Sperm analysis - please help!!

Hi ladies

Checking in to see if any of you had luck with resolving this. My husbands just had a semen microbiome test back with a high bacterial load - we’ve been recommended some supplements to help address it but not sure what route to go down in terms of the cause/whether to see a urologist?

dr Ramsay was on our list but when the semen analysis came back fine the clinic told us a urologist wasn’t necessary (we got the semen culture separately because we weren’t convinced with debris/non sperm cells listed in the sample).

Thank you x

Hi @H2B2022

I hope you are well. My husband and I are in a similar position and I have gone into panic mode! I just wondered how you are getting on and whether you have found anything has helped? x

:( it's such a kick in the teeth isn't it.
What does high PH mean? The GP didn't even mention this!?

That's absolutely disgusting that they don't investigate to see what's actually causing the problems. I'll look into the urologist for sure!

Thank you for your help and advice. I hope your journey is going well xx

@H2B2022 I would think the chances each month are very very low considering it's 25-30% with both sides being without issues. However, there is still a chance.

The specialist in my experience will just be fertility based if you're in the UK. They won't 'help' your husband at all in terms of treatment or examination. Get the NHS side of the process started because it all takes time and alongside that, max out on supplements and tighten up lifestyle ... and book to see a urologist... then you're approaching it from all angles and maybe in the meantime you'll make some headway with his numbers. Oh ye, the PH is also high which I'm sure the doctor will explain to you.

I found the whole process very frustrating when it's on the male side. GPs have next to no knowledge on the whole. The calls with the fertility clinic were all on me to organise / answer and deal with... and they last question was so what are you OHs sperm results and then when I told them it was just okay the solution is IVF with ICSI.... there was no okay let's examine him and then attempt a treatment in terms of medication or seeing if he has any of the obvious things... we had to pay privately to see Dr Ramsay (£280 ish just for consultation), then we did some further bits on our private healthcare.

Thank you so much for replying!
I did think the numbers you've said would be the case, I just wish they make it patient friendly to read!
The round cells and bacteria present is bothering us but gp has referred us to a specialist so I guess we'll see what they are offering.
Would you say it's more than likely we won't be able to conceive naturally?
We've sat and talked tonight and are both willing to make some serious lifestyle changes in the hope that helps improve things a little x

Should read 2 million per ml and 4.6 million total sperm. @H2B2022

@H2B2022 they always make them so unreadable it boggles my mind. It is such an important and worrying piece of info and you have to crack it like a code.

So I think.... he has 2ml per ML of sperm and he has approx 4.6ml total sperm. The total amount of sperm deemed normal would be more than 39 million. Motility numbers are fine. Morphology is a bit low and when his sperm count is also pretty low, that isn't great. With those results you will be referred to a fertility clinic and I would think you'll be advised that you require IVF with ICSI.

If you can afford to do so, you should get him checked by a urologist. So many men have unidentified varicoceles which can be the cause of this. Sperm takes 72-90 days to regenerate so don't expect quick results with anything. The NHS won't offer any 'treatment' for his numbers because they deem IVF with ICSI as 'the treatment'.

Could someone please help me understand in simple terms what this all means :(

Oh sorry, we've been trying a lot long we've just only been taking the supplements for the last month xx

@H2B2022 gawddddd I have scrambled brain today - your first month of trying the tablets. Request numbers and go from there!

@H2B2022 sorry I tagged the wrong person. Don't think they are checking his semen for STIs and not sure which STI if any of them have an impact on fertility or sperm quality for a man. Oh right, 1st month - don't get yourself in a Tizz now hahah - it can be a v long journey! Get the numbers back and go from there. You wouldn't get any referral anywhere until you've tried for at least a year.

Hi!
They said they found a little bacteria in his semen sample?
I think I'm just thinking it's something like an STI lol but I hope not as we've been together 7 years and just got married so he'd have some explaining to do! I'll definitely get him to call the drs in a bit to request his numbers.

We're both currently taking the proceive tablets - we're only on our first month trying these though. I did try some others previously but they really affected my cycles!

Thank you xx

@feelinglost22 he had 40 million total a few months before we conceived, always had high motility but morphology was terrible upon initial examination but increased drastically with supplements and lifestyle changes.

1.8-2 mill is pretty low but with time and some checks, there is no reason to believe that a) a pregnancy won't occur and b) that you can't improve those numbers. Where there is sperm, there is a chance always so don't give up hope.

