Abnormal SA - first Fertility Clinic apt

[redstrawberry]

Hi

Short story -We've been ttc for 7 months, had a CP in July. DH and I had tests done. My uterus and ovary scan came back normal.

Just got DH's SA result and all the GP could say was higher abnormal count than normal :( GP hasn't offered any further info or guidance - hes not sure how to read the results properly. Told us the fertility clinic will be able to explain.

We have our first appointment at the clinic next week. And apart from being very sad and upset, I am wondering what to expect? Anyone know what sort of questions I should be asking? Also what does an abnormal SA actually mean for me? Will I be able to conceive?

I can't focus on work and I just don't know when I'll be able to hold a baby in my arms.

Higher abnormal count sounds like he was referring to morphology. The number of normal forms should be above 3% (I think - guidelines changed between our tests and I can't quite remember the normal range now).

A lot can be done to improve sperm quality - loose pants, no saunas or hot baths, no laptop on lap, cut down on the booze, give up the fags, healthy diet and vitamin supplements. There are loads of success stories on the web.

You've had a CP so they must be doing something! And I know that 7 months feels like ages, but you are still within normal length of trying time, and it sounds like you are getting to the fertility clinic without a long wait, which is positive.

We had a similar situation, picked up SA results from the gp and told everything was fine, apart from one thing but that was unlikely to affect fertility, got the results home, googled them and went into panic overdrive, cried so much, convinced myself we would never concieve naturally!! At our fertility appointment were told that they were fine. I know it's going to sound really annoying but try but to panic until you have spoken to the clinic.

Good luck, let us know how you get on :)

Yes we didn't want to wait too long after 7 months ... I wanted to know if theres something wrong what we can do to correct it. Now I am faced with the results, I just don't know what to do next. I will look up on the vitamins euro thanks.

He doesn't drink excessively - hardly 1 or 2 units in a weeks and none on some weeks since we started ttc. No baths, no fags, eats healthy and not overweight. He does have laptop on his lap and wears tight pants, drives a lot for work.

I just feel so nervous about the appointment next week. I am worried they are going to turn around and give us some more bad news. As that's all I have been getting all of this year :(

Bear in mind that SAs vary hugely. The next one could be normal. My OH has had three. On each test one marker has been just outside normal - a different one each time! The feritlity clinic were not worried about that at all and proceeded with prodding and poking me.

my dh has 5% good morphology sperm which i thought was bad but doc assured me ok-consultant agreed. maybe gp just doesnt know what hes talking about. if count is ok, so say 200 million sperm, remember each one pc of that is 2 million. you would not have had cp if a swimmer hadnt found the egg.

go back to the gp and get print out of actual results- what i did- and report back! i think your gp has panicked you unnecessarily.

Thanks Christelle I'll keep repeating what you and others have said to stop me from panicking. DH has been a bit distant since he found out and avoiding my calls. He didn't ask the GP any many questions at all. I feel like I need so many answers.

I really hope its unnecessary panic and nothing that can't be improved through vitamins and lifestyle changes.

Got a print out of his results-
Progressive sperm 44%
Immotile - 49%
Sperm count 348mill
Morphology - 2%

Looks like morphology is low and I am not sure what normal is or how it can be improved. Everything else looks normal or so I think.

yes morphology is a bit low but 2% is still millions. there are women on here whose dhs SA has come back as almost no sperm at all.
dont beat yourselves up. you may get clomid like me which will increase eggs and therefore the odds.

Will I have to clomid if I have no problems ovulating?

348 million is amazing! My hubs was 48 million!

As I said about, I think normal is 3%. I can't google to check as at work! So he is only marginally outside the normal limits. And his count is enormous! Really don't get too gloomy. It's really not bad at all.

Some drs give out clomid even if ovulating. My clinic said there is no point. Opinions differ.

winkle do you know what viscosity means? He has a note on his result from the lab saying " very viscous sample"

Dr.google saying this is not good and needs to be thinned....

Thanks everyone - I think I'll sleep a bit better tonight. It helps and I appreciate your replies so so much xx

Normal is 4%.

I don't know about the viscosity. Might be too thick for sperm to swim in?

I would say from those figures, the count and progressive %ages are way up, and would more than compensate for what you feel is low morphology. Anything between 3% and 5% (going on 'strict' standards) is 'normal' so I would say there is not much to worry about with your 2%, particularly given the other figures. As already said, your CP is a positive thing in a way as it proves things are going in the right direction, though it doesn't make it any easier to deal with. Viscosity is one of those contentious figures, but given the sheer numbers you are dealing with I don't think you need to worry. The very best of luck with your journey, and wishing you an early BFP.

Hi - we had a 3% morphology and were gutted. But all other variables great. 10 weeks later after vits and pine bark (may or may not have helped) it was 7% and actually the count outweighs the morph of it is high. I'm still not pregnant but there have been uterine factors with me and I'm not a spring chicken. I regret how upset we were about it. We still don't know for sure of its sperm or womb or eggs or age or whatever. But please don't fret too much. Get a repeat and take it from there and bear in mind Gps don't always know loads about fertility. Good luck with things.

I'm not sure my last post was brill, I blame Friday night. The gp said it should have been 15% morphology and that we wouldn't be able to conceive - but she was ill Informed it is now 4% as the limit.

rabbit I was told we had 2% morphology whereas the expected was minimum of 30%, found out later that the 30% related to a different categorisation of morphology and the 2% related to 'strict'. On second analysis we had 1%, but either way it wasn't as bad as we had originally thought it would be! Congrats on your increase to 7%

Thanks feel much more reassured now. Just wish the process could be slightly different to prevent all this worry and anxiety. GPs aren't trained to interpret SA results so why can't someone like a fertility specialist actually explain them to you in the first place - rather than an empty 'your result is higher abnormal than normal sperm' sentence uttered by a GP who has no clue! He was actually sat with google open on his screen and DH said he just didn't know what the results meant

I'd take what the GP says with a pinch of salt. Your GP is not a fertility expert. Try and stay away from Dr Google until your appointment, he's a bastard and will do nothing but worry you.

Have you heard from your DH? If he's avoiding your calls he may be upset by the results and in need of your support.

It used to be 15% but its gone down to 4%.

It must have some effect because we've been trying 15 months and the one thing that's been flagged up from our results is the low morphology.

I spoke to DH yes and he's okay just ready to do whatever it takes.

Ill add pine bark to my list of things toget. Wow that's a tremendous increase rabbit
Hope you get your bfp soon too

I am hoping the higher count makes up for the low morphology...30% seems so high. Ours was the strict one - so 4% doesn't seem like a daunting target to achieve!

Also I read SAs vary everytime you test so maybe they order another test and the result is more positive

strawberry our GP went on google too they must see SA quite often - I'm amazed they have to look on google.

Viscosity showed up as abnormal in one of Mr Euro's tests. It was normal in the other two though. We had a good joke about his sperm being too thick to find the egg though - you have to get your laughs where you can when you are a long term ttcer!