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Conception

When's the best time to get pregnant? Use our interactive ovulation calculator to work out when you're most fertile and most likely to conceive.

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Original poster

Told 'next to no chance' of conceiving naturally - Male infertility

25 replies

MLR66 · 30/01/2020 12:19

Hi I wonder if you can help me. I will try and keep this brief as I could go on forever! Me and my partner, have been trying to conceive for nearly two years, we are both 26. I have had my 'checks' scan and bloods is all they offered due to 'no funding' in my area, which is all I keep getting told. My partner has had two sperm analysis' done, both showing high count, however low motility and morphology. In fact the word they used on the sheet we received back was 'severely' low motility and morphology. We received these results at a GP appointment last week and in his words 'you have next to no chance of conceiving naturally' (he even made a joke about saving for IVF) again no funding in our area.

I was confused as to why no one has physically examined my partner or done bloods etc. I understand if i were to be told I was not ovulating or had no periods I would be seen by a Gynecologist, however the male is not referred to urologist? We were given no further advice just told again 'there is no funding' and to look into IVF.

Are my chances naturally completely over? Should I push the GP to refer my partner to a urologist as something could be causing low motility/morphology? Does anyone have any success stories or advice?

Help please! thank you

OP posts:

esmerelda1988 · 30/01/2020 12:23

Don't have any proper advice I'm afraid but just wondered if your OH has been taking any supplements? My OH had 3% morphology which isn't too bad but lower than it should be and he took 1000mg vit c and zinc, and we conceived before his next sperm analysis was due to be done. They were going to refer him to a urologist if not.

Happynewyear22 · 30/01/2020 12:31

My husband had the same and he didn't get any further tests. They cant do much medically to fix sperm although they can do ICSI at the clinic if the sperm are suitable. This is where they inject the sperm into the egg so it doesn't matter if they aren't very mobile. My GP was useless as well and we had to pay for IVF before we got answers. My husband had an undescended testicle when he was young and it wasn't operated on until he was too old for it to help.

We had a horrific journey but we did end up with 2 kids. I know its early days but if i had my time again and was back where you are i would seriously look into donor sperm although i would be saving for a consultation with an IVF clinic to talk about your husbands sperm so they can explain the problem if you rally cant get a referral on the nhs. Maybe see a different GP? I remember when we were told we wouldn't get pregnant naturally and it was totally devastating. My thoughts are with you.

Original poster

MLR66 · 30/01/2020 13:34

He began taking vitamins after the first test, the morphology went down on the second but motility up slightly so we will keep on trying. Thank you

OP posts:

Original poster

MLR66 · 30/01/2020 13:35

Thank you Happynewyear22 - not the nicest news is it. I'll try another GP, we have already changed once but maybe just a different doctor perhaps. Thank you that gives me some hope, I have been in contact with IVF clinics - supposedly funding in our area may possible be reinstated in April so fingers crossed!

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BecauseReasons · 30/01/2020 13:39

I'm sure you've been through all this, but just in case- he's not heating the testicles up too much is he? Wearing underwear that's too tight; taking long, hot baths; spending a long time in a hot tub; wearing skinny jeans; resting his laptop on his crotch?

esmerelda1988 · 30/01/2020 13:40

Also as @Happynewyear22 says I would try a different GP- GPs aren't specialists and from my own experience often know next to nothing about fertility issues. I was told by my GP I had virtually no chance of conceiving naturally due to a condition I have, saw a specialist who said she was basically being ridiculous and ill informed and I conceived a month later. IMO a GP shouldn't be making such bold statements without a fertility expert's opinion. Ask for a urologists referral!

Original poster

MLR66 · 30/01/2020 14:06

I thought this too @esmerelda1988! I will go and push for a referral, its hard because my partner won't push, he just thinks the GP will know and that's that! So glad you got to see a specialist!

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itwasalovelydreamwhileitlasted · 30/01/2020 16:18

I'm going to be brutally honest here and say that he won't be referred for further specialist treatment because there is very little they can do from a medical point of view?

Unless he has a variocele the only treatment for sperm issues is very good vitamin supplements which are readily available (don't require a prescription) and complete overhaul of his lifestyle - no caffeine no alcohol restrict hot baths etc etc

itwasalovelydreamwhileitlasted · 30/01/2020 16:20

Also the previous poster managed to get a referral due to the condition SHE had - not her partner - it's very different when it's male factor. Quite often with female factor there is something that can be done which requires specialist treatment but this isn't always the case with male factor

smemorata · 30/01/2020 16:22

Next to no chance isn't absolutely no chance. You might get lucky so don't give up trying! (My husband was told this and we did conceive naturally).

esmerelda1988 · 30/01/2020 16:48

Actually as I have a rare uterine abnormality that can't be changed, there wouldn't have been anything they could do, had it been the case I couldn't conceive. I asked to be referred to a specialist for a second opinion and to discuss how to go about IVF.

Our GP for all her faults was ready to refer my partner to a urologist if his second SA had not improved- I don't know what if anything could have been done by them. It seems to be a bit of a postcode/GP lottery!