I would book an appointment to get him checked for a varicocele - we ended up doing this via our private healthcare. He should do a urine sample to check for infections and begin supplements. Dr Ramsay was v clear about reducing coffee to one a day. He said we would be fine to share a bottle of wine a week and make sure he isn't cycling, or putting his laptop on his legs as that basically boils the sperm. No boxers at night, in fact scrap tight boxers altogether. Hope this helps - once you get going you'll feel like at least you're moving in the right direction!

When I said happier, I meant in a more less stressed sort of way :)

I cannot tell you his numbers but my husband had one and was told be would need help to conceive as he had a low count and reduced mobility of the sperms. He even showed me the letter when I met him.

We were together for 9 months before I fell pregnant, so was a bit shock and be called our son a miracle baby.

The only thing he did differently was eating better and at a more reasonable time, was out and about a bit more, happier and was taking wellman vitamins.

8 years later and we had another baby... There is hope..

Vitabiotics also do a conceiving pack for both you and your other half to take together.

Hi @FlyOnTheWall89
Congrats on your pregnancy! That's amazing news!

Please can I ask what numbers your husband has? We're not sure where to go from here - he currently has about 1.8-2million progressively motile sperm.

Do you mean that although your husband was low count per ml, his motility and volume was good enough to get to nearer the normal criteria for total motile sperm count?

So hard to know what to do!! Thanks and congrats again xx

@H2B2022 did he give a urine sample to find the bacteria or was it in the semen sample. I wouldn't be worrying about that, it is probably the easiest to sort of the issues identified. As the other person said, most likely he will need antibiotics. These things can go along for ages unnoticed and really effect sperm.

You need to call and get him numbers so you know more of where you stand. Your next step will be a referral to the NHS fertility clinic but also as the previous person said, you won't get help for your husbands problems. We saw Dr Ramsay who I personally had mixed feelings about but he is very popular and there is usually a wait of 6-8 weeks for an appointment. Again, this all depends how low the count is ... I'm afraid I'm not knowledgeable on the consistency side of things.

My partner had low count per ml but borderline overall low count and it took 14/15 cycles but I did fall pregnant naturally and I'm now 21 weeks pregnant. I can give you lots of tips on supplements for your OH if needed x

Thank you so much for replying!
We've not actually had the numbers, the GP just told him over the phone low sperm count, consistency isn't what they'd like and a little bacteria found in his sample. I'm going to ask my husband to call the GP tomorrow and request the report so we know what his numbers are.

It's the bacteria that's bothering me, I'm thinking the worst ... Can it be something simple? My stupid mind is running away with me thinking he's been having it off with someone else and caught something 🙈

It's such a difficult journey isn't it!
Xxx

Try not to panic yet! What were his numbers like?

We are a bit further on our journey now - depending on where you go with the NHS, I would absolutely recommend seeing Mr Ramsey if you can do in London - he specialises in male infertility and sadly the NHS don't seem to do much research on mens fertility! You might need this depending on your position but we wouldn't have got answers we've got without seeing him and would have forever been wondering if things would happen naturally etc etc.

I've done so much reading on sperm bacteria etc and it's something that could have been unnoticed for ages that is totally treatable with just a course of antibiotics! Do you know if your husband has a varicocele? Any dull aches in his testicles?

This journey is so difficult but try not to panic until you've got some answers and you know what you can and can't control or you will see yourself crazy (like I did!).

Take care and best wishes on your journey xx

Hi all,
My DH and I have been TTC with no joy as of yet. We have been to see the GP and they are undertaking some routine checks before referring us to a fertility specialist. One of the tests was a semen analysis for my DH. The GP gave him the results over the phone and said his sperm count was low, the consistency was not as they would expect and they detected a littler bacteria in his sample. What could this be? Has anyone else's DHs results come back with bacteria detection? I'm thinking the absolute worst here that he's been having it away with someone else and caught something 🙈 someone please put my mind at rest.

@HayMay it’s possible yeah, with impryl they say use that on its own, we didn’t, we used it with a select few others like ubiquinol and omega 3. But if you’ve already bought them (and Zita West isn’t cheap I’m sure!) maybe use some of those up before you move on to anything else? You’ve got some time between new test, appointments with specialists if needed and so on.

@HayMay it’s hard, we’ve been there too and it’s really not fun. Just keep your partner on the vitamins in the meantime, maybe try proxeed or impryl (my DH’s morphology improved a lot on that) which is what we were recommended by various fertility docs but make sure he’s on them for 3 months + before you look for any improvement.

And yes, in answer to your original question my DH’s results did get better after six months to a year of supplements and following doctor’s advice. Not perfect, but better.

It’ll feel better once you have the second test and a plan of action, it just might not be the exact journey you expected. Good luck!