Semen Analysis results (not good)

[Miss_Awesome]

A few weeks ago, I posted that DH went to get a semen analysis and had a crappy experience (told to go to a smelly bathroom that hadn't been cleaned in ages and then the people didn't know what they were doing). Well, last night he came home from work and told me the results... very low count.

He was told the count should be at 40 million per milliliter for it to be considered "normal" and he only had 2.5 million. On top of that, the volume was low and I think there's some other things wrong, but he only went to pick up the results on his way to work (the count/volume were read over the phone) today. He did say that everything was time-stamped two and a half hours AFTER he'd given the sample. We're wondering if this has anything to do with the results being so low since if we'd done the sample at home, it had to be there within 30 min, WHY did they wait over TWO hours to test it?!

We'd discussed doing IUI as our next step if his count were low, but we weren't expecting it to be THIS low! Plus, from everything we've read by other people, most doctors won't even consider doing IUI if the pre-washing count is under 5 million. We are about 5-10 years away from being able to afford IVF and it doesn't appear it will ever happen on its own.

I guess I just needed to vent because I feel like the world has ended. It hasn't, obviously.. but it's really miserable to be us right now. I know other ladies and their OHs or DHs have it worse, but it just feels like we have nowhere to turn from this.

 

[PinkPeony]

I'm so sorry to hear this Miss. I remember your story about your DH doing his sample and it definitely sounded dodgy. Is there a different place you can go to? I know in my experience there can be a huge range in counts. For example my DH had to do a DNA fragmentation test 2 weeks ago and his results actually pretty darn good (for a low count guy). He had something like 20 million... fast forward to a week later when we're doing an IUI (the sample that actually matters of course) and he ends up with less than a million after the wash! I can't remember what is was before they washed it sorry - I was so shattered from hearing 900,000..... They were only a week apart!! So honestly I give up trying to figure it out but it's a very delicate test I think. There are so many factors that seem to affect it.

I understand how devastating it is to hear there's a sperm problem. But I wouldn't lose hope just yet - definitely repeat the test.

 

[Miss_Awesome]

Thank you so much for replying! The place he tested at was one where they take referrals from doctors and nurses for blood tests, urine tests, etc. Or, they'll do a urine drug test requested by an employer. They were just so...anti-fertility? I guess that's the only way to describe it. I mean, they do SA, but it doesn't seem like they're on their A-game with it. Especially if they let it sit for over two hours!

He's going to try going to a sperm bank here in town and we'll just pay out of pocket and keep it out of his medical file (he's military which is why he claims to have taken this long to get the test in the first place to avoid having it be in his files). There's a place here where all they do is handle semen analysis, sperm donation, etc. We're crossing our fingers that if he starts up on some recommended vitamins and then goes there, the count will be slightly higher. Ah, who am I kidding, I hope it at least doubles! lol

 

[mysugarpie]

I know it can be hard to get those results (I have been there). When we did our first sa two years ago my husbands results were about the same as yours - I can't remember exactly but we they were low enough that iui was not an option. We were referred to a urologist but waited a year because he didn't have insurance at the time. Urologist diagnosed him with varicole and he had surgery in January 2012. Since the surgery his numbers dramatically improved (somewhere between 20-30 mil). I know we are still on the 'lower side' of average but we were given the ok to try on our own in may. Still nothing yet so our next step now will be iui. We still have hope.
Each time dh did his sa we collected the sample at home and drove it to our local hospital lab to be processed - it just has to get there within 30 mins. Cost out of pocket was $45.

 

[Miss_Awesome]

I know it can be hard to get those results (I have been there). When we did our first sa two years ago my husbands results were about the same as yours - I can't remember exactly but we they were low enough that iui was not an option. We were referred to a urologist but waited a year because he didn't have insurance at the time. Urologist diagnosed him with varicole and he had surgery in January 2012. Since the surgery his numbers dramatically improved (somewhere between 20-30 mil). I know we are still on the 'lower side' of average but we were given the ok to try on our own in may. Still nothing yet so our next step now will be iui. We still have hope.
Each time dh did his sa we collected the sample at home and drove it to our local hospital lab to be processed - it just has to get there within 30 mins. Cost out of pocket was $45.

Gives me hope to know there might be something they can do (providing they find something that needs fixing). Not sure when his appointment will be with the urologist, but I want to make sure he gets checked for that. And I hope you get your BFP soon! Good luck with IUI.

