Those with experience of male factor (reality check needed)

[Ilove]

Hi guys, sorry to bother you with yet more MF questions

Weve just returned from the doctors with husbands second SA and this time it is lower-we didnt get exact figures, but lower. His first was 7 million with 36 percent motility and poor morphology too. I think this one was around 5mil with 30percent motility

The doctor was very good and reassuring, and basically told us this wasnt really a problem and that many couples conceive with this if there are no other problems

Yet we have heard a different story from other doctors who say the FS may refer us for IVF

Which do you think is right? Were not sure Im completely ok myself yet, but Im wondering about chances if I am...I realise usual fertile range is from 20 million and 50 percent motility? But I keep getting all this "it only takes one" stuff too.

I know its difficult to answer, but Im just trying to picture where we go from here. I guess what I want to ask is has anyone conceived naturally with a similar count, or had ICSI with it? Were trying all we can and hes now on maca, multivits etc. How big an improvement have these made for people? (again, we keep hearing different things)

Thanks

 

[Lilly123]

Hi hun

The numbers are low but not impossible.... its a bit difficult but I would say IVF or ICSI would be your best bet hun.... unless you can get numbers up you could try IUI.. I know u need at least 5 million post wash with good motility for IUI

It does not only take one hun.. in theory it does but in practice you need millions to get to the prize....

Sorry to not be too positive but I have experience with low counts from 4 IUIs and we are doing ICSI now... just relating from my experience.. good luck hun xxxx

 

[Vici]

I know quite a few people with PCOS whose OH's had lower counts than that and they conceived naturally Its always worth a go. Know you prob are hun, but things like the multi vits (make sure on the vit C and zinc will help. Other big things can be lowering alcohol and cigarette intake (don't know if these apply to your OH) or better, stopping for a while. Make sure he has loose pants and that he doesn't have a laptop or such like on his lap

Good luck xx

 

[rachelle1975]

Hey hun

if it helps put things into perspective....

DH did 2 SA's only 4 weeks apart and both showed 1 million with 50% motility. A re-test 4 months later showed an improvement up to 8 million but we have been referred for ICSI. Whilst they can never say never, it would greatly improve our chances of conception with IVF.

We have been taking Wellman, Vit c 1000mg and Maca and he had an improvement 4 months after taking all this - another SA due end of this month.

So i would definitely sign DH for some lifestyle changes and keep ttc. We were so shocked we kinda stopped ttc and now we are back on the wagon. I do know of people who have conceived with a low count - just google and you can find some plus another forum i use had a big section on male infertility and they have success stories.

You can always have hope and it does only take 1 but realistically, if the 'normal' count is 20-99 million and it can take those couples months to get pregnant, it can be a very long very hard road trying to conceive with a lot less.

Any changes to DH's diet/lifestyle will take 70-90 days to show in his sperm. Did your FS say what they would do next?

 

[Mrs G]

Hi

Just wanted to echo what the other girls have said. It took a while for me to get my head round the fact that IVF was our best chance but at the end of the day I think the outcome far outweighs what we all have to go through to get there.

Whilst there have been lots of girls here who have had improvements with vits, our FS was sceptical (much to DH's delight!) and told him the best things were not drinking/smoking, not getting testes too hot and being a healthy weight.

Good luck!

 

[The Missus]

Hi,

I know it's probably sounding repetitive by now, but we tried some lifestyle changes and I think it might have made a difference. My DH has an ok count but not good motility. Our initial response to the lifestyle changes suggested was "but we do eat healthily/not smoke/not many hot baths..."etc but after some thought there were still changes that could help, and some good suggestions on here. We used the vitamin C and zinc, plus Wellman. He cut down caffeine and stopped drinking booze entirely (I even had him on herbal teas!) Oh, and he stopped wearing his pants to work

Another thing is we tried instead cups thinking it might give the swimmies a helping hand on their way to their destination. We used preseed too, but I've heard that it may hinder in these circumstances rather than help. Through charting we also cut right down on sex (just every 3 days) to preserve them for what we thought was the right time for ovulation too.

