Sperm chit-chat. Low count, low morphology, low motility - anyone had success after these diagnoses?

[Bearface]

Hello

I just wanted to instigate a sperm chat because my DH's SA has come back with low count (11.5 mill) and low morphology (3%). We were told that it is 'highly unlikely' that I'll get upduffed with current counts.

He also has a varicocele which is being investigated by GP via a consultant.

DH is on Wellman vits, no hot baths, loose pants and trousers, etc. We're looking into Pycnogenol and L-Glutathione as supplements. He's not overweight or unfit and hardly drinks. Doesn't smoke either.

Anyway, stats aside, I just wondered if anyone had any success stories they wanted to share? Or any tips or advice?

Thanks x

We had exactly this! We were booked in for ICSI but I got pregnant naturally the month before we were due to start. Dd is now 8. Sadly, we never managed it again, but are so thankful for our gorgeous child.

I'm glad you had success Littlefish. It's sad you didn't get a second DC, but like you said, you have a beautiful DD. Thanks for sharing.

Dh had a varicocele and very similar figures to your DH - morphology was even worse at 2%. I have PCOS too and we were told we needed fertility treatment as very unlikely to conceive naturally.

Dh had an operation to sort out the varicocele and his count improved a lot after that. We now have two children and have not had to have any fertility treatment. Good luck, I hope things go well for you.

That's good to hear Marrow - thanks! It's always lovely to hear when things have worked out for others.

I do wonder if that might be the root cause. DH's GP is seeking advice from a fertility consultant. I don't want DH to have to have an operation, but I guess if it has to happen, then it could hopefully improve things. Was there a lot of recovery involved Marrow?

My dp had worse stats than that. Cant remember the exact figures but the morphology was 1% (less than 1million count)

I got pregnant 5 times in two years. I lost the first four.

I was told I wouldnt have a baby without ivf/icsi. I was a few weeks pg at that appointment.

Dd is now 2yo

Love the name Mike - sorry about the MCs but glad you got a DD in the end.

No not a lot of recovery at all. It was done as a day case and just a local anaesthetic. I'm pretty sure he was back in work the next day. It was a very minor procedure.

Meant to say that the GP referred him to a urologist to sort out the varicocele.

Phew - thanks Marrow for the info. Hope DH will have the same if he has to have it done. He reacts really badly to general anaesthetic.

We had much worse than that - sperm count was hight but morphology was well under 1%.

DH stopped drinking altogether, upped his exercise massively, we changed lifestyle completely (not to get pg, we were assuming no dc) and from the lifestyle change I was pg within a year.

He was taking zinc and omega 3 oils which apparently may have helped.

After ds1 he was diagnosed with a varicocele, had it repaired (not surgery the radiology way), it came back, he had it repaired again and shortly after I got pg with ds2 (there is a just over 3year gap between the dc).

I am now on contraception (which felt rather odd after so many years)!

Yes, though not the variocele. Told we'd need ICSI, but they gave me a routine HyCoSyg as well after which we conceived naturally 3 times in about 8 cycles - one miscarried but the other two are just cleaning their teeth.

DH had 2 v bad results from the hospital clinic. (Bad in every way- motility, numbers etc). We had initial tests at a private IVF clinic a few months later and it came back normal. He had made no major lifestyle choices but did take pycegenol (Sp?). I fell pregnant naturally the next month (having had treatment for endometriosis that month).
Has your DH had more than 1 test as they can really vary?
A friend's DH had practically no sperm after a childhood accident but she did become pregnant twice through ICSI.
Good luck

Well, swlmum, DH had his second SA test only one month later which am I right in thinking was too early because it would be like testing the same sperm with the same batch number? They didn't tell us that it needed to be done 3 months after, but I think it's because the doctor didn't actually know. I think DH will try to get another one done in May time and see how that one is.

Boring - what's a HyCoSyg? Sorry - I'm new to this area.

Low morphology with DH here, got pregnant naturaly but sadly lost twins in January but this has given us fresh hope.

We had this.

We tried for a year and a bit and were on the waiting list for ivf for joint reasons, although dhs low sperm count the main one (I already had a much older dd).

We found out I was pregnant with ds the actual day our ivf appointment came through :)

I have no idea if it was just luck or not ... but dh completely cut out all sugary drinks, especially fizzy ones. And ate lots of broccoli (he hates it but apparently it's good antioxidants).

Ds is now 8 months old :)

Dh had awful results each time he had to give a sample. I can't remember the figures now but it was pretty bad.

We now have 2 naturally conceived dcs. It took us over a year to conceive each time but we got there. Fingers crossed that you will too.

HyCoSyg (may have got the spelling wrong) is similar to a "lap and dye" and is when they blast stuff through your tubes to check for blockages. It's a diagnostic test routinely carried out as part of investigations but anecdotally some women get pg immediately afterwards.

Okay - thanks for clarifying Boring.

Thanks for the stories everyone. What I seem to be finding, not just on here but on Dr Google too, is that people with low sperm counts generally seem to get there in the end but it can take a long time. I hope this is the general trend and that we can be part of it too!

DH had poor motility, but I can't remember the figures now. we failed to conceive naturally, tried for 5 years. Then I got pregnant using iui but miscarried. Finally conceived DD by ICSI after 8 years ttc.

The stories of conceiving naturally are lovely, but dont think its bound to happen eventually. It may not.

Yes, fair enough Mewling - I am cautiously optimistic, but understand the need to be realistic; however, it is good to have hope, otherwise I might tumble into the depths of despair.

I meant to say dp saw an umprovement after taking well man vits, pycnogenol and peruvian Maca. Iirc there was a significant improvement in count and the normal forms were 2% instead of 1.

That's good to know Mike - lots of people seem to be saying they saw improvements after using the well man vits and quite a lot are clearly independent of the company too although I think you can tell which ones aren't so that could be good. DH and I both suffer from cold sores and mouth ulcers a lot which we treat with L-lycine, but I wonder if it might suggest we have some vitamin deficiencies. I know that you should be able to get all your vitamins through food, but it's so much easier to supplement with vits. So I went out today and stocked up so DH and I will be rattling round for the forseeable future.

I'm interested in Peruvian Maca Mike - will check it out. Thanks for the tip.

The Maca tastes vile. Dont listen to the people that tell you they put it in their coffee. They are liars.

No idea if one or all of them helped. But it felt good to be proactive iyswim.