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Original poster

IVF Advice - low sperm count/ morphology

38 replies

toriistrying · 06/07/2023 11:13

Hi everyone.

IVF Recommendations and success stories please.

Both 33 and ttc with no positive tests.

My Partner and I have had our fertility tests results back. I am fine. Unfortunately my husband has a very low sperm count, morphology at 0% and 25% motility.

Our doctor suggested we go straight for IVF. please can anyone who has been in a similar situation, offer any advice, especially IVF clinics.

thanks so much

x x

OP posts:
PinkMandalorian · 06/07/2023 12:58

Has he had his 3 month repeat test?
Or just the one?

Since your morphology is 0% .. that dosent mean that zero of his sperm are normal, but it does mean less than < 1% . Normal would be < below 3-4% ( it seems to vary clinic to clinc what is deemed the average ) 96 -97% of sperm are abnormal even in healthy sperm counts.
You will need to do a form of ivf called icsi due to the morphology. This is where the egg is fertilised by hand with a needle placing the sperm inside. In normal ivf they just place them in a dish and let them get on with it themselves.

I also will be starting icsi in the coming months due to morphology results but just to let you know , we also managed to get pregnant naturally in dec ( loss) so it's not 100% impossible. I think ivf is the way to go for you if his repeat has similar results but keep trying naturally until then

PinkMandalorian · 06/07/2023 13:02

Sorry I just noticed you also said low count. How low is the count?
Morphology only becomes a real issue when the count is low. We were first told our count was low, but have since been told by several doctors the count is actually normal but due to the morphology we've been pushed on anyway as I always have fertility problems and it's been years for us

NLO94x · 06/07/2023 14:31

Did the doctor ever recommend anything to help his count? My boyfriend had a low count and the doctor gave no advice at all except carry on like normal! Very frustrating!! Good luck OP x

Original poster
toriistrying · 06/07/2023 22:18

@PinkMandalorian

I'm sorry to hear of your loss. Must of been very hard

Not sure how to interpret the results but I know they are low.

Total count 3.5mil
Concentration count1.5mil
Motility count 0.75mil

We were very lucky and managed to get seen privately due to insurance. Won't get help for treatment though!

Doctor was very upfront. I walked in to the room and he said this is bad. you can do XYZ like avoid saunas, hot tubs, eat well and avoid booze but I suggest you get yourself to an IVF centre in London straight away!

OP posts:
Original poster
toriistrying · 06/07/2023 22:35

@NLO94x the doctor basically said you can eat clean, cut out booze, exercise. All the things that google tell you, but if I were you, I would go to London and speak to an IVF clinic.

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Original poster
toriistrying · 06/07/2023 22:49

@NLO94x bit of a jaw to the floor moment. Safe to say he didn't beat around the bush!

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PinkMandalorian · 07/07/2023 02:23

@toriistrying indeed the count is low . is that the repeat ? Or has he only had one semem test done ? Generally you should do a repeat test 3 months later to ensure the accuracy and to check the results are similar as it takes 3 months for sperm to replenish. It can be affected by so many things , even as simple as being sick with a cold can have a temporary negative impact on sperm.
My advice is, I would personally do the repeat test and if those results aren't satisfactory then icsi would be the best option as icsi is for when the count, motility or morphology are low

capercorn · 07/07/2023 05:29

I had the same, we went straight to ICSI, it worked first time. She's nearly 17 now. Good luck

Bloomingbloms · 07/07/2023 05:34

@toriistrying The doctor said exactly the same to us, I can’t remember DH exact numbers but they were shocking. We already had one DC who we conceived with no issues 3 years earlier so it was a bit of a shock to us but is proof that things can change.

DH made all the lifestyle changes and we did get pregnant with our wonderful little girl naturally, she did take 2 years ttc though.

Good luck, whatever you do 😊

Original poster
toriistrying · 07/07/2023 05:41

@PinkMandalorian we have been ttc for 23 cycles and this is my husbands first semen analysis. That is good advice, thank you.

OP posts:
Original poster
toriistrying · 07/07/2023 05:43

@capercorn that is amazing. Thank you so much for sharing

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Original poster
toriistrying · 07/07/2023 05:51

@Bloomingbloms wow. Im so glad it worked out for you. I had no idea they could change that much!

What lifestyle changes did he make that felt like helped the most?

We are both healthy weights, exercise and do like to socialise once a week Wine

OP posts:
nonsuchmum · 07/07/2023 05:55

We had zero morphology and I was told I had blocked tubes due to a failed hsg.Fibroids and overweight and we were referred for ICSI but I had to do fibroid surgery first and was advised to lose weight as I was 93kg and BMI had to be around 25 before I could get ICSI .Husband was referred to urologist .I also had PCOS.our case was very bad .Three children here .
first 2014 and twins 2016.
Took clomid for both and conceived on the first month for the twins and second month for the first child .By the time we went for the urologist appointment I was pregnant .Bear in mind we adopted a lot of healthy lifestyle and husband started taking multivitamins selenium zinc etc and second time I got the consultant to prescribe clomid once I was ready and that was it .
Baby dust to you .We were in our thirties too .Me 33 and husband was 35

.Pardon all the typos .Typing with one eye shut .

nonsuchmum · 07/07/2023 05:58

Zero motility too .I bought preseed online and we timed the sex from day 10 to day 20 .Every other day .I starved myself and started walking everywhere to lose weight

Original poster
toriistrying · 07/07/2023 06:18

@nonsuchmum that sounds like a journey and a half. Thank you for sharing. Sounds like you had to do a lot of hard work to get there.