I guess like others have said it might well take longer to conceive, it's been 15 (long/irregular) cycles for us this time, but it's not necessarily impossible.

Big hugs, and good luck xx

 

[auntcarrie]

OK, this thread is very timely for me!

I **just** got back from my 4th IUI this afternoon. My DH has also had 2 SA's in addition to the counts they do for IUI.

Today's sperm count was the best yet!!! 40 Million with 70% Motility = 28 Million swimmers net. I'm thrilled! This is twice as high as our last highest count! I'm praying that today is our lucky day.

DH's analysis has been consistently low. 9 Million for first IUI. 14 Million for second. SA's showed even worse -- I think one showed just 4 Million and the other not much better. But again - today we are well over that 20 Million "magic mark" and here is hoping it does the trick.

As far as suggestions... My DH is on multiple mediciations for various reasons, so he does not take any additional meds - no aspirin, no herbs, no vitamins even. When we first started trying, he was on a very strict low-calorie diet trying to lose weight and cut cholesterol. He had cut out all red meats, anything fried or fatty, was eating a lot of fish & veggies, and NO sugar. You might think this would be good for sperm count, but for us it was not.

He has increased his red meat consumption (in fact, I make a point of having him eat red meat the day before the insemination, last night we had yummy hamburgers!), and drinks a ton of grape juice. He is also not limiting his calorie count like he used to, and enjoys a few sweets and a couple soda pops during the week. These seem to have helped!

I know these are not strict medical recommendations, but our counts are up so maybe these helped. I'll let you know in 2 weeks!!! (Wish me luck & say a prayer!)...

 

[hayley352]

OK, this thread is very timely for me!

I **just** got back from my 4th IUI this afternoon. My DH has also had 2 SA's in addition to the counts they do for IUI.

Today's sperm count was the best yet!!! 40 Million with 70% Motility = 28 Million swimmers net. I'm thrilled! This is twice as high as our last highest count! I'm praying that today is our lucky day.

DH's analysis has been consistently low. 9 Million for first IUI. 14 Million for second. SA's showed even worse -- I think one showed just 4 Million and the other not much better. But again - today we are well over that 20 Million "magic mark" and here is hoping it does the trick.

As far as suggestions... My DH is on multiple mediciations for various reasons, so he does not take any additional meds - no aspirin, no herbs, no vitamins even. When we first started trying, he was on a very strict low-calorie diet trying to lose weight and cut cholesterol. He had cut out all red meats, anything fried or fatty, was eating a lot of fish & veggies, and NO sugar. You might think this would be good for sperm count, but for us it was not.

He has increased his red meat consumption (in fact, I make a point of having him eat red meat the day before the insemination, last night we had yummy hamburgers!), and drinks a ton of grape juice. He is also not limiting his calorie count like he used to, and enjoys a few sweets and a couple soda pops during the week. These seem to have helped!

I know these are not strict medical recommendations, but our counts are up so maybe these helped. I'll let you know in 2 weeks!!! (Wish me luck & say a prayer!)...

How was the IUI treatment itself? im due to start mine soon

 

[Kelly9]

We just got our terrible news today... Dh has plenty of sperm but not great motility like 51 when checked right away and down to 37 after three hours not to mention that %90 of his sperm have deformed heads. From what the FS told us it was unlikely that we would conceive naturally but she did say it's not impossible. She has sent a referral for IUI with sperm washing but it's going to be a year before we get in for that so I guess all we can do now is wait and see. He has celiac and is back on a strict no gluten diet as this can cause issues with morphology. We have a sheet to send him in for another SA so hopefully when he gets it done again there will be an improvement with the change in his diet.

 

[Ilove]

Oh, ladies, what can I say? Thank you all so much for the honest and open answers...this is exactly what we needed I like to know where we are, not given false hope, and now I think I do. We are going to of course keep trying naturally until we hear more (still waiting on that FS appointment) but I wont hold out too much hope

My husband is being so great with it all, taking his maca religiously along with zinc (Im off to buy some Wellman today-thanks rachelle!) We dont smoke, drink often and he doesnt wear tight undies, so were all ok there I think. He does work in an office, so hes now taking regular breaks and walks outside (thankfully his boss is also a LTTCer so understands these things!) and were eating well

Thanks again everyone
Good luck

 

[Ilove]

Hey hun

if it helps put things into perspective....

