Teratozoospermia

[onelifeonechance]

Anyone?
We've been ttc #1 with no sniff of a BFP, currently on cycle 9. Got fed up of being an emotional wreck so told a porky to the GP that we'd been trying for 12 months so that we could both be tested in the naive hope that it would all be fine, we'd feel reassured and could just relax and wait for things to happen. That has just blown up spectacularly in our faces as we went to GP yst who has said my bloods are all fine and show I am oving but my husband's sperm test has shown an issue. Sperm count and progressive motility all fine/good, no antibodies killing his sperm. But his morphology is abnormal. He's been diagnosed with teratozoospermia. Apparently they like it to be greater than 4% and his is 1% (cut off for 'severe teratozoospermia is less than 1% so he's only just not in that category).
GP admitted he didn't know much more and has referred us to fertility clinic, no idea how long that it going to take. From googling it's looking like ICSI route but not sure that's right?? Don't know what to think til we speak to expert but no idea how long that's going to be and already feeling it.
Has anyone got any experience of this - the positive and the negative, don't hold back, rather know what we're dealing with.

[Onelittlebugbear]

Hi
We have the same problem (morphology varies from 2-4% but never been higher). We conceived first cycle with our ds but have been ttc dc2 for 15 cycles. Just had our first unfortunately unsuccessful ivf with icsi.

It does vary though - was the count high? A high count offsets it a bit. Your dh needs to have another test and take it from there.

Good luck! It certainly isn't impossible to have a natural conceorion but it will probably take longer x

[eurochick]

OK, I'm no expert but have read about a lot of other people's experiences on these boards, so I'll offer a few thoughts.

Firstly, sperm ishoos tend to respond well to lifestyle changes - reduce alcohol, stop smoking, loose undies, no laptop on balls, no hot baths, vits, healthy lifestyle.

If the cause of the problem is an infection or obstruction that is "battering" the sperm on the way out and affecting the quality, those can be fixable. I've heard good things about a clinic called Andrology Solutions in London. I'm sure there are others. But if there isn't a fixable cause, then it might need ICSI to get around the problem.

[onelifeonechance]

Thanks ladies for quick response.

Count wise its good I think, over 60 million and think I'm right from my google research (!) that over 20 is good?

I'm 32, he's 34 we are healthy, eat well, I've been buying organic meat/milk/dairy/fruit and veg past few months, mostly homemade food, both exercise (walking, swimming, cycling) non smokers, never done drugs, alcohol wise I'm living practically saint like and dh is not a big drinker, usually 1 bottle of ale at home and not daily, or couple of pints at weekends. Only thing we haven't done is vitamins as was under the illusion that our fab (and blummin expensive) organic diet was giving us all we need but maybe we need to try that, any recommendations?

Anyone else?? [she asks hopefully looking for someone to tell me about their natural bfp]

Good luck to you too onelittlebugbear, are you going for another cycle?

[naty1]

Definitely get a retest as you never know.
But look into the criteria for your nhs trust for treatment ie how many rounds etc
Hfea website is useful.
Cycling can affect men (not sure if that would also affect count then though.
Take some vitamins as you never know (made no diff to my OH but could help in icsi if you needed that)
I dont think its so much the organic as the micronutrients that are needed
You can also see clinic success rates on hfea site.
The success rates are similar for women up to 35 and then it starts to drop so you are in a good position.
With such high count that still leaves loads of good ones.
We were successful with our one nhs icsi with much worse SA

[raydown]

Morphology can change month to month so I'd definitely ask for a second test. With a high count you might find it doesn't make a difference because 1% of a high number is obviously better than 1% of a low number. If you do need treatment it will be icsi. Vitamins have made no difference in our case, but my dh has low count and poor morphology.

[alicebear]

Yes cycling can affect sperm. No hot baths either. Best of luck.

[LittleBear01]

We're in this situation too, I've had day 2 and 21 bloods plus a HyCoSy and everything seems ok my end. DH has had 2x semen analysis, good count and mobility both times, but only 1% morphology on first test, and 2% on second. We're in cycle 9 now, but due to some 'creativity' when explaining situation to doctor, we've now been referred for IVF. Just waiting for the first appointment at the IVF clinic. Desperate to get a BFP before that though - fingers crossed and good luck to everybody else too.

[onelifeonechance]

Thanks all for replying. I feel the same littlebear, really hoping it just happens before we have to go down any medical route. I'm not a fan of taking paracetamol for headaches so feeling queasy at the thought of intervention in this...but then if it's not working then I suppose we have to. Crikey, I never expected it all to be so complicated. Any idea how long you'll have to wait for your appt?

Raydown and naty thank you for explaining the benefits of a good count, hadn't thought of it that way - I was just looking at it that 99% of his sperm were abnormal in that sample and freaking slightly a lot But you're right, 1% of 60 million is still a lot so I've just got to hope one of those swimmers goes for it big time!

[eurochick]

one I had the same attitude to drugs before all this. I've somehow made it through 4 rounds of IVF...

