Teratozoospermia

[onelifeonechance]

Anyone?
We've been ttc #1 with no sniff of a BFP, currently on cycle 9. Got fed up of being an emotional wreck so told a porky to the GP that we'd been trying for 12 months so that we could both be tested in the naive hope that it would all be fine, we'd feel reassured and could just relax and wait for things to happen. That has just blown up spectacularly in our faces as we went to GP yst who has said my bloods are all fine and show I am oving but my husband's sperm test has shown an issue. Sperm count and progressive motility all fine/good, no antibodies killing his sperm. But his morphology is abnormal. He's been diagnosed with teratozoospermia. Apparently they like it to be greater than 4% and his is 1% (cut off for 'severe teratozoospermia is less than 1% so he's only just not in that category).
GP admitted he didn't know much more and has referred us to fertility clinic, no idea how long that it going to take. From googling it's looking like ICSI route but not sure that's right?? Don't know what to think til we speak to expert but no idea how long that's going to be and already feeling it.
Has anyone got any experience of this - the positive and the negative, don't hold back, rather know what we're dealing with.

How are you getting on littlebear? Af got me this morning so onto cycle 10. Feeling like we're not going to do this without some help, still waiting for clinic letter to come through. Rang them and they're saying hopefully by end of March so we'll see. Hope you're having better luck.

M33r, if you read this I hope you're ok and you're finding the reflexology helpful. I went for my second appt yst and found it much more relaxing than the first so think I'll continue for a bit and see. The lady is ever so nice which helps. Hope all your tests are going ok and not too stressful for you. Take care x

Hi onelifeonechance. Sorry to hear about the sperm troubles, no advice here. Just wanted to say your original post made me smile a bit because I'm so contemplating fibbing to the GP as well, couldn't decide if it was a crazy woman thing to do or not!! What TTC does to us eh - 6 months here. Hope things are going okay x

Hi OneLife, AF got me today as well! I was actually starting to think we might have done it this month... :(

So, cycle 10 for me too. Need to go to hospital this week to get those blood tests done so my consultant will send the IVF paperwork off. Feeling really hard done by, it all seems so unfair.

Hope you're feeling ok?

I am also just starting cycle 10. My day 21 prog was normal, but period unusually came a bit early this month. Husband getting semen analysis done a week on Monday. Can't deny I am a little nervous. Just need to wait and see what that brings.

Hi Jesse. Good luck with your husband's SA. Have all the tests been ok on your side?

I was just looking at Andrology Solutions, after reading back and seeing that Eurochick had mentioned them. I'm wondering if I should chat with my DH about booking an appointment there for some more indepth SA and advice. What do you all think? Is it worth the cost/hassle?

Sorry af got you too littlebear, it sucks doesn't it, even harder the months when you think you're in with more of a chance. I'm doing ok thanks, just fed up but kind of accepting this is just how it is. It's as though the first few months were harder in one sense as I was expecting it to work more at the beginning (when I was naive and thought having unprotected sex led to pregnancy...yeah right) so felt rubbish when it didn't, whereas now I'm not expecting it to work so then I just feel proved right when af turns up, sigh and move on to the next month. But had a good chat with dh and feel determined to not let it completely take over everything. Unless we get pregnant this month then then the likelihood is we're not having a baby this year and I really don't want the whole year to be sad and painful, so we've agreed we're going to have little treats all through the year to help counteract the waiting and the clinic appointments.

Littlebear, can I ask, once they retested your dh and his morphology was the same did they just say they we're referring you for ivf (and is this with ICSI?) or did they offer you something else? And how creative we're you with timing (I.e how long do the clinic think you've been trying for?) We're not going to know til we're seen at the clinic but from what I can work out ivf funding only kicks in after been trying for two years, which with what we've told gp would mean we can't do anything until Jan next year......seems so far away.

Rpopz, you are def not a crazy lady, unless indeed we are all crazy!! I'm so glad I went and was economical with the truth. As much as it was a shock to find out the results, I feel it's better we know and least we're in the system now (already discovering how slow the system is, sure by the time we're seen cycle 12 will have been and gone) Know some people won't approve but I've spent my whole life always doing the right thing and abiding by rules, this is one area I'm glad I've been 'naughty' about!!!

Hope your hubby's SA goes ok Jesse, just so you know we had to wait just under two weeks for the results, I thought it'd be sooner than that but sadly not. Fingers crossed all ok for you.

My dh had poor morphology, motility and count. We were referred almost immediately for ICSI after our second set of tests. We were told that it was virtually impossible for us to conceive due to dh's incredibly poor test results.

