Varicocele anyone?

[Melbram]

Hello

My OH and I have been ttc for appx 20 months now. Diagnosed with male infertility about 8 months ago - OH's are low on every count. After 3 SA, appointments with "fertility specialist" having been referred to Liverpool Womens for IVF and male fertility specialist actually had a look at OH's bits and found he has a varicocele which is like a varicous vein.

OH has to have an ultrasound but it could be that the vein is not draining the blood as it should which is causing things to hot up as if OH is constantly having a bath which is killing the lil swimmers.

Just wondered whether anyone has come accross this before and if it has been treated whether it has worked?

 

[Lucie73821]

My dh had one repaired in Oct 2010. His urologist then put him on clomid for six months. His motility and morphology both improved, but his count was still on the low side.

 

[Melbram]

thank you for your reply Lucie - I see people get mixed results but any improvement is better than none

I see you are awaiting the outcome of your second IUI? hope you get your

 

[kidloco1]

Hi Melbram
My hubby had a varicocele. They attempted the op but unfortunately couldn't get to it to fix. However since then he has been taking zinc, selenium, maca, vit c, l'arganine and his results have gone from being terrible to normal so vitamins r definitely worth a try. Good luck

 

[Sexki11en]

Funny, I was just coming on here to ask about varicoceles as after 29 months of trying, hubby announced to me last week he's had what he thinks is one for years! No ones ever examined him in all our investigations and he has terrible SA results every time he's tested.

We went to the GP on Wednesday who couldn't see anything (typical - think it's because he'd just come out of the shower and was warm down there lol) but given our circumstances has referred him for an US scan. We got a call Thursday to see if we could go in on the 14th Jan.

I'm reading mixed reviews as to whether surgery will make a difference. Our GP told us it has no effect on infertility but everything i'm reading suggests it could be why he has a poor SA.

I guess i'm pinning hopes on this as 2 weeks ago we were given less than 1% chance of conceiving naturally and we just can't afford to fund a cycle of ICSI. I'm not a candidate for egg sharing and we've had our one NHS cycle (BFP but MC at 5+2)

Can anyone else share any experiences of Varicoceles and how they were treated/how it worked out (UK particularly as they seem to be more reluctant to treat it here)

SK x

 

[Melbram]

Hi Melbram
My hubby had a varicocele. They attempted the op but unfortunately couldn't get to it to fix. However since then he has been taking zinc, selenium, maca, vit c, l'arganine and his results have gone from being terrible to normal so vitamins r definitely worth a try. Good luck

How frustrating that they couldnt fix it. OH is taking Vit C, E and Zinc having been told to do so by our fertility consultant but will get him to try the others you suggest - thank you

 

[Melbram]

Funny, I was just coming on here to ask about varicoceles as after 29 months of trying, hubby announced to me last week he's had what he thinks is one for years! No ones ever examined him in all our investigations and he has terrible SA results every time he's tested.

We went to the GP on Wednesday who couldn't see anything (typical - think it's because he'd just come out of the shower and was warm down there lol) but given our circumstances has referred him for an US scan. We got a call Thursday to see if we could go in on the 14th Jan.

I'm reading mixed reviews as to whether surgery will make a difference. Our GP told us it has no effect on infertility but everything i'm reading suggests it could be why he has a poor SA.

I guess i'm pinning hopes on this as 2 weeks ago we were given less than 1% chance of conceiving naturally and we just can't afford to fund a cycle of ICSI. I'm not a candidate for egg sharing and we've had our one NHS cycle (BFP but MC at 5+2)

Can anyone else share any experiences of Varicoceles and how they were treated/how it worked out (UK particularly as they seem to be more reluctant to treat it here)

SK x

Hi, I was very frustrated when we had our last appointment and was told OH had Varicocele - the appointment was meant to be to formally be put on IVF waiting list...why no one thought to check his tackle sooner is beyond me! but hey ho its still a life line and OH is very happy with the thought that they might be able to "fix" him as he puts it. We last attended the hospital on the 12th December and are still waiting for the appointment for his ultrasound

Keep me updated with your progress -I hope they can do something with the Op + Vits I pray the lil will increase enough to concieve naturally or at very least with IUI

 

[missy123]

My hubby had his surgery in June 2011 but still no pregnancy having his sperm tested this month please god..going to see a FS on Thursday x

 

[Melbram]

My hubby had his surgery in June 2011 but still no pregnancy having his sperm tested this month please god..going to see a FS on Thursday x

Good luck for Thursday! why has it taken so long to get an up to date test done?

