Male factor

[JASMAK]

DH has 3% normal sperm. ANY info here will help and be much appreciated. Thanks

 

[Deeni]

I don't know what that means at all but I am curious about it. We get the results of DH's sperm analysis tomorrow so maybe I will be able to pass along some info to you.

 

[chefamy1122]

I'm sorry I don't have any advice b/c my body is the one that is screwed up but I hope you get some responses

 

[JASMAK]

He also said that I am ovulating from both ovaries this cycle (that is WITHOUT Clomid) but is concerned that I am ovulating too early in my cycle.

 

[lioness168]

Jasmak, sending you lots of hugs .

What has the FS said about the SA results? Ovulating from both ovaries without any fertility drugs...wow. Do you know what day you ovulate on? I hope you get some answers soon xo

 

[insomnimama]

JASMAK I'm not much of an expert re: male factor, just wanted to stop by to wish you all the best with TTC- I remember you from before and I'm hoping everything comes together for you soon.

 

[rachelle1975]

Hey hun

Did they give you any advice on what might be the cause or what you can do to improve it?

Our first SA was apalling due to count/morphology/motility which led to very few decent

We followed the lifestyle advice and vitamins and things have been improving with every SA.

There are several natural supplements that may assist with male infertility, including:

- Maca. Maca is an herb native to the Andes mountains. In addition to helping with a low sperm count, Maca is also thought to be an aphrodisiac.

- Carnitine and acetylcarnitine are nutrients that helps sperm motility.

- It is also thought that fish oils could help increase sperm volume.

A variety of other herbs may assist with low sperm count, including:

- Salabmisri (Orchis mascula)

- Kokilaksha (Hygrophila auriculata Syn. Asteracantha longifolia)

- Vanya Kahu (Lactuca scariola)

- Kapikachchu (Mucuna pruriens)

- Suvarnavang (Mosaic gold)

- Extracts Vriddadaru (Argyreia speciosa)

- Gokshura (Tribulus terrestris) 64mg

-Jeevanti (Leptadenia reticulata)

- Shaileyam (Parmelia perlata) 32mg.

- Salabmisri (Orchis mascula)

- Kokilaksha (Hygrophila auriculata Syn. Asteracantha longifolia)

- Vanya kahu (Lactuca scariola Syn. L.serriola)

- Kapikachchhu (Mucuna pruriens)

- Suvarnavang (Mosaic gold)

- Extrs. Vriddadaru (Argyreia speciosa Syn. A.nervosa)

- Gokshura (Tribulus terrestris)

- Jeevanti (Leptadenia reticulata)

- Shaileyam (Parmelia perlata) 32mg.

There are also varieties of vitamin supplements that may assist with low sperm count. They include:

- Vitamin C

- Vitamin E

- Vitamin B12 Selenium

- Zinc Arginine

- Carnitine

There are several dietary measures that a man who has a low sperm count can take to attempt to increase his sperm count, including:

- Eat a diet that includes whole, unprocessed foods. The best foods for health in general, and also for sperm count problems, are whole grains, legumes, vegetables, fruits, nuts, and seeds.

- Eliminate alcohol intake. In addition to the general nutritional benefits of avoiding alcohol, avoiding alcohol may also assist with sexual performance issues.

- Identify and avoid food allergies.

- Raw sunflower seeds and pumpkin seeds have been shown to help with male fertility. It is recommended that a man with a low sperm count eat 1/4 cup of raw sunflower or pumpkin seeds each day.

- Drink at least 48 ounces of water every day.

- When possible, try to eat organic foods. Some studies suggest a connection between chemical fertilizers and pesticides with both male and female infertility.

 

[Lou32]

We're in a similar position in that none of them swim (don't know if absolutely none or a small % as we were so shocked we didn't ask). There's so much info out there it's difficult to know what to do for the best. The doc told us there was nothing at all we could do about it other than go with IVF, but I've read so many stories about sperm being improved with vitamins/herbs/acupuncture etc that it's got to work and it really worth giving it a go.
My OH has been on lycopene for a couple of months, which is meant to help, but we're still awaiting results of our second SA so will see...I posted a different thread about vitamins as I'm completely confused about which ones to get!

 

[BigFoot1980]

Hi JASMAK! I am sorry to hear about the results. rachelle1975 has given u very detailed advice. My DH also doesn't have great results and I have heard wellman tablets and Maca helps but there is so much information that I am always confused. I think Vitamin C and Zinc are the two most important ones.

