Spouses with low sperm count.

[Brittbri]

Hello!! My name is Brittany and me and DH have been ttc for 2 1/2 years now. We recently had an iui done last Saturday and am in my TWW. His counts for the iui was 5.5m prewash and 3.1m post wash. Motility was 44% and 48% immotile. I can't remember the rest. My RE has us both in LOTS of supplements to try and raise his sperm count. We plan to go through one more iui cycle with 100 mg of clomid if this one is a failure. Nice to meet you and good luck to you!!

 

[goldfishy]

Hi Brittany good luck for this cycle. I really hope you get your bfp!

X

 

[Briss]

Hi Brittany, can I ask you what supplements your DH is taking?

 

[pvsmith12]

Hi ladies, just wanted to start off with a bit about my little family of 2. I am 24, and DH is 22 (23 on June 5), we have been actively ttc since March 2010. I recently found out (after switching to a new ObGyn) that I have hypothyroidism and do not ovulate. We are hoping that since I am now taking Synthroid it helps straighten things out for me.

Yesterday I had a Dr's appointment to get DH's SA results - along with papers to get a follicle count done next this week and a prescription to make AF come so he can get me on either Met, or clomid, or both (depending on follicle results).

Results:
Count: 15.6
Motility: 35%

The Dr said he had to start eating walnuts - at least a handful (out of shell) every day. Research has shown that it helps.

Is there anything that you ladies have gotten your DH/DF/SO to do/take that had positive results?

 

[Brittbri]

My hubby is on co-q10 3xs daily, l-Argine or however you spell it, vitamins c & e, omega 3, a multi vitamin, folic acid. I think that's all lol. It's a lot. I hope it helps.

 

[Brittbri]

Thank you so much!! I am hoping. I'm testing June 1 so we will see! I've been cramping a little bit around my uterus and I'm 7dpiui so I'm hoping its Implantation but I'm not getting my hopes up. Other than that though that's all the symptoms I have right now.

 

[Briss]

pvsmith, thanks for the tip re walnuts I get my DH to take nuts (any nuts really), tomatoes (preferably slightly cooked, I make salsa), garlic and goji berries - all good things for sperm. BUT the most important thing that increased my DH's count from 1 mil to 11 was quitting beer! he was drinking a lot of this stuff and alcohol is toxic to sperm

Brittany, thank you very much for sharing your supp list. what are the doses?

My Dh takes most of those but also a few additional ones:

Wellman Conception
Vitamin B complex
1,000 Maca
1,000 Ginseng
200 COQ10
60 Pycnogenol
1,000 Flaxseed oils
1,000 Fish oils
1,000 L-Arginine
1,000 Carnitine
700 Horny Goat weed
500 tribilus
60 Zinc
50 Selenium
800 Calcium
1,000 Vitamin C
1,000 Vitamin B12
200 Vitamin E
4,000 Vitamin D

 

[Briss]

Thank you so much!! I am hoping. I'm testing June 1 so we will see! I've been cramping a little bit around my uterus and I'm 7dpiui so I'm hoping its Implantation but I'm not getting my hopes up. Other than that though that's all the symptoms I have right now.

Best of luck!! sending lots and lots of babydust your way

 

[Brittbri]

My hubby is on

CoQ10-200 mg 3xs a day
Omega 3 fatty acid- 1000mg
Vitamin c- 1000 mg
Vitamin e- 400iu
L-arginine-1000 mg 2xs a day
Folic acid-400mcg
Multivitamin

Briss- thank you so much. Only 6 more days til I can test!! Getting anxious!!

 

[tryn4]

My husband takes Zinc & Maca it improved his motility..he had 2 low SA's and after starting the vitamins, he was up to normal ranges.

 

[Melanieanne77]

Hi everyone, finally got my partners SA results but I don't really understand the paperwork, and his dr didn't really have a go at explaining things to us. Cam anyone here help?

1st test:
Motility 28%
Progressive motility 19%
Rapid: 10%
Slow: 9%
Non: 9%
Immotile: 72%

Sperm concentration: 3.2 million
Total count: 4.8 million
Normal forms: insufficient number
Vitality: 36%

Test 2 (after being on vitamins):
Volume: 3 mls
Motility: 35%
Rapid: 18%
Slow: 5%
Non progressive: 12%
Immotile: 65%

Sperm concentration: 8.5 million per ml
Total count: 25.5 million
Normal forms: 1%.

I guess I can see that his sperm improved in the second test...but does this mean IUI is going to be difficult? I mean with 1% normal firms, does that rule IUI and IVF out? Is our only option ICSI and donor? I got pregnant with twins naturally last year and miscarried at 6 and 9 weeks...my partner had cancer treatment (chemotherapy and radiotherapy) as a kid and was told he wouldn't be able to have children.

What do you all think of his SA?

Any thoughts welcome, we're totally in the dark here x

 

[melly2]

Hi everyone, finally got my partners SA results but I don't really understand the paperwork, and his dr didn't really have a go at explaining things to us. Cam anyone here help?

1st test:
Motility 28%
Progressive motility 19%
Rapid: 10%
Slow: 9%
Non: 9%
Immotile: 72%

Sperm concentration: 3.2 million
Total count: 4.8 million
Normal forms: insufficient number
Vitality: 36%

Test 2 (after being on vitamins):
Volume: 3 mls
Motility: 35%
Rapid: 18%
Slow: 5%
Non progressive: 12%
Immotile: 65%

Sperm concentration: 8.5 million per ml
Total count: 25.5 million
Normal forms: 1%.