We changed our diet completely, cutting out red meat, cow dairy, aspartame, alcohol, caffeine, as many additives as possible in a bid to ensure that if I ever did get pregnant, that we would give it the best possible chance to stick. It was also a way of feeling a little more in control of the roller coaster of medical interventions.

In the end, the month before we were due to start ICSI, I fell pregnant naturally. Dd is now 9. Unfortunately, we were never successful again, but just consider ourselves unbelievably fortunate to have dd.

It's lovely to hear your story littlefish. I'm very much hoping we can get there naturally before the need for intervention, but we'll just have to see. I've also had to completely have a word with myself about expectations. I have always pictured having three children, but with what we're going through I've soon realised it doesn't work that easily for everybody and it's not just about what you decide you want. So we are just going to focus on hoping we're lucky enough for it to work even once

Meant to ask, how long were you trying for out of interest?

We were trying for about 2 and a half years. Like you, I told a small fib to the GP - we went to see him after 9 months as we were both 34(ish).

I have also since found out that I had a large dermoid cyst which gradually wrapped itself around my ovary which mean that 2 years ago, at the age of 43, I had to have my left ovary and fallopian tube removed. I will never know how much that affected my fertility, quite apart from dh's issues!

I think it's really good to try and manage your expectations. I always thought I would have 4 children. Most of the time I'm fine about having 1, and know how incredibly lucky we are. I have had times when I've regretted not going for IVF, but somehow it didn't feel right for us as a family.

We tried for 10 months when I pushed for tests (same reason as you!). We'd had a brief bfp in cycle 4 and had had a chemical pregnancy and I got AF when I would have been 5 weeks.

So I was shocked when my DH's results came back as totally shit. 1 million count, 1% morph and shite motlility (can't remember exactly!). We got referred for icsi straight away. I was devastated. Icsi worked first time 9 months later! It has a 50% ish success rate at some clinics with your age.

Weirdly, I conceived naturally without trying while still bf DS. DS is not quite 2 and I have a beautiful DD who's 4 weeks old. Still can't believe my luck. I only had 2 AFs in between pregnancies and didn't suspect or find out with second pregnancy until I was about 8 weeks. Such a shock.

From starting TTC to having our son was 2.5 years and now I have two.

There's much hope for you. Really, there is xxx

Aw Timpani, thank you What a lovely story to read and I'm so pleased for you. Always good to hear peoples successes after similar experiences, v uplifting. Same thing happened to a friend of mine, they struggled to conceive their first and needed intervention, then wham! second one popped out of nowhere, easy as anything!!! Enjoy them and thank you for the encouragement, gratefully received.

Littlefish, that's v interesting about your cyst, suppose you'll never know for sure, but glad it was safely removed and sorted for you. Yes I think you're right about expectation management. I'm just trying so hard to follow my lovely late nanas advice, because I know for sure if she was here and I was able to tell her what we're going through she would say to me 'take it one day at a time'. So I'm really trying not to focus on thinking if we don't have the first for another few years, how will we or indeed will we be able to even have anymore...because that's what's stressing me out I suppose, because it's feeling like it's not going to 'plan'. Whereas actually we may not get there at all, or we may be incredibly lucky and actually realise our dream of three, but we're not going to know that until we get there, wherever 'there' is, so the only thing we can do is keep putting one foot in front of the other and focus on the here and now. I have such a lovely dh and my life is good in so many other ways that I don't want to wish it away and waste it being too sad because I do know I'm already so lucky compared to some. So we've just got to wait and see what's meant for us. Sorry to waffle, hope that makes some sense!

One life, you sound so like me. I have been saying all of those things over and over in my head for the last 10months. It is the lack of knowing. If I was to know that we would conceive, naturally or assisted, in for example, 2 years from now, I would feel ok. It is the thought that there is a chance it may never happen. I have a very close friend who is a gynaecologist, albeit not a fertility subspecialist, and she is forever telling me to stay calm, as from her perspective, assisted conception is so successful. (Latest figures from my area my age 40% take home). However, I do not want to be insensitive as I am sure there are many couples on mumsnet who have not been as lucky.

Definitely agree it is the lack of knowing. Obviously I'd prefer it if we could conceive naturally but if intervention was needed that'd be fine... if I could just know NOW! Instead of waiting around oblivious and not being able to do anything about it... I'm such a control freak....

Debating seeing someone privately as next month will be 6 cycles. Just at least so I can know either way and RELAX!