Hope things get better soon.

 

[rachelle1975]

Hun

Whatever changes your DH makes will take 70-90 days to improve his SA so make sure the SAs are well spread

 

[Snowdrop]

Hi Jasmak, sorry to hear about your results. We're Male Factor too. Started out as 3% like you, since then we've had a 4% and the latest was 6%. We now going through ICSI (just failed first cycle, moving on to round 2 hopefully by December). We had very little response from doctors and NHS about any advice, but our consultant at the clinic we now go to was more helpful:

The usual no hot baths, give up smoking, limited alcohol, limit cycling and wear loose pants.

Take vitamin C and zinc.

She suggested a multi vit such as Wellman might help.

The other thing she suggested is 5 brazil nuts a day, the selenium in them is supposed to be the key ingredient.

You won't be surprised to hear that in our household brazil nuts are now referred to as sperm nuts!

Good luck!

 

[JASMAK]

Thanks for all the replies. I am in a bit of a state of shock quite honestly. I wish I knew this information months, even years ago. Everyone just assumed since I occasionally got pregnant, that it wasn't him at all. Now I am turning 35, he is turning 37...time is not on our side. I am mad and angry that I have ripped my life apart thinking that there was something that I was doing wrong...had surgery, tests, drugs. I am pissed really. Not at Rob, it's not his fault, but that it took this long to figure this all out. Three losses too. Makes me mad. And now what? IVF? Yeah right...$10,000.00 a shot here. That is not an option at all. I have asked about donor sperm (DH) and he flat out refuses.

 

[Deeni]

 

[lioness168]

Jasmak, I can hear and feel your pain. I am sure I would feel the same way under the same conditions. I'm sorry about the all the pain and heartbreak you've been through, you don't deserve it, no-one does . Hang in there...vent and let it out, and when you are ready you will move forward with re-newed hope. You are in my thoughts xo

 

[BigFoot1980]

I am really sorry ur having such a difficult time. We r all here for u.

 

[grneyednurse]

Jasmak...google "got pregnant with low sperm count" and you will read a whole lot of success stories where people whose docs told them they had a 1 or 3% chance of conceiving! Docs, I think try to give you the worse possible news and don't even bat an eye at the effect it has on our psyches instead of informing us of the all the possibilities/realities. Sperm counts change week to week month to month year to year, so you just don't know what the chances are (even docs do not know)-you even said you got pregnant before. So don't let it get you down as i am in the same boat and just trying everything we can and we won't be doing any ART.Just trying to be patient and give it a year more before i really worry. From what i have read is that it can take a year or up to two to get pregnant with low sperm count. In fact, I have even read quite a few stories on couples with azospermia (0 sperm) and then later getting pregnant! Docs seriously do not know why some men have zero or no sperm, but later seem to be normal. However, that being said time is not on your side (or mine-im 35), but as long as you don't have any issues you should still fall pregnant-it only takes longer! The waiting and not knowing is what kills us. Have faith.

 

[JASMAK]

He doesn't have low sperm count, he has normal count, but very few "normal" sperm. Only 3%. Is that the same thing?

 

[grneyednurse]

It's not the same, but may as well be...however, I have read over and over about people with all different kinds of "sperm problems" and still manage a BFP or two! Rarely have I read where people who knew they had sperm issues and never ended up pregnant. From what I read they get pregnant in a year or two or they go straight to ART. Google it if ya like.

 

[JASMAK]

It's not the same, but may as well be...however, I have read over and over about people with all different kinds of "sperm problems" and still manage a BFP or two! Rarely have I read where people who knew they had sperm issues and never ended up pregnant. From what I read they get pregnant in a year or two or they go straight to ART. Google it if ya like.

It is true, I have gotten pregnant three times in the last four years...three miscarriages.

 

[insomnimama]

JASMAK do you know whether the miscarriages are due to a problem on your end or whether they are related to the morphology of the sperm? As far as I know, usually poor morphology results in difficulty conceiving, as opposed to repeat miscarriages. Could there be both male and female factors at work?

From a web site on male fertility:
Sperm with low morphology can still fertilize. There is no reason to think that after fertilization these sperm would increase the miscarriage rate. Morphology only describes the outside packaging of the sperm, which has nothing to do with successful embryo development.