I guess I can see that his sperm improved in the second test...but does this mean IUI is going to be difficult? I mean with 1% normal firms, does that rule IUI and IVF out? Is our only option ICSI and donor? I got pregnant with twins naturally last year and miscarried at 6 and 9 weeks...my partner had cancer treatment (chemotherapy and radiotherapy) as a kid and was told he wouldn't be able to have children.

What do you all think of his SA?

Any thoughts welcome, we're totally in the dark here x

That is a great improvement! My doctor has told me that they don't do IUI unless the post-wash is 10 Million. I think since you have 25 million, which is a nice, high count, you still have enough to try IUI, since the post wash should be at least 10 million. My doctor has never specified with the morph needs to be, so as long as there is a high enough count, I believe they can attempt it. Someone else may want to chime in, however.

 

[Melanieanne77]

Thanks so much for your reply It makes more sense now. Best wishes, Melanie

 

[WhiteOrchid24]

I know this thread has been fairly quiet as of late but just wanted to say Hi :wave: and see how you ladies are all doing that are dealing with MFI.

DH and I are currently in the 3 month wait to see if there has been any change to his sperm and it feels like it is taking sooo long! Do any of you know - is it 72 days or the full 90? My Dr said 72 but I've heard a lot mention 90.... We still have at least a month to go although we are still trying regardless!

Anyway I hope you are all ok. I'm here to talk if anyone wants to because I find I can't really talk to anyone else about it. Hubby is convinced we will see changes so I don't think he thinks it's worth worrying about until after the 3 months and all our friends are so busy with their babies or being pregnant with their 2nd child....

 

[melly2]

I know this thread has been fairly quiet as of late but just wanted to say Hi :wave: and see how you ladies are all doing that are dealing with MFI.

DH and I are currently in the 3 month wait to see if there has been any change to his sperm and it feels like it is taking sooo long! Do any of you know - is it 72 days or the full 90? My Dr said 72 but I've heard a lot mention 90.... We still have at least a month to go although we are still trying regardless!

Anyway I hope you are all ok. I'm here to talk if anyone wants to because I find I can't really talk to anyone else about it. Hubby is convinced we will see changes so I don't think he thinks it's worth worrying about until after the 3 months and all our friends are so busy with their babies or being pregnant with their 2nd child....

Hello! My husband is about to do his second SA next week! We have waited a full three months. In that time he's been on Clomid and taking supplements. We're patiently waiting, and this next test will tell us a lot. Good luck!

 

[smurfy]

hi all we are also in the 3 mth wait. we have been taking extra vitamins most days 1500 mg vitamin c and 600mg for vitamin e, not every day though. He has also continued to drink less but not give up at all. I keep giving him lots of cold/ice drinks to help. We visted FS end of march so due to go back in 1 mth, we plan to do another SA in a couple of weeks.

we were told to dtd every 2 days or so over our fertile week, this is to help keep it fresh and not to store too long as will become sluggish. what DTD routines were you told to follow?

good luck all

 

[WhiteOrchid24]

Melly2 - Good luck to you too! I hope there has been an improvement.

Smurfy - Our case seems a little different. DH has had a infection in his mouth for over 8 years (after having root canal). I didn't know it was there or was bothering him until I read how sometimes an infection can affect sperm production and just happened to mention that to him (the reason I told him was more to convince him to get his SA done) and he mentioned his tooth then. Needless to say after his results (0% morphology) he is convinced that has been the cause. Our Dr (GP) is very relaxed and seems confident that he can improve it. Before I told the Dr about the infection his advice was to try to de-stress, exercise for 3 hours a week and cut down drinking to no more than 2 a week. After mentioning the infection he said instantly that if his body was fighting that then that could definitely affect the sperm production since that is considered low priority. I have no idea how accurate this is - I am totally just trusting our Dr right now, although it suddenly dawned on my DH that we got pregnant with our first 3 months after he had been on antibiotics for an injury.... Anyway for the time being we are waiting for the 3 months to be up since he finished his antibiotics after having the mouth infection treat (which included surgery) and then I guess we will go from there. Since DH is convinced the infection is the root of the cause he hasn't really changed much else.....(ie no extra vitamins etc). He is healthy, eats well, drinks moderately (although more than 2 a week!) and is fit from work so I guess we will just have to wait and see. If it turns out with his next SA that there has been no improvement he will definitely get a shock and then I guess we will go from there..... It's so frustrating that it takes so long!!

In the meantime we still continue TTC BDing every 2nd day from Day 10-20 of my cycle and occasionally every day around the time I know I am ovulating! I'm just so hoping after the 3 months are up I'll finally get that BFP and this will all be over!!

Good luck to you too - I hope there's an improvement of you get your BFP.

 

[Melanieanne77]

Melly2: do you think that my partner will be prescribed clomid? Or are his results too low?

Does anyone have any ideas?

Fingers crossed for all of us x

 

[WhiteOrchid24]

Out of interest what does clomid do?

 

[Ltruns33]

Hi ladies-

Long story short we are onto our 15th month ttc. I've had everything from progesterone test to a laprascopic surgery. Hubby's had SA/hormones/and ultrasound on his testicles. Found a slight varicocele that may be affecting his SA. His numbers weren't horrible- but so far they're the ONLY thing dr can find keeping us from conceiving. My dr thinks is he has surgery that we will get pregnant quickly. Anyone know the post op rates of conceiving? Also, my lap was EXPENSIVE! It was covered by insurance too. Wouldn't IUI have. Better chance even with his lowish counts?!

So- surgery for varicocele? Or IUI? Any supplements that help in the meante? We both are healthy weight, eat clean and exercise regularly. We are both hormonally and otherwise fertile- being called subfertility bc of his vein.