Dealing with azoospermia?

[Flake-y]

Well we saw the urologist today who was really good. He said he thinks we have a very high chance of retrieving sperm as there appears to be a blockage. Fingers crossed, but he said we have a good case to get the SSR covered on the NHS. So finally we have some good news!

Its so difficult because I don't want to be too pleased as we obviously have a long way to go yet, with actually retrieving the sperm and IVF. But its a start and one step closer to our own

That sounds very promising; did he do any tests, or just an examination? Ours told us it looked like a blockage too, & all the tests came back normal but there was no sperm.

DO you know how long you'll have to wait for the SSR? Just out of interest, are you in Scotland too?

 

[Deb111]

Out of interest, what tests did your hubby's all have before the SSR?

Terry's just had blood tests and a 20 second physical examination

 

[Flake-y]

Out of interest, what tests did your hubby's all have before the SSR?

Terry's just had blood tests and a 20 second physical examination

Same, our urologist did a physical exam, said they were normal sized, he took a full medical history & did all the blood tests, chromosome, FSH etc, which all came back normal!

The poor urologist was expecting to get sperm & he didn't; think he was very surprised & felt quite bad!!! Hmf!!!

He said it was only a testicular biopsy that could diagnose the condition that caused K to have no sperm, so any other tests he did would have come back normal too.

 

[Dancergirl]

Thank you for your response Flake-y. They also gave us a 25% chance, but told us if we do the injections than it will boost up to about 37% chance of the IUI working.

My cycle is very regular and everything looks great with me except my progesterone level was low, but the clomid has made that level sky rocket.

Good luck with your IUI this week!!!

 

[Flake-y]

37% is very good! Hope it works for you this time.

 

[april4jdg]

oh- I had the HSG done and the radiologist said everything was clear-He even called one of the nurses over to look at "the beautiful, perfect spillage from both sides"
So weird...anyway I am all clear- next up DH to the urologist to for an exam because of the azoospermia.

 

[Deb111]

That's great news april. Glad everything is clear xx

 

[april4jdg]

Just a physical exam?

 

[waitingginger]

Hi Ladies.
Just checking in, feeling very down also at the minute!! i think its hard when nothing appears to be happening and there are no appointments in sight!

These are the tests my OH has had so far:
2 Sperm Analysis - 0 sperm there was a note saying evidence of dead sperm
External examination (Urologist)- couldnt feel any blockages everything normal
Ultrasound scan- 'free flow' dont know whether that means no bloackages or they could see sperm!! wasnt allowed in with OH

we now get reffered to a fertility clinic and i am guessing have to do all the tests all over again!! having read some of these posts really hoping OH will get SSR! i am slightly worried now!! x

 

[loobylou_01]

Out of interest, what tests did your hubby's all have before the SSR?

Terry's just had blood tests and a 20 second physical examination

My DH had examination by urologist and bloods done, he referred for a scan which showed no problems, then we saw fertility consultant who did another exam, he gave us 30% chance of finding sperm with the ssr, then straight onto surgery. they did find sperm it was just abnormal xx

 

[loobylou_01]

Well we saw the urologist today who was really good. He said he thinks we have a very high chance of retrieving sperm as there appears to be a blockage. Fingers crossed, but he said we have a good case to get the SSR covered on the NHS. So finally we have some good news!

Its so difficult because I don't want to be too pleased as we obviously have a long way to go yet, with actually retrieving the sperm and IVF. But its a start and one step closer to our own

That's fantastic news, really hope there's a big fat blockage stopping the swimmers from getting out!

 

[loobylou_01]

Out of interest, what tests did your hubby's all have before the SSR?

Terry's just had blood tests and a 20 second physical examination

My DH had examination by urologist and bloods done, he referred for a scan which showed no problems, then we saw fertility consultant who did another exam, he gave us 30% chance of finding sperm with the ssr, then straight onto surgery. they did find sperm it was just abnormal xx

DH had the chromosome blood test too!

 

[hulahoops04]

He has had blood tests and a few physical exams. The urologist he saw yesterday who specialises in fertility did a physical exam and said he's pretty sure he has no van deferens (the tubes which transport the sperm). He felt that the epididymis is distended in each testicle (which you can definately see i one, but he was earlier told this was a cyst). He has to have one further blood test to see if he is a cystic fibrosis carrier, as this is linked to the absense on van deferens. This would only be a problem though if I were also a carrier.

