Low morphology and low motility

[Belladonna432]

Hello!

So we have been TTC for 2 years and have just found out DH has low morphology (1%) and low motility (15%) we have a joint appointment with GP on Monday to discuss plans but am feeling nervous and worried about it all. My initial blood tests came back fine for ovulation.

Has anyone been through this or know what their next steps are likely to be???

So desperate to have a baby now, I’m 32 and wanted a couple of children at least before o got to 35. So frustrated that we can’t do it naturally and all my friends seem to be finding it so easy.
Xxx

In my (very limited experience, where it was male infertility only), IVF with a donor sperm, was the only option. DSis didn’t want IVF anyway, let alone with a donor, so that was the final straw for them both. Although she isn’t using contraception, and stranger things have happened. She’s 28, he’s 34.

That is such a shame that they couldn’t use his sperm to help her. I’m so sorry to hear that. But like you said stranger things have happened, so fingers crossed!

I’m really hoping that isn’t the case with us, as that isn’t a viable option for us. He has already said he would rather adopt than use doner sperm.

Am hoping because his count is good, that IVF would be suitable but I really don’t know anything about all that at the moment.

Hey, I’ve going through this right now, my DH morphology was 1% but after a few changes in diet and giving up alcohol completely and taking wellman conception tablets we managed to get it up to 3% and even with I believe 1% ivf is possible but I think they would need to do ICSI which is where they pick out the best sperm and use them it is slightly more expensive unless you get it on the nhs so keep hopful

As pp has said, sperm can improve. My partner had issues with his but made improvements by giving up drinking for a few months and taking supplements. We still needed ICSI but were extremely lucky and were successful in our first round. Fingers crossed for you!

We had similar readings for morphology I think but high for the other things- lots fast misshapen swimmers I think! We were told every 3 months sperm changes so you are only getting a result for that period in time.

Anyway we never needed a retest as we got pregnant a few months later. We added lots of vitamins and I had a hycosy. We also knew I ovulated and when as I had the test for ovulation too.

Took us 8 months total in mid - late 30s. With hindsight that was very good but at the time I was convinced we would
Need IVF

Good luck OP x

Honestly it sounds worse than it is. There's plenty of options open to you, you're the right age for treatments etc to work. Push for a referral to a fertility specialist and in the meantime like PP's suggested a change of diet/stop smoking/alcohol, starting preconception vitamins etc will help.

Thankyou everyone!! Thankyou @hopefulmumma90 that’s great that you have seen such an improvement, he has just given up smoking and doesn’t drink much at all so and is now on multivitamins so hopefully all that will help towards it. @Carbis that’s awesome it worked first time, that’s always the worry with such treatments especially with how exspensive they can be and how invested you are in the process.

Wow @bookish83 that is such positive news, well in my mind 15% are swimming the right way so if any of them happen to be the 1% that arnt deformed there is a chance!!!

@Dalooah yes he’s giving up smoking and taking vitamins now so am hoping that will make a positive effect on the numbers!!! Am hoping our GP will refer us Monday, fingers crossed I don’t want to wait around any more that necessary xxx

My DH had the exact same issue 3 years TTC and not so much as a scare. We went to our Gp and following relevant tests we had ICSI, conceived on our second round.

8 months after our DS was born we fell pregnant naturally, unfortunately we miscarried. I wanted to try again naturally after that and 4 months later we conceived our second DS.

Things did just improve for him. He's an avid runner, he doesn't smoke, but he does vape. Barely drinks, doctors can't pinpoint why his sperm improved. He's convinced it's because he was less stressed

Rather than taking a generic multivitamin I’d go for something like this - the reviews sound like they could be worth a try too -futureyouhealth.com/fertility-plus

There are studies that have shown CoQ10 can also be effective for male fertility too.

I forget the name but there is a male only dedicated fertility clinic in London too, I’m sure a quick google would get you the details. As others have said this is all stuff that can be worked on!

We used the CoQ10, amongst other vitamins (vit c, selinium, zinc... i think!)

I can't remember the results OP but it was only the morphology part that was low, all the others were high. My husband was also ill at the time which looking back could have impacted.

