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Conception

When's the best time to get pregnant? Use our interactive ovulation calculator to work out when you're most fertile and most likely to conceive.

Original poster

Semen Analysis - any ideas?

58 replies

pinkmook · 17/05/2008 07:02

Hi everyone, managed for the first time to get somewhere with our doctor yesterday! He let us have a photocopy of DH's semen analysis (he had a vasectomy reversal last July and we were told he had about a 40% chance of fathering again which is the lower end of the success level of such operations)

The results dont look great and have spent all night stressing over it so.....can anyone with any experience or knowledge help me and tell me if its possible to conceive naturally with these numbers:

Motility = 20%
count= 11.3 million/ml
morphology = 8.9% normal.

I understand that fertile sperm should be more than 50% motile, count greater than 20.0 x10^6/ml and 15% or more normal motility

So please if someone could tell me can we conceive with these low numbers??

yours not very hopefully

PM

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GryffinGirl · 19/05/2008 09:31

I have been through this recently for my DH's (naturally, i.e. not after a vasectomy reversal) poor sperm count. Our GP was also useless at interpreting results, which look worse then your DH's.

When my DH has been tested he always produces his sample on site at the hospital. No dashing to hospital, so it might be worth asking whether that is a possibility.

I believe that you should never rely on a single sperm test to give you the full picture, the results always differ and your DH should be tested again in a few weeks and the results compared and then possibly again. Ask your GP for another test and, if poorer, a referral to a urologist if the results look significantly below WHO guidelines again. We have been referred to a fertility unit where they are conducting further, more detailed sperm tests - I believe that the GP testst are only the initial indicator and consultants do a more detailed test under better conditions.

I understand that sperm should be tested within minutes for the best view and do deteriorate when out of the body, so if it is over an hour, that can affect the results.

I think any doctor or friend will tell you that it only takes one, which is true, but not terribly helpful. I don't think many doctors would tell you or even hazzard a guess on %liklihood of conception using one set of results.

Original poster
pinkmook · 19/05/2008 08:55

Thanks helenlouisey i think we will do that actually. We are going to a GYne app for me beggining investigations into our FTC on 27th may so I may ask then.

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helenlouisey · 18/05/2008 17:31

Hi pinkmook - why don't you get the tests done again privately? Or could you request a second test on the NHS and this time get your husband to do the test there? when my husband had sperm tests he always produced the sample on site and the time the sample was produced and then tested was written on the top of the results sheet, there was about a 20 mins time gap. Or maybe ask to see a different GP?

Original poster
pinkmook · 17/05/2008 11:26

Thanks Nancy66 - the doctor told us the sperm test results were fine, normal!! I knew they couldn't be as the after the vasectomy reversal we were told there was lots of scarring etc and one side had to be attached directly to the testicle rather than tube to tube as it was very badly damaged.

we went in and asked if we could actually have the printout and after some umming and ahhing they let us have it.

so I cant get my doctor to explain it as he clearly hasn't a clue (despite the fact that on the prinout it states the WHO guidelines for what is considered normal!!!)

We knew it would be low but I think I hoped it would be nearer to normal IYSWIM.

I wonder if the time elapsed could make that much difference to motility? I guess it wouldn't effect morphology or probably even count but maybe they would have died/stopped swimming after 1 hour? straws to grasp at anyone?

OP posts:
Nancy66 · 17/05/2008 11:08

p.s - I'm sure i've read that sperm counts can increase for anyting up to a year following reversal so your husband's count could still increase.

Nancy66 · 17/05/2008 10:52

Hello Pinkmook

I didn't want your post to go un-answered but it's really up to your doctor to explain what these mean.

From what i understand anything under 20million is considered low and they generally like to see 30% normal with 60% motility. So, roughly, your husband's levels are half what doctors like to see.

however it does only take one - and people do get PG with low counts. Zinc is said to hugely improve sperm quality (I don't think it's possible to increase nunmbers)

Original poster
pinkmook · 17/05/2008 10:33

Also does anyone know how much effect the time elapsed from producing the sample to the lab receiving it has??

Clutching at straws here I know but it took us an hour to get from home to the path lab at the hosp - could that have much of an effect?

OP posts:
Original poster
pinkmook · 17/05/2008 07:59

Bump

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