Semen Analysis - any ideas?

Are we married to the same man? Is your dh 6ft with slight male pattern baldness?

Joking aside, I'll look into the proxeed. The L-Carnitine cost sooooo much at H&B that I didn't buy it.

Fingers crossed for you Pink. AF due sunday, so I'll let you know how we get on next month. When are you due? Or are you on a 2ww?

I'm having a big THINK about what I'm going to do when af starts, as I should be taking my 2nd round of clomid.

If you can't find me I'm also on the ttc 40+ thread.

Well, I've got my hubby on zinc, selenium, b6, b12, vit c and flaxseed Trust me, we need all the help we can get.

I think I will put him on the saw palmetto next week, for a month and see how it goes. I'm presuming that he has to take I tablet every day?????????

Thanks pink let us know how you get on.

Hi again hopefor3. I'm over on the 40+ ttc thread. Have a read through the thread, I think a couple off us had 'sperm' issues. I posted under my other name 'Blessed2' when I first joined the thread. I have a blocked tube (due to be sorted out in august)and my dh has 'sperm' issues plus he rides his bike to and from work every day, 30mins each way What can I say? This ttc is a trying business

Hello I am really interested in this thread as we are having similar problems.
We have been trying for 4 years for our 3rd and getting really peed off. I fell pregnant with the other 2 quite easiy, so after all the tests we think my dh might be the problem. I was interested to see that another husband had mumps as a child and that motility issues are quite common. We have tried Zinc & selenium but to no avail. We might try the saw paletto thing, thank you for making me realise we are not alone.

they are only tiny bottles - like lavender oil size, I think. They do last ages because you only use drips!

Good luck

Out of curiousity, how much mg did you buy?

I'm hoping to get some for my dh.

I can't remember, I'm sorry. 4 drips in glass of water? twice a day - i'm sure it was no more than that.....
Please let me know how you get on..

Hi crystaltips - v. interesting post about 'saw palmetto', how many mg was your DH on?

thank you for the saw palmetto tip crystaltips. I have said to DH and he's off to H&B in his lunch hour to get some .

My dad has prostate cancer, so I was aware of the benefits of saw palmetto for helping that condition, but I hadn't realised the fertility benefits it could bring.

Dh's sperm quality was so bad (he had mumps as a teenager) we were told we had no chance at all of conceiving naturally (much worse than your dh's - less than 1% forward motile -, though the count was high) . We accepted that and forgot about the issue. For unrelated reasons dh started to take zinc supplements and effectively cut out all alcohol.

Ds is now almost 17 months. We are hoping for another miracle, but not holding our breath.

tastes vile though! I was referred for ivf, and caught before the appointment. I think dh took it for 2 months before we caught. With third child he took it 3 months before i would even try, but i caught first month - could't believe it! Two freiends have tried for years and caught same way! It is a herb that is used for men with prostate trouble, but that area is all connected, sort of !

my dh count was terrible. they said it was a 'miracle' we had one child... I now have 2 more. We were recomended a herb by a herbalist called 'saw palmetto'. DH put a few drops in water and drank twice a day, and then I caught a few weeks later - on both subsequent occasions. Two more friends have tried it and also had success! You can get it from holland and barrett

Gumbo - your story is really great for keeping my hopes up of TTC naturally. I joke that my DH's swmmer need zimmers!

pinkmook - i would also add that you can increase your chances of TTC naturally by knowing your own cycles intimately. By charting, temping or using ovulation predictor kits, you can pinpoint when you ovulate which will help to maximise the impact of any little swimmers and the correct timing for BD-ing .

pinkmook - we are still TTC naturally. It has been approx 18 months for us. Neither of us have DC's or any other "evidence" we can conceive (i.e. previous pregnancies with other partners or miscarriages)

We are also about 3/4 of the way through our initial NHS tests and consultations and on the road to possible fertility treatment. I have the joy of going through them too, despite having clockwork cycles and no obvious problems. So far I have "passed" with flying colours!

DH's sperm test results 2nd time round were improved (from a very poor start!) but still way too low and he has "impaired fertility". He is having a third, very detailed test, this week. He has also had blood tests for testosterone and other hormone levels and a physical examination.

There is no apparent explanation of my DH's condition from what we know so far, so we are in different situations to you because a vasectomy removal is a physical indicator as to why your DH's sperm test was "sub-optimal". However, i think lifestyle changes are a good thing too - can't go wrong. My DH has given up alcohol, cycling and baths, has switched to loose pants and is eating lots of organic fruit and veg and taking Man Vits. Luckily he doesn;t smoke which is apparently a huge factor in poor sperm. We'll see if there is an improvement!

Good luck with everything

I've not had experience with vasectomy reversal, but DH had his sperm checked a few years ago when we were FTC. He was basically told that his sperm was so poor that the chances of conception were almost nil. I asked what treatment there was, and was told that there were 'a few things we could try, but none of them very effective'.

After a great deal of soul searching I decided it was unfair to put DH through any pointless treatment and chose to move on with my childless life. Two years later I found out that I was pg, and now have a healthy son. Not only that, but of the only 2 occasions subsequently that we've had unprotected sex - I conceived both times! (Went on to have have 2 MC, but that's irrelevant).

So in summary, as other posters have said, the results from a single check really shouldn't be used in isolation. Don't give up - honestly, it's still quite possible that you'll conceive!