(Shouldn't be this hard, should it...)

one I could've written that post. Also trying to manage my expectations and started to try to come to terms with maybe it not working out for us and maybe I need a new plan... We've still got a while to go I guess but I'm trying to play the hand I've been dealt so-to-speak. Like you, my DH is amazing.

Makes me sad as he is desperate for kids but just trying to stay positive, keep trying but live our lives.

So incredibly sad but so incredibly lucky in other ways ...

I have everything crossed that you'll be one of those stories that starts 'there was this girl on mn &c &c ... And she got pregnant naturally'

X

Hi everyone. Just needing a little mumsnet support today. A close friend phone last night to say she is pregnant with her third. I am so so happy for them as she has always wanted 3. I was fine on the phone until she asked how we were getting on with 'trying' and I burst into tears. I felt totally out of control (which is nt like me at all - I am usually very controlled!). I ended up just telling her that I needed to go and didn't want to talk about it. Feel guilty now and had to text to apologise. What will I be like if still in this position next year or year after? Need to work out how to be stronger. Any suggestions?

Hey jesse. That sucks! If she's a good friend though she'll totally understand. How are you now? How long have you been trying?

Donmt have any advice but just wanted to check you're feeling better.

Xx

On 10th cycle and I know this is short compared to many people, but my husband is having his first semen analysis on Monday and feeling scared. I suppose last night has proven that I am a little more stressed than I realised.
I have decided this weekend I am going to

1. Laugh
2. Bake
3. Eat the baking
4. Run
5. Go shopping with my sister
6. Drink wine and coffee

Any other suggestions feel free to add!

Thank you for replying meer - appreciated.
Hope you are ok xx

Aw Jesse, when you said in your last post that I sounded so like you, I can now say you sound so like me! If I knew the answer I promise I would share it. I too get very emotional about it all, can't talk to anyone about it without welling up, and frequently am tearful about it when thinking about it all. I have a gathering coming up in April of six couples, all of whom are pregnant or have littlies, I'm quite frankly dreading it as I know someone will say something or ask if we're going to join the club, and I just know I'm not going to be able to just brush the answer off but don't want to make everyone awkward by 'over sharing' or crying. I'm sorry I don't have an answer for you, but hope it helps to hear you're not alone with it.
Think your plans for the weekend sound grand :) personally I would also add a nice long lie in!!! And a read of the Sunday papers after a good walk and a roast!!! Hope your dh gets on ok with his SA, it'll be a waiting game then for the results, best get stuck into the baking (and then maybe more so the running as a result of the extra baking!!)

M33r, where are you up to with things? Are you in any system? I'm still waiting for my appointment letter. Hope you're doing ok. And glad you have an amazing dh, know what you mean about it being hard when they want it just as much as you. This all just seems so unfair doesn't it?

Hi jesse. The SA is hard but if you can subtly make sure hubby avoids baths beforehand it's helpful. You should also know that my DH's were so different so if the first is a bit low in places (there are four measures) then try not worry as next time it could increase drastically. Also, you donmt have time this time but the vits REALLY help with the SA.

Hi one. Hate that we're still here BUT I came home tonight to my appt letter. 2/4! I'm in the system. Feeling good about getting things moving! How long have you been waiting for the letter?

Oh and jesse donmt apologise for 'only' being on cycle 10. It's no competition and you are entitled to be upset! Hopefully though you'll be within the year. one and I are rubbish examples BUT you are highly statistically likely to be pg within two minths! If I were a betting man, my money would be on you at 85% return! :-)

Well when I put my sensible hat on I can't complain really as only been waiting three weeks!! But it feels like FOREVER!!! Just want to know what the date will be then I can start my countdown towards that. Yeay for yours!!! Glad it's come through, not too much longer to wait and hurray for being in the system, fx hon. Any special instructions with your letter or do you just turn up and see what they say??

Turn up; don't be too fat or too thin; no drugs; no smoking and no drinking during treatment but not a lot else.

Not sure where you are in the world but I got my first letter in August saying you're on the list and just got my actual appt letter today so not quick. How's your DH? X

Oo crikes, that's a v long wait. I'm in the middle! When I rang to chase they said should be by end of March, I thought they meant the appointment but maybe they just meant the letter Well that's even more cause for celebration that you've got yours if you've waited that long, extra whooping here!!!!

Dh doing fine, he's very sensible about it all and says there's no point panicking until we've spoken to the experts and get their opinion. In the meantime he's taking his vits so we'll see. Wish I had some of his patience!