Am I clutching at straws?

[canitbefixed]

DH and I have been ttc for over a year with no luck. Tests with the doctor have revealed that DH has lower than normal sperm levels, those that are there are less potent than normal and none showed as being properly formed.

More tests are planned after a bit of a lifestyle overhaul (no drink, the right amount of exercise, loads of supplements etc.). If this doesn't show an improvement, it's off to a fertility specialist.

Has anyone else been in this situation and it worked out OK? Can these simple changes have a good enough effect on sperm quality and quantity? If not, it's fertility treament of some kind - we're not sure what that will involve though.

I know it's not the end of the world, it's just disappointing.

Thanks in advance for any advice or stories you can share.

Bump... please!

He needs repeated semen analyses. You should be referred to a gynae at a subfertility unit after a year of ttc without success in any event. The GP should now be referring you.

Simple lifestyle changes may not make much difference overall. I would not spend a load of cash on supplements either.

Thanks Atilla. I guess we're just desperate to try anything! Our GP has said they'll look at referring us if the results from the retest aren't any better. It's just the lack of properly formed sperm which is worrying me, as I can see how the other issues don't necessarily make it impossible.

I know for a fact that there is at least one mn currently on the ante-natal boards whose husband was told he had "lower than normal" and the NHS sent them down the IVF route only for them to conceive with ONE SHAG! I suppose it's true that it only takes one. :)

I also know of a woman who fed her husband lots of supplements and he laid off the booze & fags and his sperm count improved dramatically in just months.

We are under a fertility specialist - I have PCOS and DH below par sperm (low count and few normal forms). The consultant told us lifestyle changes wouldn't make any difference, and not to even bother with vit supplements, just healthy lifestyle (DH doesn't smoke or drink all that much).

We are trying clomid first (to help me) although he has said it's not got the highest success due to DH's swimmers.

Next, he said he would do a further sperm analysis - prepare the sperm. He said they put it through an assault course and depending how many swimmers reach the end, determines which treatment is done. If there are lots of good uns, then they could do IUI. Or if fewer then IVF. If only one (or only a few) then ICSI.

HTH. Good luck