Regardless we are a success story of 'older' people just taking a few months longer than we hoped. Fingers crossed for you x

DH has awful morphology
Somewhere between 0-1% over many years of testing, regardless of the supplements, lifestyle changes, being teetotal, etc etc

But we have had ivf with ICSI and it worked several times

I had a few miscarriages, totally unrelated to the morphology, and we have one toddler and another on the way
But we’ve made lots of good embryos so you don’t have to assume it means donor sperm

If you go down the IVF route, make sure it’s a clinic with a good ICSI track record because there is a skill to it, but it’s often easier to treat than female issues so you have a good chance of success

I don’t know about motility but me and my partner conceived our DS when his morphology was 1%. It took a year but we got there! Fingers crossed it happens for you too.

Oh and I was 32 too. Now TTC our second. We’ve had one chemical and I’m paranoid that now it will take a long time again but I am more confident now that it’s a matter of perseverance and patience.

DH has similar results (I think) never smoked, drinks a normal amount but is in the army so this is where the issue was caused.

Please get him to wear loose cotton boxers and let his stuff be cool! Reducing certain types of exercise can help.

Personally, if you don't have female issues, I would see a decent urologist and go from there first.

Would be worth watching Rhod Gilbert's programme on Male fertility, very informative.

@Belladonna432

Try and get your DH to see a urologist first to make sure their is no obvious cause (after various tests).

What kind of job does your hubby do? Anything to do with chemicals or pollutants is not great for sperm.

Assuming there is nothing obvious, IVF with ICSI is very successful in cases like this.

P.S. Changes in diet and vitamins take at least 3 months to show results but definitely will have an effect on sperm (unless severely genetic).

Thankyou everyone, he has another analysis booked at the beginning of December! We have had to go private for it as the nhs waiting list was until next March!! And I’m just far too impatient to wait until then!!

So far he has kept up the no smoking which is fantastic. He is a musician now but he used to be a Submariner on nuclear submarines! So I’m guessing that could have potentially effected things! I would hope they would checks to ensure it wasn’t dangerous though!!!

I have now started to eat healthily and loose some weight which is good as it’s keeping me distracted and if we go down IVF route I will need to be in tip top shape! I have about 2 stone to loose to be an healthy BMI.

He has stated on some well man multivitamins so am keeping fingers crossed that the second analysis will yield some improvement! Of not we are on to fertility treatments! X

Hi OP my DH has low morphology and was recommended proxceed (it's quite pricey but can buy on Amazon). It is a horrible tasting sachet to dissolve in water twice a day.

@Belladonna432 Hi 😊 hope people don’t mind me jumping on this thread but I spot so many similarities in all your stories and my own.

My DH and I have been trying to conceive for well over 18 months now and zero success in that time. Not even a whiff of a BFP. I’m 29 and my DH is 31. We have just started having tests done on the NHS with a view to starting IVF spring time if we’re suitable for it. I’ve had my bloods tested at different times of the month, had swabs done, a HSG scan and an ultrasound. All of my tests have come back clear and all seem to be fine. My DH has had two SA in this time and both have showed a good sperm count, but very low motility and morphology. He’s super healthy, slim, doesn’t smoke, drinks occasionally and exercises often. He also takes conception tablets.

Feeling very lost and perplexed and really hoping 2022 is our year!!

Sending everyone lots of love and positivity…this will happen for us ❤️xxx

That is so many similarities. It’s so horrible thinking every month this could be it!! Looks like you guys are slightly ahead of me,
I had my first day 5 and 21 day tests back in June and the GP now wants to do them again as it’s been so long.but husband has had 2 SA’s now. Morphology only 0.8% in most recent one. But motility has increased by 8%. Still under normal count but an improvement. He did quit smoking though.

Are you guys still trying up until your IVF appointments. We have been hit and miss.
We have tried really hard again this month though did the Sperm Meets Egg plan in the hopes it will work and I did all the crazy stuff of pillows under hips and not standing up for 45mins etc. In 2ww atm so not sure if it has worked.

Fingers crossed 2022 is our year!!!!! Wishing you all the luck in the world for your journey. X