Initial investigations show that it is male factor infertility.

I must admit, the frustration and element of unknown every month is crap. Having some answers makes me feel more positive!

OP posts:
muddlingthrou · 07/07/2023 06:59

DH and I both had infertility factors - DH's results similar to your partner's. It turned out he had a varicocele in one of his testicles. We got pregnant through IVF at Create and now have a DD. When I was pregnant, DH had an NHS procedure to correct the varicocele, and that has vastly improved his sperm results! He also took those COC supplements and changed lifestyle factors, but I think the procedure made the difference.

Create was great on the medical side, a total shambles on the admin side! We got pregnant first embryo transfer, so from that perspective had a wonderful experience. My DH is a teacher, and trying to get them to give us advance notice of appts was a total nightmare. We have some frozen embryos with them and will likely go back for another transfer eventually.

muddlingthrou · 07/07/2023 07:01

Oh and we were also treated to the tactless 'you're infertile' diagnosis from doctors. It was v.tough. IVF outcomes are amazing these days and still improving, so don't lose hope. Best of luck xx

Veenah · 07/07/2023 07:30

Just wanted to add that if he's planning on trying lifestyle changes to improve, our clinic also advised to cut down on cycling if he's a cyclist.

My DH had low count and morphology and his best results by far were when he completely gave up caffeine and alcohol for 3 months, previously he had reduced them but cutting out completely made a difference for him, and took Proceive Max and also Pine Bark extract for morphology. We still ended up doing IVF for various reasons but his results improved a lot with those changes. On the other hand his worst results were a couple of months after having Covid, which the clinic said they had seen a lot, so things like a one off sickness a can definitely make a difference so a second analysis a couple of months after the first can definitely be worth it.

Best of luck with whatever you decide to do next.

KosmicK · 07/07/2023 12:44

@nonsuchmum sometimes, but its not common , its unusual but the nerves can spasm which can make it hard for the dye to get through and give the false impression the tubes are blocked. I suspect that may have happened you and your tubes were not actually blocked as if the dye failed to get through .. neither can the egg.

But I'm absolutely baffled what consultant In their right mind prescribed you clomid after a failed hsg indicated you had blocked tubes ??? What kind of consultant was it? They clearly have zero reproductive training. That dosent even make sense! You don't prescribe clomid to someone with confirmed blocked tubes. Often doctors will send patients for a hsg first to check tube patency before prescribing it.

Starving yourself then asking your body to get pregnant and carry a baby is the most stupid thing I've ever heard .

Op please do not take this advice and starve yourself.

GodspeedJune · 07/07/2023 12:50

As someone with blocked tubes I didn’t understand that post either @KosmicK . Clomid was an option that was taken off the table once my tubes failed the dye test.

Plugsockets1 · 07/07/2023 12:57

Has he seen a urologist? My DP had terrible results but turned out he had a varicocele in his testicle. Had a small op to correct and things improved.

I would pay privately for this just to check.

Also, Proxeed, limited caffeine etc

Bloomingbloms · 07/07/2023 12:57

@toriistrying

Dh was a healthy weight but his diet was a bit crap tbh so he changed that, no alcohol, no cycling, no carrying his phone in his pocket. He also started wearing baggy boxers!

He also took some supplements. Fertilaid, countboost, motility boost I think, I don’t know if you can still get them? DD is 5 now. And preseed. They weren’t cheap but we knew we weren’t going to pay for ICSI so we threw money at supplements! No idea if it was that or just pure chance.

Plugsockets1 · 07/07/2023 12:57

Also DNA fragmentation test

Original poster
toriistrying · 12/07/2023 19:53

@Plugsockets1 thank you so much for replying. We went to see a urologist today - dr Jonathan Ramsay. We managed to get a cancellation.

It turns out he has a varicocele in his left testicle.

He's had all his tests done today. We will wait for the results. Genetic, semen, bloods etc.

Did your partner get the surgery and did you guys go on to conceive?

Thanks again xx

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Original poster
toriistrying · 13/07/2023 08:28

@PinkMandalorian @NLO94x @capercorn @Bloomingbloms @nonsuchmum @muddlingthrou @Veenah @KosmicK @GodspeedJune @Plugsockets1

Just wanted to say thank you to all of you for your help. It educated us A LOT.

We managed to get a cancellation with j Ramsay yesterday. Varicocele diagnosed. Tests conducted and ultrasound booked.

Who would of thought he was walking round with a radiator down there! Anyway.

Our view is to get the embolism. If we get the sperm in its best condition then we may fall pregnant naturally or via ICSI.

Thank you again.

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