No dates for SSR. As our appointment with the fertility specialists is on 1 october he said it is best if they organise this so everything will be organised through one speciality, rather than seeing everyone like we have been doing!

So does anyone know what comes next for us? I was hoping they would start giving me hormones at our next appointment to get me ready for IVF. Not sure though if they will wait until the SSR is done first. I really hope not as I just want everything done as quickly as possible as its so difficult waiting.

 

[hulahoops04]

Hi Flake-y, forgot to add that I'm in Manchester not Scotland. Wish I were though as I love it up there x

 

[waitingginger]

Hulahoops i am in Manchester too!! whwre about are you? we saw a urologist too who said we would be better dealing with everything through a fertility speacalist! we dont have our date for the fertility specalist yet just waiting on appointment with GP for the referral. Urologist told us to ask for St Marys hospital though!

Just out of interest how could the urologist tell about the absence of the van deferens? my OH also has what we were told was a cyst! we havent had full report from urologist at doctors yet! wonder if this is something that would be picked up at the ultrasound! its all so confusing i want to make sure we have covered everything! x

 

[hulahoops04]

We are at St Mary's too, mainly because that is where I am a midwife. You can tell about the absense of van deferens just from a physical exam. My husband said he did have a very good poke around! The urologist we saw yesterday was Dr Payne normally based at the MRI who was really good. It was definately worth the £200 to see him privately, which hopefully will have speeded things up a bit. I would definately recommed him and he explained everything really clearly.

 

[waitingginger]

the Urologist we saw was at stepping hill in stockport. he said he couldnt do much for us had a feel around and would send a report back to the GP and said to ask our GP to refer us to st Marys. we will know more i suppose when we get all the results and reports and things back. just cant wait to get referred there because feel like we are getting passed from pillar to post! I have had a look at St marys fertility website and they do seem very good!!

x

 

[Flake-y]

He has had blood tests and a few physical exams. The urologist he saw yesterday who specialises in fertility did a physical exam and said he's pretty sure he has no van deferens (the tubes which transport the sperm). He felt that the epididymis is distended in each testicle (which you can definately see i one, but he was earlier told this was a cyst). He has to have one further blood test to see if he is a cystic fibrosis carrier, as this is linked to the absense on van deferens. This would only be a problem though if I were also a carrier.

No dates for SSR. As our appointment with the fertility specialists is on 1 october he said it is best if they organise this so everything will be organised through one speciality, rather than seeing everyone like we have been doing!

So does anyone know what comes next for us? I was hoping they would start giving me hormones at our next appointment to get me ready for IVF. Not sure though if they will wait until the SSR is done first. I really hope not as I just want everything done as quickly as possible as its so difficult waiting.

THat's a good sign, no vas deferens, that means that it's more likely that there is sperm in the testicles, but it can't get out. Our urologist had a good feel about & said DH had a vas, that he could feel it. I had a feel about too (!!!!) & I felt a tube that goes from the testicles; think that might be it? I didn't know what I was feeling for though, I was just nosey!!!

I guess it will be the SSR for your DH next; we had that first, although some clinics will do the SSR at the same time as EC. Prob your FS will be able to tell you more. Hope you do't have to wait too long!!!

 

[Dancergirl]

My husband had an ultrasound and a physical exam with the urologist. He also has a cyst that they found. The urologist just told him to make sure to get it checked annually to make sure it doesn't turn into anything more serious. But he also told us that the cyst he has doesn't have anything to do with the infertility aspect.

 

[Deb111]

Hi Ladies.
Just checking in, feeling very down also at the minute!! i think its hard when nothing appears to be happening and there are no appointments in sight!

These are the tests my OH has had so far:
2 Sperm Analysis - 0 sperm there was a note saying evidence of dead sperm
External examination (Urologist)- couldnt feel any blockages everything normal
Ultrasound scan- 'free flow' dont know whether that means no bloackages or they could see sperm!! wasnt allowed in with OH

we now get reffered to a fertility clinic and i am guessing have to do all the tests all over again!! having read some of these posts really hoping OH will get SSR! i am slightly worried now!! x

Hi Amy

The waiting is just horrible and so frustrating!

I don't see why you wouldn't get the SSR. It wasn't even a question with us, but we do have to pay £900 towards it. The ICSI will be free though. The urologist couldn't explain why we have to pay for that bit in our circumstances (not like it's because of a vasectomy for example). We haven't had any funding to apply for.

Hoping you get some good news soon xx