Dealing with azoospermia?

[Deb111]

Snd - fabulous article thanks!

 

[Deb111]

Deb, how's things going for you? That must have been so frustrating for you that your clinic have missed your ovulation. Our clinic starts testing from day 10 on a frozen cycle & on our last cycle I ovulated on day 14. Funny how we remember these things... Do they still have you tracking or are you just counting it as a missed cycle?

MJ - it's lovely to see you back

Our clinic doesn't bother to get you to test yourself with opk's; they just go on scan info. They're still not convinced that the clinic scanning me were correct in saying I'd ovulated, but I've been doing opk's ever since and I'm on cd 19 today and my cycles are pretty regular, so I'm not testing anymore - we clearly missed it.

I regret not doing opk's myself now, but my clinic said it wasn't necessary and I thought why go to the extra expense and screw my head up weeing on a stick every few hours if it wasn't necessary. I blame the stress we've been under with a lot of other things lately for not thinking straight and doing what I usually do in life; not trusting anyone and wanting to be in control of it myself whatever they said

Anyway, with the fact that the 2 clinics seem to not agree and our main clinic wanted me to 'pop down' (3 hours journey each way) so they could check for themselves! WE took control and took the decision out of their hands and cancelled the cycle. I couldn't cope with all the uncertainty of 'we might' 'we can't' 'oh, maybe we still could'

 

[deafgal01]

Well, we got the results back yesterday. Surprisingly I wasn't as crushed as the first time we found out. So that "mental attitude" of thinking it'd be the same helped.

Results- 2nd SA came in with 0 sperm count. Dr discussed with DH the plan. It's either blockage or sperm production issue - which I already knew from everything I've read in here and the research. Plan of action is to start on medicine for 1 1/2 months and retest the blood work to see if it's helping DH's testosterone. If that doesn't work, we're looking at surgery in the summer (he'll need 4 to 5 days off so if it happens in summer, that works out for us cuz we both are off). I'm thinking the medicine helps with sperm production issue (since they are supposed to "raise" the testosterone level). So surgery would mean blockage... We really don't know which one is the issue cuz the dr said it could be either one. I guess this means we're confirmed for azoospermia.

Deb- I like your idea of the ladies in here supporting each other on weight loss. I could stand to lose a few pounds myself (20 isn't that much) while I'm waiting to see how this all pans out.

 

[Deb111]

Sorry the news wasn't better deafgal

Surgery doesn't necessarily mean a blockage hun. If the sperm production can't be driven up massively, there still wont be enough to get into the ejaculate. My hubby doesn't have a blockage but needed surgery.

What meds has he been put on? xx

 

[deafgal01]

Idk... DH didn't say which med. Just that it's supposed to raise his testosterone levels to tell his testes to stop being lazy and do its job. Love how he worded that this morning... I was asking him how does the whole male function thing works - cuz I didn't realize sperm were in a separate tube from the semen liquid.

 

[Deb111]

I'd be interested to know what meds he's on when you get a chance.

My hubby was on tamoxifen which changed him almost overnight! and his testosterone level went up pretty quickly, as did his fsh, but his oestradiol also went up which wasn't ideal so the specialist changed him to anastrazole xx

 

[deafgal01]

oestradiol ? Now I gotta go google that when I get a chance.

How did he change overnight? His dr mentioned the mild side effects of this med might be higher sex drive, more hair, and a little weight gain.

 

[Deb111]

oestradiol = female hormone - it can balance out the good effects of the testosterone a bit

My hubby has low testosterone and underactive thyroid, so he quite often mimics symptoms of depression, has no energy, no motivation, NO sex drive whatsoever, not much emotional support for me, in his own little world etc

Within a week of taking the tamoxifen, his energy levels shot up, he was happier, incredibly motivated, much more supportive of me, doing jobs around the house and feeling pleased with himself for doing them. It was like a great cloud had been lifted. Unfortunately his sex drive has never returned

We had a blood test after 2 weeks and his testosterone had shot up from something like 8 to 13 so it all co-incided with the change of mood / energy

Unfortunately he can't take those tablets permanently, so he's gradually slipped back down to how he was before. We need to see his specialist again to find out of the mTESE procedure can be done if necessary because if it can't or there's no point because he took out all the good tubules then we need to get on him testosterone replacement therapy. Can't do that until we're 100% sure we wont or can't get anymore sperm from him

 

[deafgal01]

Ah interesting. Dh has no prob with his sex drive- he actually wants it more often than I do.

