Male factor Infertility

[Relaxedlevis]

Hi there everyone,
I figured I would update on my situation for anyone that was having issues with this. I am scheduled to go in for a testicular ultrasound on Wednesday morning. I found out 4 years ago I was the reason my DW and I haven't had children yet. Since that time I have been working hard to "fix" myself. Here are some of my finding so far:

2010: Went to doctor to figure out fertility issues. Eventually determined to be me. I was mortified that they told me I wouldn't be able to do anything about it. They had me do blood tests which returned normal and semen analysis's that returned bad motility, morphology, and really low sperm counts. Doctor suggests IVF right away. My wife insists - not going to happen.

2011: I lost 50 pounds to get myself to my a weight of 165-175 pounds. I am 5'10 and was an athletic build but got a desk job in 2007 - letting myself go so to speak without noticing.

2012: Still no BFP with this weight loss and good eating. Start doing weight training. Building muscle and getting rid of fat. At this time I was taking Whey Protein and eating a generally more nitrogen friendly inducing diet.

Early 2013: Decided it was time to figure out how I was doing because still no BFP.
Supplements I was on at this time:
3x 1000MG L-Carnitine
1x Men Daily multivitamin with 87mg of Selenium

First test: Semen analysis 9 million per ml with 20% motility/ 5ML sample 56 Hours since last ejaculation. Semen was white but watery with few yellow clumps.
Second test: 9 million per ml with 24% motility/ 5ML sample 84 hours since last ejaculation. Semen was white but watery with no clumps.

The doctor then ordered a scrotal ultrasound and a prostate check. I returned normal on both and was then referred to a new Urologist.

Middle 2013: Decide to take things seriously-er - if that is a word - and hunker down on what vitamins my body could use. Since it is about a 3 month wait time on improving sperm and from reading here I decrypted this current list of my vitamins I'm taking:

3x 100 MG of Co-Q10 / 1 morning - 1 noon - 1 evening
3x 1500 MG of Vitamin C Time extended release / 1 morning - 1 noon - 1 evening
1x Time Release Vitamin B-100 Ultra B-Complex / 1 noon
2x 400 MU of Vitamin E / 1 noon - 1 evening
1x Men Daily multivitamin with 87mg of Selenium / 1 morning
6x 1000MG of Fish Oils (Omega 3) / 2 morning - 2 noon - 2 evening
4x 50MG of Maritime Pine Bark Extract 2 morning - 2 evening
6x 500MG L-Carnitine / 2 morning - 2 noon - 2 evening (no food)
3x 1000MG of L-Arginine / 1 morning - 1 noon - 1 evening (no food)
6x 500MG of Maca / 2 morning - 2 noon - 2 evening
2x 50MG of Selenium / 1 noon - 1 evening
2x 25MG of Zinc /1 noon - 1 evening
3x Veinsmart by Lorna Vanderhaeghe / 1 morning - 1 noon - 1 evening
1x 5ML of Creatine / 1 morning with my protein and fiber.
5x 500ML Water / all day and while taking these

Added note: Ejaculate every 2-3 days.
Needless to say - this is a lot of vitamins/work and not for the faint of heart. Doing weight training has given me discipline to follow up doing this everyday. Since doing this, I have felt very energetic and haven't been sick.

End of 2013: September Semen analysis: 28 million per ml with 40% motility/5.5 ML sample and about 3 days since last ejaculation. Huge improvement. At this point the doctors have inspected me and currently won't give credit to the vitamins. I have noticed my semen is very white now and has more clumps than before.

2014: I have done 2 more Semen analysis and am scheduled on Wednesday to go in for my Ultrasound. On Tuesday the following week I will find my results. I'll post them here.

There is probably some stuff I'm missing in between but hopefully I'll remember and can put it here. I also want to say that without this site I wouldn't have been able to put anything into motion. Everyone's stories and information has been so helpful and enlightening. I am hoping I can also do that for others here.

 

[candefloss30]

Just wanted to day well done to you and your perserverance! I've read a lot about diet improving fertility for men and women.

My DH has 10 mil sperm count and 43% motility which is just over borderline so we have started juicing and he has cut out some convenience food and alcohol.

 

[Relaxedlevis]

Well, got the ultrasound done and it was enlighting - I was able to take a few quick pictures of what my things look like inside. Lots of red in some of them. The attached picture is my right testicle. My left one bothers me sometimes. Didn't want to post a whole lot in case it was too graphic. Figured it is informative. The tech couldn't give me any idea of what results to expect. Looks like I'm waiting til Tuesday for more information.

