduled for October 3rd as of right now. Hopefully everything goes as planned and that date doesn't change!

Glad all is going well, Sar. It's all very close now! I'll be on holiday that week, but I hope to hear how it went upon my return. I am keeping everything crossed for you both.

 

[snd80]

Hi girls! Looks like lots of good news floating around!

Today is our first appt w/ the urilogist... I think I am more nervous than hubby is! I have made my little list of things to ask about. I only have 3 on it, so hope I don't forget anything else! lol! I don't know if I am prepared to hear any bad news either... Please say a little prayer for us today! I feel like we really need it!!!!!!! to all!

 

[silverbell]

Good luck, snd! I shall be thinking of you and thinking very positive, happy thoughts. Let us know how you get on

 

[Sar187]

Good Luck snd, I hope everything goes well will be thinking of you!

 

[Pamplemousse]

It seems there is some progress with us all over the next month or so. Good Luck Ladies.

DH had his blood test today. Hopefully results back in 5 weeks time. I like to think that given no sperm was found on last two samples we are due SOME good news!!!

 

[snd80]

Ok, here is our update!!!

So, the dr. was super nice and down to earth... didn't talk to us in "dr. terms" and look at us crazy when we didn't understand like most do.

He walked in and introduced himself and asked how many children we wanted b/c he was gonna make it happen. Loved the positivity! Hubby told him he wanted to do whatever it took to make this happen for us (a complete 180 from 4 months ago when he refused to go to the dr. and have his junk "touched on"!!! I was very stoked to hear hubby say that!) Then he talked to hubby about his medical condition w/ his kidney and dialysis situation, asked about his sex drive (or lack there of), took him the next room for a quick exam and came back. He said that hubby had one testical a little smaller than the other, but it was no biggie and that everything looked and felt good down there. So it could be one of two things, and this is how he explained it to us (gotta love this)... the brain is the "boss" and the testicals are the "factory". Either the "boss" isn't telling the "factory" to make the sperm, or the "boss" is telling them to and the "factory" isn't doing their job. So basically he thinks it is testosterone/hormones. He wrote up the papers for blood work and said it takes about 2 weeks for the results to come back, and that he would call us as soon as he got them in. We went straight to the hospital from there and had the blood work done, and now it is a waiting game.

I thought it sounded very promising! I could be just too hopeful, but even hubby thought it sounded good! I am on cloud nine! To think that it just might be that simple! What do you girls think?! All imputs welcomed!

 

[Deb111]

Lovely to see lots of positives in your post snd It's great news that hubby is on board and that you have found a specilaist who you have a good rapport with and who is very positive about your situation. It is great when you feel like you are in safe hands - you can then at least breathe a small sigh of relief xx

 

[MoBaby]

SOOOOO.... DH had his hormone levels checked. Everything good except testosterone was slightly low. We are waiting on genetic tests and have an appt to discuss on Oct 17th. Would slightly low testosterone cause azo?? Hopefully genetic tests are all okay then we are set to start at end of October!!

 

[silverbell]

From what I understand, low testosterone is a symptom of azoo and not a cause.

Oh and there are certain genetic results that if positive don't preclude your DH from having success at biopsy. My hubby has a genetic disorder but many are still found to be making sperm at biopsy.

 

[Sar187]

SND-Glad to see you seeming so positive after your appointment. So glad your hubby is on board now. I hope things continue to go well!

Mobaby- I hope everything comes out ok for you. I don't know much about low testosterone so can't really help you there.

AFM-Started stims yesterday going pretty well so far other than that the shots on my belly have started to cause bruising when I do them. Going to try my thigh tonight to see if thats any better.

Hope everyone else is doing well!

 

[Pamplemousse]

Hi everyone I'm still lurking, I'm keeping up with all your posts and journeys but mine is still at a stand still until the 28th at least when hubby has his tese. Good luck for your appointment on the same day silverbell.
me and hubby had a heart to heart about our situation a few days ago. He's trying not to get his hopes up on them finding sperm as it's a 40% chance (I actually think this is quite high) He's already talking about sperm donor, he says he has no problem with raising a child that has no biological link to him... he just wants me to be happy and is prepared to do anything it takes to make it happen

Good luck with the tese. I really hope it brings positive results for you both

 

[wifeyw]

Hi wibble wobble good lucky with your TESE and i hope your DP isn't too nervous. Mines worked himself up and couldn't get over how easy he recovered after. thinking of you's good luck xx

 

[Bookworm]

Hello Ladies,


Our next step is to discover whether this is genetic (in which case we are advised that we will not be able to have biological babies of uur own) or whether there is a blockage which would mean the chance of IVF/ICCS. The next step is a blood test for O.H.

Hi Pamplemousse, Desperate & KellyMarie, really sorry that you find yourselves here, but hopefully you'll find a few answers, advice & support to help you through - the ladies here really know their stuff & always know the right thing to say (and what not to, which can be just as important).

Pamplemousse I know that Silverbell has already answered you on this but I just want to reassure again that very often genetic causes of azoospermia do not eliminate the possibility of having your own biological children. I've just copied this over from my journal;

Anyway,results in, & it's pretty much as expected: DH is a CF carrier & I'm not (which is great news from ICSI point of view). The slightly more unsettling news is that in addition to the CF mutation (which should be a ressive gene) on one gene, DH also carries a 'variation' on the other which 'supercharges' the CF mutation & can cause CF symptoms (though not full blown CF).

So basically DH, due to carrying a CF gene, is missing the tube that should deliver the sperm from the testis to the rest of the seman for 'delivery'. This is great news for us at this point as it was the last hurdle before beginning ICSI, & now we're just waiting on an appointment with the fs to talk about scheduling!

Btw, I've not been on the site much recently, sorry - been finding the whole thing a bit overwhelming and my coping mechanism is to bury my head in work.... but with the results in I'm feeling a lot more positive
I've been loving reading upon the posts though - I've everything crossed for all you guys cycling or just about to!

 

[Pamplemousse]

Hi Bookworm,

Thanks so much for your post. Two weeks ago I felt that there was no hope, but all the posts make me feel so much more positive.

I hope everything goes well for you. We are waiting on DH blood tests results. Have been told another 4 weeks. Hopefully we can get an appointment pretty soon after that. so... onwards and upwards

 

[silverbell]

Wishing the lovely wibble wobble absolutely bundles of luck, strength and support for tomorrow when her hubby has his TESE.

I am wishing ever so hard for a very positive outcome for you both

 

[MissAma]

Hello ladies! Lots of positive outlooks in this thread! Good, that will get all those good sperm vibes going. O...kay, not attractive mental imagery there

Our brief update: we have a pre-screening call from the IVF clinic tonight and also today he is getting his Prolactin and Testosterone checked again in a desperate last ditch attempt to get hope without having his jewels cut open again Will keep you posted and keep reading your updates!