DH did 2 SA's only 4 weeks apart and both showed 1 million with 50% motility. A re-test 4 months later showed an improvement up to 8 million but we have been referred for ICSI. Whilst they can never say never, it would greatly improve our chances of conception with IVF.

We have been taking Wellman, Vit c 1000mg and Maca and he had an improvement 4 months after taking all this - another SA due end of this month.

So i would definitely sign DH for some lifestyle changes and keep ttc. We were so shocked we kinda stopped ttc and now we are back on the wagon. I do know of people who have conceived with a low count - just google and you can find some plus another forum i use had a big section on male infertility and they have success stories.

You can always have hope and it does only take 1 but realistically, if the 'normal' count is 20-99 million and it can take those couples months to get pregnant, it can be a very long very hard road trying to conceive with a lot less.

Any changes to DH's diet/lifestyle will take 70-90 days to show in his sperm. Did your FS say what they would do next?

Good luck hun and hope theres even more impovement with your next SA Do you know how long the wait for ICSI generally is? Im off to have a google in a min to get some of that inspiration-its needed at the moment. Thanks again, this really did help put things into perspective

 

[Ilove]

We just got our terrible news today... Dh has plenty of sperm but not great motility like 51 when checked right away and down to 37 after three hours not to mention that %90 of his sperm have deformed heads. From what the FS told us it was unlikely that we would conceive naturally but she did say it's not impossible. She has sent a referral for IUI with sperm washing but it's going to be a year before we get in for that so I guess all we can do now is wait and see. He has celiac and is back on a strict no gluten diet as this can cause issues with morphology. We have a sheet to send him in for another SA so hopefully when he gets it done again there will be an improvement with the change in his diet.

Sorry to hear you just got your news-Its crushing isnt it? Really hope the no gluten helps, it sounds like theres a high chance it could

 

[Ilove]

Hi,

I know it's probably sounding repetitive by now, but we tried some lifestyle changes and I think it might have made a difference. My DH has an ok count but not good motility. Our initial response to the lifestyle changes suggested was "but we do eat healthily/not smoke/not many hot baths..."etc but after some thought there were still changes that could help, and some good suggestions on here. We used the vitamin C and zinc, plus Wellman. He cut down caffeine and stopped drinking booze entirely (I even had him on herbal teas!) Oh, and he stopped wearing his pants to work

Another thing is we tried instead cups thinking it might give the swimmies a helping hand on their way to their destination. We used preseed too, but I've heard that it may hinder in these circumstances rather than help. Through charting we also cut right down on sex (just every 3 days) to preserve them for what we thought was the right time for ovulation too.

I guess like others have said it might well take longer to conceive, it's been 15 (long/irregular) cycles for us this time, but it's not necessarily impossible.

Big hugs, and good luck xx

Loose pants weve been advised on...but NO pants?

Instead cups are definitely going to be given a go next cycle (Ive just Ovd so too late now) We did try preseed for a couple of months but I tried the applicators and they were horrible. If its more a hinderance then we wont buy the tube as we were going to

I was wondering about the sex actually...how often does everyone with MF issues do it? We were doing every day during the fertile period, but I realise well have to cut down...this cycle we did every other day. We might try doing every 3 days. Its so hard to time as my cycles vary quite a bit (Ov anywhere from day 17 to day 22)

 

[Ilove]

Today's sperm count was the best yet!!! 40 Million with 70% Motility = 28 Million swimmers net. I'm thrilled!

Thats awesome Congrats!

 

[sparkle83]

Hey, we havent got MF, but have had S/As done as initial testing and then for the referral for the IUI clinic. In between the two, DH had switched from standard tea and coffee to decaf tea and coffee because it was making him stroppy and tense. His count doubled just from that (he made no other changes)