 

[Kelly9]

Best of luck! Your latest numbers aren't super bad. My husband managed to get me pregnant once with lower counts then that!

 

[messica]

Just wanted to drop by with a kudos to you for all your hard work! Holy buckets!

My husband had numbers similar to your first SA throughout despite dietary and daily habit changes so it's great the vitamin regimen is obviously working. We saw a reproductive urologist who did an ultrasound that also looked similar to yours. He has always had mild to moderate pain/sensitivity to the right and he was diagnosed with a (congenitally) under/poorly developed testicle (it is round as opposed to oval and smaller in size). The red indicated inflammation, doc said there was no fix in his situation and said assisted reproduction was our best chance. We had done three IUI's at that point so our next step was IVF which we are blessed enough to be able to move forward with at this time.

However you decide to move forward I wish you luck. Seems you've put an awful lot into this and deserve a happy ending for your efforts as far as I'm concerned

 

[Relaxedlevis]

Thank you very much Kelly and Messica!

Well, I got back from the Urologist today and she gave me awesome news. I did get a little bit of bad news as well. So - starting with the bad:

My ultrasound came back with a 3mm wide vein on my left side sorta wrapping itself around things. Since this testicle hangs lower that the right and this is the only vein, she didn't seem overly concerned enough yet that an operation to fix this vein was in order. From the exam she did just after telling me points to why I have pain on the left side.

OK - so on to the good news!

My semen analysis:
31 million per ml with 62% motility/ 5ML sample = vitamins working and they are now convinced of that too.

I'm extremely happy with the results. I also mentioned to her that we were trying Softcups after intercourse. She hadn't heard of that before but was convinced it was a great idea. Crossing fingers that we'll have a BFP soon

 

[messica]

That is phenomenal news! So happy for you both!!!

 

[Kelly9]

thats a great count and motility! The highest my DH ever had was 34 mil total count and that was the cycle they used his sperm for our ivf lol. Usually his counts are 16 mil total, 40% motility and 3% morph (out of a scale of 5). What vitamins are you taking?

Is the vein a varicocele vein?

 

[Relaxedlevis]

Thank you Messica and Kelly!! I just found out today that someone I work with has gotten their wife pregnant finally - happy for them but wishing it won't be long for us either.


The vitamins I've been taking:
3x 100 MG of Co-Q10 / 1 morning - 1 noon - 1 evening
3x 1500 MG of Vitamin C Time extended release / 1 morning - 1 noon - 1 evening
1x Time Release Vitamin B-100 Ultra B-Complex / 1 noon
2x 400 MU of Vitamin E / 1 noon - 1 evening
1x Men Daily multivitamin with 87mg of Selenium / 1 morning
6x 1000MG of Fish Oils (Omega 3) / 2 morning - 2 noon - 2 evening
4x 50MG of Maritime Pine Bark Extract 2 morning - 2 evening
6x 500MG L-Carnitine / 2 morning - 2 noon - 2 evening (no food)
3x 1000MG of L-Arginine / 1 morning - 1 noon - 1 evening (no food)
6x 500MG of Maca / 2 morning - 2 noon - 2 evening
2x 50MG of Selenium / 1 noon - 1 evening
2x 25MG of Zinc /1 noon - 1 evening
3x Veinsmart by Lorna Vanderhaeghe / 1 morning - 1 noon - 1 evening
1x 5ML of Creatine / 1 morning with my protein and fiber.
5x 500ML Water / all day and while taking these

The vein is very noticeable through the skin now that I know where I'm looking. It is varicose to the point of varicocele. Now that I understand what it looks like and how it feels - the Urologist wants me to monitor it. It does look like an enlarged vein through the skin and can't be missed. I think something like this should be the first thing they check along with a SA but it seems they don't so knowing is the first step for sure.

 

[Kelly9]

Usually they fix the vein to increase chances of conception. I have no idea if my husband has this cause we never made it to the urologist but I'm surprised they're not removing it. Though I thought it usually impacts Sperm count and you don't have issues there. I'm not sure if it affects motility or morphology.

 

[Relaxedlevis]

So true Kelly! The vitamins may be mitigating the problems but I'm still hopeful that what I've been working towards will be a BFP soon!