SA results - what does this mean?

[Sparrowlegs248]

Hello ladies. DH phoned for his results yesterday. Apparently the count was fine and motility fine, but only 3% were normal. His GP spoke to him on the phone and said these results would be put with mine and we would be referred to a fertility clinic. My results were also 'fine' other than borderline underactive thyroid.

Can anyone tell me how bad only 3% normal is? Thanks. I will speak to docs myself on monday.

Should be at least 4 percent normal forms as a minimum. My dh has 100 percent abnormal so I feel your pain. In fact dh has a low count as well. That said, they can't diagnose a problem based on one test alone as it can fluctuate. Where I live they do 3 tests each 3 months apart before they can say with any certainty that there is an issue.

Dh has cut out baths, reduced caffeine drastically, improved diet and been taking vitamins. He already drank very little alcohol and doesn't smoke. Hoping the changes he has made will lead to an improved result for test 2. Fx

Thanks for your quick reply. So 4% and above is 'ok'?

DHAKA doesn't drink or smoke at all. Not overweight. We eat pretty well. We don't have a shower though so no chance of cutting baths out....does it help? Plus, I am 37 so time is marching on....

Which vitamins are good for this?

I guess he could cut caffeine. He has one coffee and two teas a day but that's all......

He does have high blood Pressie. I wonder if that is a problem?

No problem. Wet heat is a big thing to avoid from what I've read. So I guess he may need to switch to luke warm baths. Also avoid hot tubs. Poor dh loves a bath and hasn't had one in 2 months (we do have a shower!). Wellman vitamins are what my dh is taking. He's due a second test in October, so I guess we'll see then if it's done any good...

I would n't have thought that amount of caffeine would be a problem, but can't hurt to try cutting it out. My dh was on about 10 cups of tea a day and has cut back to 2 or 3.

I don't know re blood pressure. Is this his first SA? I'm surprised he is being referred based on one test alone. Obviously varies a lot depending on where you live.

Thanks Gemerama. Yes its the first, but we are older and have been ttc for 19 cycles now. I hope you get a better result in October!

I will make a list of questions to ask the doc.

Thanks, I hope so too. Age aside, sperm does vary over time. If he's been ill in the last 3 months that can also have an effect.

Hi notta. When my DH went he just called up for results and was just told he had been 'referred'. When he told me this I immediately called GPS myself. After much to-ing and fro-ing, I arranged to go and pick up a print out. The print out will tell you both your DH's levels of everything and the 'normal' ranges. This level of detail is also helpful as if your DH only has 3%morohology but a very high volume - as mine did - I figured 3% of 10million (well above safe range of volume) is better than say, 4% (normal range) of 3 million (normal volume range) so as others have said, when you get the printout, it might be much better than you think. Btw, those numbers were utterly random: I cann't remember actual numbers just that DH was 1% behind normal on morohology but had higher than normal volume.

Also, as others have said, my DH's range varied between tests.

My DH also used to take baths every night. He cut down especially around ov time but didn't cut them out.

I hope this helps. Good luck.

My DH had only 2% normal morphology on first SA and 1% on second, so we were referred for IVF. It was going to be ICSI to select the good sperm, but on the day of egg collection, they did another SA and it was 6%! This meant they didn't need to do ICSI, just normal IVF and all 11 of my 15 eggs fertilised. The changes my DH made between the first 2 SA and IVF were: cooler baths, less alcohol (none for 3 months before IVF), taking Zita West Vitamen tablets every day and reducing caffeine. He also switched from instant to filter coffee on the advice of an acupuncturist. Unfortunately the IVF didn't work, but clinic seem to think that was because of an implantation problem, so nothing to do with his sperm. Now waiting for next round, which will be in Jan. So in our experience morphology can be improved

Thanks, its good to hear others stories. Thanks itsm33r that's kind of what i was thinking too. I am going to speak to the docs myself and will request a printout. Apparently the volume was normal but DH says there was much less than he can normal produce! So maybe that will help too.

notta I think that is also very valid I.e. Poor guys doing it in a cup is likely to give less than when with DW. When I knew I was ov-ing I used to really focus on DH's enjoyment for this very reason. Good luck with the printout.