How we increased DH's morphology and sperm count with supplements 📈

[Decaffe]

In September, DH had his sperm tested and his morphology was low at 2% (normal should be more than 4%). Well, four months on and he has been re-tested, and it has gone from 2% to 6%.

His sperm count has also gone from 61 million to 99 million (normal is over 15 million). So, not only has the percentage of his normal shaped sperm tripled, but there's also a lot more of them!

I have seen lots of threads from other posters whose DHs have low morphology so I thought I'd share the changes we made. Essentially, it's a lot of daily supplements! Here goes:

• From September, he has been taking Wellman Conception
• From September, he has also been taking a Vitamin D supplement - the fertility clinic were pleased about this as they said we're pretty much all deficient in the UK
• In November, he started taking this Vitamin B complex
• A month ago, he added these Omega 3 and 6 capsules to the mix
• A week ago, we started taking high strength Vitamin C (I doubt this has made much of an impact but you never know!)

The latter two were started due to me researching threads on here about anti-oxidants having a good effect on sperm!

In terms of lifestyle changes, the only one he's really made is not putting his laptop directly on his lap when working, he will put it on a cushion instead. He is a couple of stones overweight but we have had a lot going on in the past few months (including a CP ) and we haven't really been in the headspace to exercise. However we both had it as a new year's resolution so have been trying to do some over the past couple of weeks, but I'm pretty sure that won't have had an effect on things.

I have worked out that whereas in September, one, er, session shall we call it, would have produced 2.68 million progressive, normal shaped sperm, this is now up to 12.92 million sperm. I just wish one of them would find its way to my eggs haha!

Best of luck everyone, I hope this is of use to someone!!

Really useful, thank you @Decaffe - wishing you all the best. Surely one can find its way there - everything crossed for you x

You'd hope so!

I was astonished when I saw it had gone to 6% this afternoon, DH is feeling rather pleased with himself 😂

@Decaffe Thanks for this! Something to look into for us as we are in a similar situation to what you were in!

Sounds like good plan OP!
Quality of supplements also is a factor. Solar is good. Cytoplan is better. But anything is better than nothing!

How are your cycles?
I had to take Agnus castus to regulate my cycles. I wasn't ovulating! No bloody wonder I wasn't getting pregnant!

Good luck!

Thanks for the info OP. I started my DH on lycopene, which I'd read 'might' improve morphology and general quality or sperm. Best of luck in your TTC journey x

Can I ask if he's made any changes in alcohol intake?

@OldMMC

Can I ask if he's made any changes in alcohol intake?

We’re not really massive drinkers these days (DH is early 40s). We’ll happily share a bottle at the weekend but two glasses will do him. So no, no changes really.

@NoToLandfill

Sounds like good plan OP! Quality of supplements also is a factor. Solar is good. Cytoplan is better. But anything is better than nothing!

How are your cycles?
I had to take Agnus castus to regulate my cycles. I wasn't ovulating! No bloody wonder I wasn't getting pregnant!

Good luck!

My cycles are fine when they’re not affected by the Covid jab!

The three full cycles after my jabs all had early ovulation on CD10/11 (it’s usually CD13). This was frustrating for two reasons - one we got caught out earlier than anticipated and two, early ovulation tends to mean an immature follicle. So I was quite disappointed. Then the cycle after my chemical, I ovulated on CD9!

Thankfully my November and December cycles were back to normal.

Oh another thing to mention - my luteal phase is 15 days but I used to spot for up to six days prior. I found something on here saying B vitamins helped so I started taking the same ones as DH (along with the Vitamin D and an Asda pregnancy multivitamin) and sure enough the spotting went down to three days and now two days. I’m convinced it’s the B vitamins that did it.

Thank you so much for the info! We recently found out that my DH has 3% morphology (though his sperm count is good), so will definitely look into this.

I also have short luteal phases so will look into adding Vitamin B

Really appreciate the advice! xx

Just bumping this as I have seen a few threads today where the poster's DH has low morphology

Thanks a lot for this @Decaffe I read your post a few days ago and got my husband on the omega, well man fertility, zinc,
Vitamin d so hopefully we have similar results. Your post was very encouraging that it's possible!

@Peonies94

That’s really interesting @Decaffe

My OH’s morphology was 1% back when he had a SA in 2019 when we were TTC. He started taking the male version of Pregnacare and we conceived about three or four months later. I’m sure it’s not a coincidence. He stopped taking them and now we are struggling to conceive #2 so he’s just started on them again this month and I will look into him taking some of the other ones you’ve recommended to in that case. Not sure if morphology can get worse again?

Hi @Charl881 - did he do a second sample before baby #1 in 2019? You could have conceived with the 1% morphology? How long have you been trying for #2? X

@FlyOnTheWall89 no he didn’t as I think we conceived maybe three or four months after?

Heading into six months for #2 now so not that long in the grand scheme of things and we did have a chemical last May when not trying so I know it’s possible, just doesn’t feel like it at the moment.

@Charl881 morphology definitely changes with lifestyle habits - either better or worse! I've done so much reading after my partners result and you could try Proxeed which seems to make a difference for most people. It is expensive so your partner would defo need to be on board. I wish we had tested sooner because it is a cheap easy pain free test and then we could have started Proxeed and other supplements sooner. I read really before any female tests, sperm should be tested. It is still early days and you're so likely to conceive in the next 6 months but I was told that too and I'm now hearing a year and some of that time I feel has been wasted because our chances have been so so slim each month. I'm nearly 33 so not getting any younger in terms of having babies and this is only number 1!!!! Have a read and google about this supplement - I found the 6 month mark really hard mentally. It feels like a lifetime xx

It took 13 months to conceive DS so I think we will probably give it at least a year before trying anything else, I just feel more impatient with #2 for some reason! I will definitely have a Google though thank you.

Wow, that's very cool OP. I hope you get pregnant soon!

@Chocaholic9

Wow, that's very cool OP. I hope you get pregnant soon!

Thank you - me too! I will update if that ever happens! ❤️

This is so helpful and reassuring, thank you!!

My partner is also going to stop with the laptop on his knee and I'm off to research some of the other vitamins that aren't already in his stash!

x

I know this is an old thread but thank you so much for this breakdown!!
My DH just had his first SA and the count was fine 57 million, volume fine but 2% morphology and 26% progressive motility. For this the private clinic we went to advised to straight to ICSI treatment as I also have PCOS.

This juat wasnt sitting well with us as we havent tried anything else yet at all and werent given advice on possible improvements we could try and do. And all this based on just the one set of tests?
Sometimes I think private clinics can be a bit 'sales minded' :(
So your post is massively encouraging thank you!

You’re very welcome, best of luck! 😊

I'm so glad this thread re-appeared because I wanted to thank you @Decaffe

Previously I posted that my DH's morphology was 3%, which wasn't a total disaster because his count was high but still not great. So we followed your vitamin routine, and by early April did a repeat test and DH's morphology was 10%! I then fell pregnant on 17th April and am now 6 weeks. We now think DH's original test was partly affected by the fact that he'd just recovered from covid, but in terms of getting him better physically and bringing the morphology back up I have no doubt that the vitamins you recommended helped loads, so thank you so much! xx

Oh wow this is so positive to hear and congratulations!! :)
I've sent DH off to work with his little box full of supplements 🤣 8 tablets a day, hes very trusting 😂

I thought I would update this thread too:

Mid January 0% morphology
End of March 9% morphology

In that time, we added Proxeed and pycnogenol to the other standard vitamins my OH was taking. The fertility clinic was very impressed with the jump, adding it's the quickest and easiest to fix. We are just preparing for IVF to start at the moment x