Hello! I'm new here but most definitely not new to ttc. DH and I have been actively trying for about 2 years. I'm 29, he's 34. I've had irregular cycles as long as I can remember (long with brief, albeit painful, bleeding), but I've had testing up the whazoo (technical term) which confirms my reproductive health is not cause for concern. I find this hard to believe when my cycles range anywhere from 29-65 days, but RE and obgyn insist. *shrugs* My super darling (go ahead and barf) husband has low testosterone, low sperm count, and low sperm motility. He experienced minor retrograde ejaculation due to some scar tissue, but that was corrected in July. He has been an energetic athlete with healthy hormonal levels most of his life, but his body went on a downward spiral following an injury at the end of 2015. He saw a new specialist to get him on the right track to raise his testosterone and sperm count, as well as just feel much better in general. Obviously, he can't take testosterone replacement since that would likely drop his counts to zero. He's taking a pharmacy's worth of other prescriptions and supplements, including an oral anti-fugal typically intended for vaginal infections! Per the doctor's suggestion, we also adopted a gluten-free and low sugar diet to reduce inflammation (and hopefully correct some leaky gut issues that are heightening some imbalances).
We were told we have no hope of conceiving until my husband sees significant improvement in numbers. If his counts do not improve, we are unlikely candidates for IUI, as his counts aren't high enough for success. Instead, we will be recommended for IVF. If he does improve, we won't see results for at least 6 months.
I'm just so damn frustrated. I can't help but feel a glimmer of hope all the freaking time. I even caved and bought some pregnancy tests today, I guess just so I could feel that familiar disappointment? I don't know. And I'm super happy for other people having babies! I just can't take another comment about relaxing, it happening when I don't expect it, whatever happened to everything in moderation, etc. My mother had 4 kids in 5 years, and she can be just the worst about these comments and crapping all over the extra measures my husband I have to take to get pregnant. Same with my sister, who had 2 kids in 3 years. She even had the nerve to say that it wasn't worth it for people over 35 to have kids since they are so tired. Ummm... What?!
Anyway, I'm not sure exactly what I'm doing here. I just need some buddies on this journey. However, I wish NONE of us were on it! I suppose I would have been happier for my search for support to come up empty.
Okay, nice to meet you all!