Sperm analysis - please help!!

[HayMay]

Morning x

My partner had his sperm analysis results last week which were really really low:

Volume: 4.2mls
Initial count million/ml: 1.5
Progressive motility: 28%
Rapid %: 16%
Total motile count: 1.764
Normal forms: 3%

I know the above is really bad and I just can't stop thinking about it!

My partner is fit and healthy and exercises a lot and eats well (ish) - we are tightening things up there. He doesn't smoke or drink excessively. He's been taking vitamins for a few months but isn't great at taking them (I have to remind him!) and I've bought a few more for him to try after reading loads on here and elsewhere.

So.. have you/your SO ever had a repeat semen analysis and got better results (even with results like the above?). It took him about an hour to get to the hospital with his sample, so was cutting it fine and we had abstained for much longer than recommended for various reasons (about 14 days!) - but trying not to kid myself in thinking this could change the results (as If anything, surely longer absistence increases column and count etc)

I know we've just got to hold it out and wait for the next appt and referrals etc I Just feel so down and don't want to talk to my partner too much about it as he feels awful already so trying to take the pressure off him - he's already doing what he can to try to improve himself. It just came as such a shock and unfortunately, my nature is to think the worst.

Thanks so much reading & responding x

Could someone please help me understand in simple terms what this all means :(

@H2B2022 they always make them so unreadable it boggles my mind. It is such an important and worrying piece of info and you have to crack it like a code.

So I think.... he has 2ml per ML of sperm and he has approx 4.6ml total sperm. The total amount of sperm deemed normal would be more than 39 million. Motility numbers are fine. Morphology is a bit low and when his sperm count is also pretty low, that isn't great. With those results you will be referred to a fertility clinic and I would think you'll be advised that you require IVF with ICSI.

If you can afford to do so, you should get him checked by a urologist. So many men have unidentified varicoceles which can be the cause of this. Sperm takes 72-90 days to regenerate so don't expect quick results with anything. The NHS won't offer any 'treatment' for his numbers because they deem IVF with ICSI as 'the treatment'.

Should read 2 million per ml and 4.6 million total sperm. @H2B2022

Thank you so much for replying!
I did think the numbers you've said would be the case, I just wish they make it patient friendly to read!
The round cells and bacteria present is bothering us but gp has referred us to a specialist so I guess we'll see what they are offering.
Would you say it's more than likely we won't be able to conceive naturally?
We've sat and talked tonight and are both willing to make some serious lifestyle changes in the hope that helps improve things a little x

@H2B2022 I would think the chances each month are very very low considering it's 25-30% with both sides being without issues. However, there is still a chance.

The specialist in my experience will just be fertility based if you're in the UK. They won't 'help' your husband at all in terms of treatment or examination. Get the NHS side of the process started because it all takes time and alongside that, max out on supplements and tighten up lifestyle ... and book to see a urologist... then you're approaching it from all angles and maybe in the meantime you'll make some headway with his numbers. Oh ye, the PH is also high which I'm sure the doctor will explain to you.

I found the whole process very frustrating when it's on the male side. GPs have next to no knowledge on the whole. The calls with the fertility clinic were all on me to organise / answer and deal with... and they last question was so what are you OHs sperm results and then when I told them it was just okay the solution is IVF with ICSI.... there was no okay let's examine him and then attempt a treatment in terms of medication or seeing if he has any of the obvious things... we had to pay privately to see Dr Ramsay (£280 ish just for consultation), then we did some further bits on our private healthcare.

:( it's such a kick in the teeth isn't it.
What does high PH mean? The GP didn't even mention this!?

That's absolutely disgusting that they don't investigate to see what's actually causing the problems. I'll look into the urologist for sure!

Thank you for your help and advice. I hope your journey is going well xx

Hi @H2B2022

I hope you are well. My husband and I are in a similar position and I have gone into panic mode! I just wondered how you are getting on and whether you have found anything has helped? x

Hi ladies

Checking in to see if any of you had luck with resolving this. My husbands just had a semen microbiome test back with a high bacterial load - we’ve been recommended some supplements to help address it but not sure what route to go down in terms of the cause/whether to see a urologist?

dr Ramsay was on our list but when the semen analysis came back fine the clinic told us a urologist wasn’t necessary (we got the semen culture separately because we weren’t convinced with debris/non sperm cells listed in the sample).

Thank you x