[onelifeonechance]

Aw euro, I know, I suppose you just find it from somewhere don't you? 4 cycles sounds heavy, hope you're doing ok with it all. Are you ttc#1? The very best of luck to you

[raydown]

I never took anything for a headache, really hated drugs. But I've managed two rounds so far and likely to have a third. It's really not too bad, but the emotional toll is very tough. With a good count you might well just need a bit longer, if you don't want to waste time then I'd look at ivf with icsi.

[onelifeonechance]

I'm 33 next month, always pictured three children, realised quite soon into ttc that it doesn't quite work like that. Have already found the ttc process difficult emotionally and that was before we knew there were issues stacked against us. Seem to cry at the drop of a hat these days and know I need to man up if we're ever going to get through this. Do you access counselling at all or prefer to just get by? It so helps to hear from people who understand so thank you, good luck with it all

[tigger8]

Hi there. Morphology issues here. Have a 18mth old gorgeous girl, conceived naturally. Came out of the blue......tried IVF...to no avail. One adopted child and fifteen years later, this seemingly 'miracle' occurs and I get my BFP, but tbh, we had made radical lifestyle changes. I had lost lots of weight and had taken up running. Hubby had lost lots of weight too. In a bid to shed those pounds, we were careful what we ate too. And, quite frankly, we STOPPED trying and therefore, stopped stressing. Stress, I have no doubt, was a massive barrier for us. I would also suggest, to not have sex so much. We conceived in Dec again but, unfortunately, this ended in miscarriage. We were careful to abstain several days before when I was due to ovulate. All the other months that I haven't conceived, it was every other day for DTD. Hope this helps, a little.

Be kind to yourselves. I know how painful it is, but it happened for us and can for you too.

[LittleBear01]

Onelife, I know what you mean - I avoid taking medication and am rubbish with pain. The blood tests and HyCoSy we're really scary for me!

I've got to have one more day 2 blood test before my consultant will send the referral letter to the IVF clinic, as they haven't ever checked my oestrogen levels for some reason. DH and I also both have to have HIV test which is apparently a compulsory thing before referral. I am due AF (BFP?!) on about 20th Feb, so can't do day 2 test for another couples of weeks. Once that's done, apparently there's no waiting list here, so should have our appointment 'within 18 weeks maximum'.

I think my DH sees IVF as a bit of an easy option, I see it as a painful and emotional experience that I want to avoid!

Eurochick, did you find it painful?

[eurochick]

Emotionally, it was a clusterfuck. I didn't find it physically painful (bar a bit of bruising from 2/4 egg collections; the other 2 were fine). It is a tough thing to put yourself through though.

[naty1]

It is very emotional from yeh ive got x eggs to oh no only y have fertilized or carried on growing.
The worry of trying to remember to take the meds (i was on a nasal spray every 4 hours but meds vary)
I have found our clinic really good.

[onelifeonechance]

Tigger, thank you. Glad things worked for you, always nice to hear about happy endings! We've tried the less sex approach this cycle, all other cycles we've gone for it all before and over ov, but this cycle we thought we'd try a different approach and have only dtd cd11, 13 and 14, think I ov cd 13 so we'll see. But then it's all so confusing because you read online about the need to have sex regularly to rev up dh's sperm production and other pages saying not to dtd so often if there are issues, so who the heckers knows?

Eurochick, yes that's what I'm thinking it's like, excellent description.
Naty, yes I'm sure the emotional roller coaster just gets harder - more in the Nemesis category... Thats good your clinic is supportive, imagine it makes it a whole heap easier if you have faith in the people treating you.

Little bear, totally with you and so hoping we don't need to go down that route, but if we do we do and it's good to be prepared and have some idea what to expect. Good luck!

[onelifeonechance]

Littlebear, I'm due af (bfp!?) 20th too, let me know how you go

[LittleBear01]

Will do onelife, here's hoping for us both :)

Sorry to hear that it's been tough Eurochick, you must be strong to have gone through it multiple times. Hope you get your BFP soon.

[eurochick]

Thanks. I got a BFP from cycle 4. Now hoping it sticks (my last one didn't).

[onelifeonechance]

Ditto what Littlebear said eurochick and great news about your BFP, know you'll be tentative with what happened last time so hope it sticks, fx

[m33r]

Hi one. Sorry to hear this news. Don't have any wisdom to offer but am glad you know where you are at least and am hoping you get your BFP soon x

[onelifeonechance]

Thanks m33r. Yes, it's all still sinking in. Been a very up and down weekend emotionally! But, really trying to look on the bright side and realising just got to take things as they come. Hope you're getting on ok, think you're lying low but so nice to get your message and hoping for you too x

[m33r]

Hang in there one. Yeah, I'm trying not to get too involved but do lurk occasionally and look out for you guys. Got AF Friday so another month gone. Going for reflexology this month and for next load of tests so fingers crossed.

I hope you and dp are both doing ok.

Xx

[LittleBear01]

Lovely news Eurochick - congratulations and good luck :)