 

[Ariannda]

Wow thats really really low

The time wouldn't have an effect on the amount of sperm, it would perhaps have an effect on the viability of some sperm, but i believe the time frame is under 4 hours, so i hate to say it but that wouldn't have mattered. Also he didn't ejaculate for 48 hours prior to the test did he ? I dont think it would have lowered his numbers that much but it could still be an issue.

If he's military everything should be covered and he should have some options. Is this US military or foreign military ?

 

[Maddy40]

I know that at our clinic they say some men just don't perform well under pressure and that can reduce the sheer quantity of ejaculate. So maybe if your DH was doing his business in a more comfortable room he might get a higher count.

 

[PinkPeony]

Wow thats really really low

The time wouldn't have an effect on the amount of sperm, it would perhaps have an effect on the viability of some sperm, but i believe the time frame is under 4 hours, so i hate to say it but that wouldn't have mattered. Also he didn't ejaculate for 48 hours prior to the test did he ? I dont think it would have lowered his numbers that much but it could still be an issue.

If he's military everything should be covered and he should have some options. Is this US military or foreign military ?

Actually if the samples aren't handled properly it can have an affect. They have to be kept warm like body temperature and they can't get too hot either. If this sketchy lab just sticks them in the open air on a shelf for 2 hours it'll kill off some sperm likewise if it's sitting on a heater.
I think there's something to the performance aspect too. Everytime my DH has to do a sample just for information purposes it's only marginally bad... Meanwhile if it's for an IUI he totally bombs it.

 

[Ariannda]

Actually if the samples aren't handled properly it can have an affect. They have to be kept warm like body temperature and they can't get too hot either. If this sketchy lab just sticks them in the open air on a shelf for 2 hours it'll kill off some sperm likewise if it's sitting on a heater.
I think there's something to the performance aspect too. Everytime my DH has to do a sample just for information purposes it's only marginally bad... Meanwhile if it's for an IUI he totally bombs it.

That is absolutely correct , however i was simply talking about the time, as opposed to the handling =/

Luckily my DH spent a lot of time... erm, alone, even when he was married before (lol poor guy). Luckily for him things even WORK now, we dealt with ED when we first got together /facepalm

Maybe we, as women, just dont see what the big deal is... i certainly dont ! I mean whats the big deal, here's your cup, take some dirty pixs, use your imagination whatever lol

 

[PinkPeony]

I know eh... I find it hard to have sympathy when I'm the one dragging my ass to the clinic every morning for a week to get probed by an ultrasound, poked and prodded, shot up with meds and hormones.... I always say to mine there are (creepy) men who actually pay to go to porn rooms like that.

 

[Ariannda]

I know eh... I find it hard to have sympathy when I'm the one dragging my ass to the clinic every morning for a week to get probed by an ultrasound, poked and prodded, shot up with meds and hormones.... I always say to mine there are (creepy) men who actually pay to go to porn rooms like that.

LMAO - ohhhh thats fantastic

 

[Miss_Awesome]

Wow thats really really low

The time wouldn't have an effect on the amount of sperm, it would perhaps have an effect on the viability of some sperm, but i believe the time frame is under 4 hours, so i hate to say it but that wouldn't have mattered. Also he didn't ejaculate for 48 hours prior to the test did he ? I dont think it would have lowered his numbers that much but it could still be an issue.

If he's military everything should be covered and he should have some options. Is this US military or foreign military ?

Thanks for the reply. That's what I figured, that the time wouldn't have mattered so much for the numbers. He didn't ejaculate for two days before the test, though I begged him to wait a full two or three days. He's US military on active orders at the moment. They only cover the semen analysis and diagnostic type tests, but as for actual fertility treatment, we get nothing. It's awful.

 

[Miss_Awesome]

I know that at our clinic they say some men just don't perform well under pressure and that can reduce the sheer quantity of ejaculate. So maybe if your DH was doing his business in a more comfortable room he might get a higher count.

That's what he told me too. He thinks that even thought it won't bring it up significantly, being able to "perform" in a better environment than a smelly and dirty bathroom would have helped some. So, when he retests we're going to make this a priority! lol

 

[Miss_Awesome]

I know eh... I find it hard to have sympathy when I'm the one dragging my ass to the clinic every morning for a week to get probed by an ultrasound, poked and prodded, shot up with meds and hormones.... I always say to mine there are (creepy) men who actually pay to go to porn rooms like that.

Yup! I think you nailed it. It's hard to sympathize when we've been poked and prodded to no end.

 

[ifGodwills]

how was his motility? I heard as long as that is ok you still have a good shot! My hubby had low motility