Good luck with your man - hope they figure out whether or not he has any more sperms.

 

[CanadianMaple]

I'm so sorry the news wasn't great deafgal. This is such a roller coaster, isn't it?

Deb, I hope you get yours answers soon. You've been waiting for a long time. I'm sorry things are still so up in the air.

We are trying to mentally prepare ourselves for our first RE visit on Wednesday. We know that they won't have any answers about DH, but I do have questions about my high prolactin and estrogen/testosterone being low. So, while we wait for testing on DH, I hope they can look further at me too. Do you think they could even start B/W on DH without a uro, or will we have another long wait there?

 

[snd80]

Deaf- Sorry the news wasn't any better, but at least you were mentally prepared this time and not as shocked as you were the first time.

Deb- I am all for starting a weight loss support of us azoo ladies! I weighed Sunday, 1/15, then again last night at the gym and have lost 2 lbs since Sunday! Now could be cause AF is here this week.... IDK, but I will take it anyways!!!

MJ- Hate things didn't work out! Don't give up though! One day it WILL be our turn!!!! One way or another!!!

 

[SunUp]

I am super excited....
DH's insurance covers 100% of IVF for us!
Doing a lot of tests this month and hoping to have our plan determined by next month!

Hope you all are having a great week

 

[snd80]

Yay Sun! You are one lucky girl!

 

[Deb111]

Great news Sun - that's one less thing to have to worry about! xx

 

[wibble wobble]

We got our final results today.
It's not good.
I will never have my husbands biological children It is inoperable.
Numb and heartbroken.

Really sorry for you sending you huge virtual It's really hard to be told your never going to have your husbands baby. Give yourself plenty of time to grieve the baby that wont be. Take some time to talk through your feelings together,the worst thing you can do is keep it all inside. I did this for 2 weeks and ended up having a meltdown in work.

Counselling may not be for you,but it helped me and mine to understand how we were feeling and why we were feeling that way.

 

[wibble wobble]

Deb- I am all for starting a weight loss support of us azoo ladies! I weighed Sunday, 1/15, then again last night at the gym and have lost 2 lbs since Sunday! Now could be cause AF is here this week.... IDK, but I will take it anyway

I've lost 2lbs too I was hoping that by now I'd be almost back to my weight before the azoo diagnosis but still 10lbs to go for that and I'd like to shift a further 7 after that. I think it's a great idea for us to support with weight loss as well as the azoo. We could swap tips

 

[raelynn]

Do you think they could even start B/W on DH without a uro, or will we have another long wait there?

Canadian Maple - I don't know how it works in different areas but here in the US our RE sent hubby for blood work before we've seen the urologist. They'll fax his results over for our first appointment with the urologist so we don't waste any time.


I'm up for the weight loss support too. I've been trying to get back to a better weight so I know that I am in the best possible shape when we start our IVF cycle. I want to know I did everything I can to try and make this work.

 

[KB38]

Definitely up for the weight loss club! I've put on ALOT of weight since DH's diagnosis. I've been trying since New Year but not getting anywhere! We're going away on Wednesday for 5 nights so come Tuesday the week after, I am determined to at least get back to my pre-azoo weight!!!!!

 

[deafgal01]

Clomiphere Citrate is the name of the med they're trying him on. Anyone have any experience with their hubby using it?

 

[MJ73]

Sun you are so lucky! That will relieve a heap of stress for you guys. A big YAY! Happy news xx