DH low sperm count & low motility

[universa_2k]

Hi everyone

So we were called to the dr yesterday after DH did a SA last week, we have been told that the results are low count and low motility. The GP was really quite tactless and told us blatantly that it is virtually impossible for hubby to father a child. Needless to say that this felt like the end of our world We went home and sobbed together at the fact that we would never have children.

I have to go back on Friday to be sent for my tests on hormones etc and then we have been told that we will be referred straight to the fertility clinic.

The more I think about it though, I can't help but think how wrong the Dr was for saying that to us, surely he is not an expert, there is so much that can be done these days and DH shouldn't be just written off like that? He asked if he smokes, drinks, wears tight clothing etc. Hubby answers no to all, it was then that we were told no chance.

There must be so many of you that have been in this situation, how did your GP handle the situation? Did they state this to you?

What happened next with you all? At the moment, we have so many unanswered questions, we don't even know what the level of results were? But he didn't say it was 0, surely if there were spermies to see low motility, there must have been some there?

DH is coming to my appointment on Friday, I am seeing a lady so we are going to ask her what the results actually were and maybe get some kind of hope back?

Thanks so much in advance for anyone that answers.

 

[susan_1981]

What a horrible doctor! I'm sure that he probably has lots of children and has never gone through the pain and heartache of struggling to conceive! My husband was in a similar position. His results weren't terrible, I think his count was 18 million the first time and 17 million the second time. I'm pretty sure his motility was normal though - I read the results but I barely understood them and it was quite a while ago.

My doctor, unlike yours, was fantastic though. She reassured me that it does only take one sperm to fertilise that egg so as long as there is one there, then there is a chance, albeit a small one (she didn't say that bit though!).

My husband had a sperm assessment and then they wanted to do a repeat one as sometimes things like stress or just a random bad sperm day can have an effect. We were referred to a fertility specialist who said that, while my husband's sperm results weren't bad, they weren't good and he clearly couldn't get me pregnant (which I knew to be crap because I conceived on cycle 3 when we first started trying but I miscarried). So anyway, she put us on the IVF register but wanted to have me checked as well just to make sure there was nothing wrong with me. She said it was up to me if I wanted the tests but I figured I may as well as there's no point going for IVF if there's something preventing me from getting pregnant!

At that point, I'd already had an HSG which checks if your tubes are clear, I'd had a scan of my ovaries, two blood tests - one on cycle day 21 and the other which is done between CD3-5 (I think). That all came back clear but the Fertility Specialist sent me for a lap and dye which checks for things like endometriosis, cysts, etc but, again, all came back clear for me.

It was a really long wait on the IVF register for us. I think I was on it for two years before I started working my way to the top. Typically then I fell pregnant naturally after 3.5 years of trying! I then fell pregnant 7 months after my son was born - we literally only tried that month - and my second son arrived 15 months after having my first. So all I would say is that, whether you go for IVF or not, don't give up hope because it can happen. And I've read plenty of stories of ladies whose OHs have really bad sperm results but conceive naturally x

 

[susan_1981]

Also, things I would recommend, lots of sex (I know there are lots of contradictory things on the internet about this and low sperm counts but it worked for us) and pre-seed. I used loads! Didn't second time round though. We got lucky without that time x

 

[Lovebug1821]

Hi universa_2k,
Wow, I can't believe your Dr said that. My husband has very low numbers on his sperm analysis. I have no factors. Our Dr recommended IVF w/ ICSI. And we are a first time success story with IVF/ICSI. I think as long as there is some sperm there to work with you always have a chance! You should see a different Dr!
How were your tests?

 

[Aurora CHK]

Hi ladies. I'm posting for the first time in a loooong time but am back on B&B as I have my first ICSI/IVF clinic appointment in the morning - nervous!

My hubby also has low count and low motility and our doctor was nice and like Susan's also highlighted that it only takes one good sperm out of the thousands of good ones that are still in a low sperm count - and told us he had lots of stories of couples he knew who had 'got lucky' whilst waiting for IVF to come around - again like Susan (but not, unfortunately, like us!)

I'm so sorry your doctor was so insensitive. Maybe they thought they were being kind in a way by being clear? I'm probably being too generous there!

Lots of luck x

 

[lizzie78]

Aaargh why do doctors do this?! Ours was similarly tactless and told me that I needed to accept that not everyone was cut out to be a parent and that it would never happen for me. I was absolutely devastated.

Things are a bit different for us as our real issue now is antibodies but we have increased DH's motility and overall numbers via vitamins. I figured anything helped. I spent hours trawling the net and comparing the different mixes that people were using and in the end I settled on Menevit. You can only buy is from Australia but you can replicate it with combinations of other vitamins available in the UK. My DH hates taking tablets so I bit the bullet and ordered it. When we went for our first consult at the fertility clinic interestingly they were also recommending Menevit.

