Home Sperm Concentration kits

[Lilly123]

Hi all - not sure if I am posting this in the right section - but thought it may be better than TTC.... I bought a home sperm concentration test from home health and did it on poor DH yesterday. I messed up the first test as put to much solution in but did the second and came out the same anyway as the first... you have to add a drop of sperm with 2 drops of different solution to a palette and after 15 minutes compare the test result to the actual result (colour it is meant to be) . It says it must be darker or the same as the result colour and his came out lighter which is meant to mean less than 20 million sperm and therefore low sperm count. Now u are meant to do second test in 3-7 days but now I dont have one and was wondering what to do... has anyone else used this test before. DH also on anti-depressants which I have read can lower sperm count to zero!! Any advice??

 

[Arcanegirl]

My only advice would be to get him checked properly through a doctor.

 

[trickytrouble]

Hi Tanya,

I can relate with you, although my OH had a proper test done we were advised to re-test in 8 weeks as he was run down and many factors can affect sperm, from a common cold to what meds he may be taking. Unfortunately and similarly to you my OH has done four of those home tests up until now (as we are still waiting for a slot to submit his new set to the hospital but down here they are a bit crap in terms of waiting lists for pathology etc). We did the same ones as you where the left window should turn blue but darker than the right window and all four came up completely negative and stayed white..

The best thing you can do is speak to your GP (or if you are being investigated, your gyno) and have the OH submit a proper sample to the hospital to be looked at. Also best if the OH doesnt have intercourse for 3-5 days beforehand, stays away from alcohol and cigarettes, although with the anti-depressants its well worth checking with the GP as my OH was taking sleeping tablets which we were advised could well reduce his count.

I am also holding on to hope because a few years back I tried one of those female home fertility tests which claimed that I "wasnt" fertile when it works out I am (after a laparoscopy & cystectomy etc etc) so I dont always believe home tests and I also took a chlamydia one which said I had it when I didnt !!!!!!!! so the best way to go is through a doctor

Good luck !!

TTx

 

[maz]

I think that with the home tests they are open to 'us' making mistakes, so I would advise that you seek professional advice and not get too worried by the results from the home test. One of the first tests that should be organised is for a SA for DH anyway, and if there have been any side effects from the anti-depressants, at least your doctor may be able to try different medications that don't have the same side effects.

xx

 

[Lilly123]

hi all - thanks for the advice.. I have a gynae appt on 28 October so will speak to her then and take it from there.... in mean time.. DH is weaning himself off antidepressants as he has been wanting to go off them as he was never depressed just stressed and he has now been on for 2 years... he will also be taking a fertile supplement for men and we will see what happens... at least I know a potential issue exists but the test may be wrong so we will see... the test did not come out white but light blue so hopefully there are some spermies there albeit if not alot... it just takes one as they say... thanks girls.. really appreciate the support... this will only be our 7th month TTC but I just feel something is out of place as have been charting etc and nothing... I am ovulating and have regular periods so just wanted to check DHs sperm count.. Oh well.. lets see what my appt end of Oct brings...

 

[trickytrouble]

ooo remember lots of Zinc for your OH too....

would also highly recommend both of you taking something called Maximol Solutions which is actually a food supplement but has tons of natural vitamins including zinc and "apparently" can help fertility. I am not that convinced but reckon anything is worth a go !! (my friend is a nutritionist for preggers women and recommended this).

Weening off the anti-depressants could make all the difference though.. who knows !! I hold every hope in that aspect

TTx

 

[meisha]

hello there.. i too bought a home sperm kit it was called fertility score. i did make some mistakes and it came back that bf had low sperm. he is npw waiting to go have SA as I think the docs should determine this area.

I have just looked up to see if there are any links of anti-depressants and low sperm count and there seems to be many articles and references to this being true. Prozac being the main culprit so your DH has made a good decision to reduce or even stop them. If his depression returns then maybe he could try a lower dose or a more gentler AD.

I was on Sertraline for well over a year and although there is a very low % of babies born with this in their system I decided to come off them. I feel fine, have the occasional down moment but feel OK.

Tell your DH to remain positive and take plenty of vits! My bf is on fertilcare which has all the receommended vits in for preconception. It costs about 7.99 for 60 tabs off web.

xxxx

 

[Lilly123]

thanks so much for all the kind words.... well we are going to try the stopping antidepressants and then taking vitamins and then taking another home sperm test in about 8 weeks and see if any change.. if not... DH will go to doc for a test... so thats my plan of action.... thanks for all your support... just showed up today so felt really low as again not our month and with DHs sperm showing low has lowered my hopes but I am sure it can be fixed so onwards and upwards...

 

[maz]

I may be wrong, but I think st john's wort is a natural anti-depressant... Perhaps your DH could try this instead of the medication, I would imagine the side effects would be less harsh on his body. It might be worth looking into anyway.

 

[Helen]

Hi

I just wanted to echo what the others have said and that it is really worth getting your DH checked out by specialists. I'm not sure I really have much faith in the home kits particularly after our FS said he didn't have much faith in the ones the GP ordered!

Besides which the doctors will check out other things besides just the count. My GP offered to do a SA on my DH at 8 months TTC although we didn't take him up on the offer then so it'd definitely be worth asking when you go.

Sorry to hear about showing up.

Helen

xx

 

[MissAma]

Hello Tanya, it sounds like the same sort of test that tipped us to send us to the doctors to do a proper SA. Ours was very light blue, barely blue at all. We thought it wasn't accurate because let's face it, it was just a home test off ebay lol but lo and behold the sperm count was indeed zero when the proper results came back. That's not to say this is your situation at all - I certainly hope it is not!- but it's certainly a good idea to do a proper Sperm Analysis. Good luck!

 

[pixielou]

Hi Tanya, it's good that your checking all this out but to be honset you'd be much better going to the docs and getting it done either there or through clinic! That way they can tell you exact amounts, cos you want the motility, volume and also the morphology of them!

 

[Lilly123]

Thanks girls - I just want to see if DH weaning himself off antidepressants has an effect and if test still light will send him to docs which should be in 8 weeks time.. lets hold thumbs and thanks again for all your responses

Just dont want to send him now until we know its not just the antidepressants....poor DH.. feel so bad for him ...

 

[PCOS,CF,&TTC]

How do I get my DH to understand that he needs to get evaluated as well? What approach did you use?

 

[Lilly123]

How do I get my DH to understand that he needs to get evaluated as well? What approach did you use?

I just told him he needs to take the home test just to see if there is a problem and he agreed.. he knows how much I want this and I think he will do anything to get a bubba... good luck hun... just ask him if he is willing to do it and see what he says - thats why I thought I would try the home test first as less invasive for him.... I mean we ladies have to go through the TTC planning and everything so they can also do their part! Good luck.

 

[PCOS,CF,&TTC]

How do I get my DH to understand that he needs to get evaluated as well? What approach did you use?

I just told him he needs to take the home test just to see if there is a problem and he agreed.. he knows how much I want this and I think he will do anything to get a bubba... good luck hun... just ask him if he is willing to do it and see what he says - thats why I thought I would try the home test first as less invasive for him.... I mean we ladies have to go through the TTC planning and everything so they can also do their part! Good luck.

Thanks for your encouragement. My DH wants this too, probably as bad as I do, but he's so hesitant to actually be evaluated. I'm kindof glad that I also have a "problem" so that he's not the sole reason. Maybe he'll warm up to it soon.....