 

[Melbram]

HI just thought id give an update. OH attended for his ultrasound today and despite the huge vein he has in left testicle it is not behaving like a varicou vein the only way now is IVF. Hope your appointment is better tomorrow sexki

 

[Sexki11en]

Oh Melbram, so sorry honey.

Well,the US identified several varicoceles in hubbys left testicle. We need to go back to the GP in 5 days and fight to be sent to a Urologist, who from what I've read from the UK, will tell us it has no link to infertility, despite everything i've read from the states suggesting a simple op could improve sperm quality up to 70%.

I'm really angry that in 2 1/2 years and 2 rounds of IVF, no one has ever once examined DH, even though he has the main problem. We can only hope now that he ca have the op and it does help, otherwise we're at the end of the road as we cannot afford more IVF.

SK x

 

[Melbram]

From what I have read the result of having an op to sort out varicocele is mixed but if we had the option we would go for it - nothing to lose! I do hope you get to see the Urologist soon and op is an option for you. Keep me posted

 

[missy123]

My hubby had his surgery in June 2011 but still no pregnancy having his sperm tested this month please god..going to see a FS on Thursday x

Good luck for Thursday! why has it taken so long to get an up to date test done?

He had it fixed for pain reasons so his doc didn't offer him one..he's actually in more pain now he complains now with his kidneys

 

[Melbram]

When is your next SA test/results?

 

[missy123]

end of feb ..they are doing a dna fragmation test also,he is off the smokes so they wanted to wait the 12 weeks since he gave them up for a proper reading...i hope its good

 

[Sexki11en]

end of feb ..they are doing a dna fragmation test also,he is off the smokes so they wanted to wait the 12 weeks since he gave them up for a proper reading...i hope its good

Please keep us updated Missy. I'll be very interested to hear of the outcome.

SK x

 

[Melbram]

FX Missy. We get SA results on the 2nd Feb - this lot will be the 4th test and the only one whereby vitamins have been taken for few months beforehand - so it will be interesting to see whether vitamins have improved the

 

[Sexki11en]

Well, we went to get our results from the doc tonight and as suspected it went like this.

Doc - You have a small varicocele
Us - So what can we do about it?
Doc - Nothing
Us - But we've read it can affect fertility
Doc - most men with a varicocele are able to conceive
Us - Yes, but 75% of infertile men have a varicocele
Us - Wasting our breath.......

She did say if we really wanted to push it, she would refer us but the surgeon would think we were wasting their time. We're going to ask to be referred. It's no skin off our nose if they hate us!

She kept talking about our 'best' option being private ICSI. FFS, if we could afford that, did she think we'd be sat there arguing the toss?

Feeling very low tonight like we've lost the battle. I keep finding myself thinking i'll never know what it feels like to be a mom....

SK x

 

[Melbram]

Oh Sexki it always frustrates me how it means nothing to them but we pin all our hopes on this one last thing - they just dont get it and dismiss it as if its nothing. Keep pushing them until you reach a complete dead end

OH and I have both now starting taking fertility plus and are going to start trying properly again now charting etc - When i found out we needed ivf we sorta gave up on all that and just had fun with it as people say "dont try - just relax etc etc" well that didnt work so here goes

 

[Sexki11en]

Oh Sexki it always frustrates me how it means nothing to them but we pin all our hopes on this one last thing - they just dont get it and dismiss it as if its nothing. Keep pushing them until you reach a complete dead end

OH and I have both now starting taking fertility plus and are going to start trying properly again now charting etc - When i found out we needed ivf we sorta gave up on all that and just had fun with it as people say "dont try - just relax etc etc" well that didnt work so here goes

Thanks Melbram. We pushed and have had a letter for referral back today. Hubby just needs to call in the morning.

Good luck with the charting etc. We'd give that a try only, we've being doing it for 29 cycles (except the 2 IVF cycles) and it's got us nowhere

SK x