It's hard but try not to be too disheartened some Dr's either don't know enough about the topic but don't recognise that or simply lack the understanding of what it is like to be struggling with infertility for any reason. I say take control, do all the things that you know you can - cut down caffeine, alcohol etc etc and be ready for your fertility clinic referral as to quote our consultant ICSI levels the playing field and gives us the same chance as everyone else without male factor issues.

 

[universa_2k]

Thank you so much for all your replies, you have made me feel so much more positive I think our doctor is quite 'old school' being a 60 year old!!! At least there are obviously some nice dr's out there going by your comments.

Susan, so sorry to hear about your mc, that must have been heartbreaking for you Such fantastic news that after everything you fell pregnant naturally twice tho
We have been using Conceive plus for quite a while now so we ok in that department There are so many stories on the net of people who have conceived naturally after so long, this can only be positive

Lovebug, I haven't started my tests yet - I am seeing a practitioner (not seeing the same GP!) to be referred for my tests tomorrow, DH is also coming with me so we can ask properly about his results as we were so shocked and heartbroken when we initially saw the GP, that we didn't ask anything!! We hope to get some proper sensible answers and find out actually how bad the results really were.
Congratulations on your success It must have been such a relief for you both

Aurora, I think that's being kind lol he was so blunt about it, like we were finished before anything had really started, but at the time we took what he was saying to us to be 'as it is', maybe he's right but he is no expert!
Good luck with your appointment this morning, I guess you have probably already been now, how did it go?

Lizzie, what an awful thing to say to you, god I really hate some Drs!! Hubby has started taking pre-conception vitamins etc hoping that these might help to increase things, he doesn't smoke, rarely drinks. We have both lost quite a lot of weight (me almost 4 1/2 stone, and DH almost 3 1/2) so neither of us are particularly 'overweight' anymore which has got to be a good thing
I know its early days for us, is there anything you can recommend for us to be ready for referral etc?

Thanks so much ladies, you are all great

 

[lizzie78]

It sounds like you are on top of most things you can do so take heart. I found that once I stopped dealing with GPs and hospital gynaecologists and moved onto the fertility clinic the mood completely changed. Now I feel like we have some positive steps to take and I'm sure that you will too. I'd say just keep doing what you are doing whilst you wait for your referral. I can't really help with your next steps because we had to self fund as we aren't eligible under the NHS so our route was a bit different. Definitely ask questions when you review the SA, in fact to DH's total mortification I took a photograph on my phone of our last one so that I can check what the different results were whenever I forget or want to. If you don't have it already I found Zita West's book "Guide to fertility and Assisted conception" usual and dip into and out of it as I need to.

Glad to see that your "current feeling" has improved

 

[Aurora CHK]

Hmmm, it didn't go great to be honest, they seemed to think the ultrasound they did of my ovaries/uterus showed some problems like not having many eggs and having some womb lining issues (adenomyosis), but said they would check the results and let me know next Wednesday at a full consultation meeting

I've looked up both those things and they look BAD. Hopefully none of you will have anything like this though! x

 

[universa_2k]

It sounds like you are on top of most things you can do so take heart. I found that once I stopped dealing with GPs and hospital gynaecologists and moved onto the fertility clinic the mood completely changed. Now I feel like we have some positive steps to take and I'm sure that you will too. I'd say just keep doing what you are doing whilst you wait for your referral. I can't really help with your next steps because we had to self fund as we aren't eligible under the NHS so our route was a bit different. Definitely ask questions when you review the SA, in fact to DH's total mortification I took a photograph on my phone of our last one so that I can check what the different results were whenever I forget or want to. If you don't have it already I found Zita West's book "Guide to fertility and Assisted conception" usual and dip into and out of it as I need to.

Glad to see that your "current feeling" has improved

Thanks Lizzie, we are feeling much more positive now, we found out that DH's results were not good, his count and motility were both extremely low (if I remember right, only 5 million count and only 2.5% motility, could have been the other way round!) but we have been assured that everything will be done that can be - the lady we saw on Friday was going to personally speak to the fertility clinic for the most up to date info, and is going to order every test available for me, and also get some advise regarding supplements etc for DH. She was absolutely fantastic and couldn't believe the way we were spoken to by the GP We are waiting for her to come back to us, but I know she will.

Do you mind me asking why you had to self fund?

I will have a look into the book recommendation, thank you.

I hope you are doing ok? x

 

[universa_2k]

Hmmm, it didn't go great to be honest, they seemed to think the ultrasound they did of my ovaries/uterus showed some problems like not having many eggs and having some womb lining issues (adenomyosis), but said they would check the results and let me know next Wednesday at a full consultation meeting

I've looked up both those things and they look BAD. Hopefully none of you will have anything like this though! x

Aww, i'm sorry to hear this - try not to worry to much, (easier said than done I know!) Hopefully when they have gone over your results there will be some better news for you