Happynewyear22 · 30/01/2020 17:25

I agree with the comments that there isn't much they can do to fix sperm. I would definitely push your GP or get another GP though as i would have thought a consultant would sit you down and explain the problem even if then they cant offer you IVF. Our GP really didn't know much and we went to see a specialist but he was the IVF NHS person. Then we didn't qualify after his initial appointment. To be honest he didn't tell us much except the sperm cant swim well and even if they ever reached an egg they couldn't penetrate it.

smemorata I know you mean well but for the vast majority who are told there's next to no chance there really is no chance. If the doctors say no chance they have to offer IVF which is why they say next to no chance - in my area of the country anyway (UK). If there had been absolutely no chance we would have qualified but because it was a 1 in a million chance we didn't qualify. Realistically we were a zero chance they just couldn't tell us. You were very lucky. Your husbands sperm obviously did function as it got you pregnant. That is unlikely to be the case for the vast majority of people in this situation. I cant put in to words how upset i was every month when we shagged just in case we were that person that got pregnant despite what the doctors said. It is crushing and a false hope.

Good luck op. Push on to get some more information and then go from there.

gogetemtiger · 30/01/2020 17:31

If you can pay to see a private urologist then I can recommend Dr Ramsay. He's the best and will give you the most honest and expert answer to all of your queries.

I know how tough this news can be to receive as me and DH went through it. Give yourselves time to recoup.

Original poster

MLR66 · 30/01/2020 18:07

Thank you for all your responses, they’re helpful and nice to not feel alone. I think i’d like to push or pay to see a urologist, I know there is most likely not to be a ‘fix’ it just baffles me no one has even checked everything is ‘okay’ down there and for the varicocele. We haven’t had funding available in our area for 5 years, and this is for all fertility funding which means they are very adamant they cannot even refer us to a specialist for a discussion and of course the GP is not trained in that area, so after both SA’s we’re simply handed the sheet and told it’s not good and on our way, I really hope something improves in the future for anyone going through it. I’m realistic that a ‘miracle’ may or may not happen, but further information would be nice as google gives a million different answers! Really appreciate you taking your time out to respond xx

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gogetemtiger · 30/01/2020 19:00

Make a self referral to this man if you can. When we saw him he said he would be retiring from NHS work soon but not the private stuff so private may be your best (and quickest route) to an answer

www.jonathanramsay.co.uk

Wishing you luck, this is a scary place to be but once you have answers at least you'll get some direction.

Original poster

MLR66 · 30/01/2020 20:13

@gogetemtiger Thank you so much. I have sent an email. So scary and ‘out of my control’ as such, I prayed the issue was with me instead

OP posts:

gogetemtiger · 30/01/2020 21:37

I remember that feeling well. Give him a big hug and comfort yourselves a little this weekend, it's a real blow but you will still have options and chances ahead of you xxx

mammmamia · 30/01/2020 22:04

Hi Op we had the same situation as happynewyear - my DH was infertile due to undescended testicle when he was a child. We found out after TTC for 2 years and having all the tests done which showed there was nothing wrong with me. I remember feeling the same as you and wishing the issue had been with me as you feel so out of control. They told us there was zero chance of any sperm and we would have to use a donor.
However he was driving a lot and spending a lot of time at his desk - he reduced this and took some supplements. By some miracle they found some usable sperm at the next test.
We were referred for ICSI off the back of that test. We were very lucky to have it funded in our area and to be successful first time. I was only 30 which probably helped but just wanted to say it’s not as clear cut as it might seem and there may be options.

Original poster

MLR66 · 30/01/2020 22:29

@gogetemtiger thank you so so much xxxxxxx

OP posts:

Original poster

MLR66 · 30/01/2020 22:32

@mammmamia thank you I love to hear your stories. i’m so glad it worked for you, hopefully funding will be reinstated in April or we will be saving for a few years, I didn’t want to put myself into debt before a baby even comes along as I know how pricey it becomes after too lol! xxx

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Tallilah · 31/01/2020 09:24

We had similar but I have problems as well.

10 years after not using anything, baby is 1

ttcchapter1 · 31/01/2020 10:57

Have they recommended IUI before IVF?

Original poster

MLR66 · 31/01/2020 10:59

@ttcchapter1 i’ve only just sent emails on Wednesday to IVF clinics to see what they recommend so we shall see :)

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Original poster

MLR66 · 31/01/2020 11:00

@Tallilah ahhh glad you got your happy ending, 10 years just seems such a long time! xx

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HavelockVetinari · 31/01/2020 11:02

Get him on Vit C, Co-enzyme Q10, zinc and lycopene ASAP, all have been proven to improve morphology and motility.

If that doesn't work, and the lifestyle changes don't either (he shouldn't smoke, drink too much, wear tight boxers, rest his laptop on his lap...etc.) then realistically your only option is IVF with ICSI, since IUI is unlikely to work with your DH's issues. If cost is an issue try ABC fertility if you are a healthy weight and under 38.

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