IVF Advice - low sperm count/ morphology

[toriistrying]

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

Wishing you lots of luck!

@toriistrying good luck OP! Update from me, we had our first gynae consultation last Friday and was told we're going to be referred for IVF, boyfriend has to have a repeat test in a few weeks and then we go from there! Scary but glad we're getting somewhere x

@NLO94x it feels much better to have a plan in place doesn't it.

DH has been diagnosed with a varicocele. You can actually see the veins on his left ball.

In getting this sorted, we could potentially fall naturally or have the best sperm quality for IVF.

If you can afford to see a reproductive urologist - alongside IVF - I would really recommend

Thank you xxx

Sorry for the late reply op. Glad you've made some progress!

DP did have the surgery two years ago and overall results improved - motility, morphology etc. We didn't bother with another DNA frag test. Our consultant said there isn't anything left to do to improve the sperm (and we won't use donor) so doesn't matter really. On the Proxeed though and eating well, drinking less etc.

We've done three full rounds of IVF now and but no success.

Wishing you good luck.

@toriistrying hey just jumping back into this thread as we have since been to a gynae appointment and was told pretty much the same that IVF was our only option! How are you getting on? X

@toriistrying very similar story to you. Same age, length of TTC when booking IVF and results. I was fine, husband poor sperm test results meant we went for IVF. He started on proxceed supplements as soon as we he found out and even after taking them for six months it still hadn't improved. We got ICSI due to his results at ABC St Paul's (but they have other clinics) and got four embryos, one of which turned into our gorgeous son who I got pregnant with in our first transfer- we were very lucky. We went with ABC as it had good reviews and was very cost effective. They also do 'mild IVF' which meant fewer drugs for me to take. Goodluck! It's a minefield

Whoops I'm so sorry, I didn't notice that this was an old thread. Nope you and your DH are getting on ok @toriistrying

Hi everyone.

So following on from the sperm results, we went to go and see a urologist. Dr Jonathan Ramsey.

My DH was diagnosed with a varicocele. The sonographer estimated it at 5mm.

DH was operated on and we were told it was 6mm.

We are now 5 weeks post varicocele surgery. Sperm takes 3 months to regenerate.

We decided to get the varicocele surgery to 1 fall pregnant naturally. 2 ensure that the sperm is in its healthiest condition for IVF

For anyone with low sperm count I would highly highly recommend seeing a urologist to understand why.

This was all private. I get the impression from here and my own research that the NHS don't investigate male factor and couples are just told to go and get IVF.

Along side this we are on the NHS wait list for IVF.

Our next appointment is mid November- this will be to re test DH sperm to see if it has improved.

PM me with any questions xxx

@toriistrying so glad you got answers and it sounds like the surgery went well, everything crossed for success and you see an improvement. I spoke to my boyfriend last night after re-reading your thread and we are going to push to try and get an appointment for him if not we will go private x

Regarding your NHS IVF referral, has this already been done? I'm trying to understand how long the wait will be from the referral to actually being seen by a clinic. We have our next appointment with the hospital in October at which stage the gynae will do the referral x

Sorry - I meant to say we got it done in the HOPE that we may fall pregnant naturally. If we need to have IVF then my view is that the sperm will be as healthy as it can possibly be.

I got told to just get the ball rolling with the IVF on the NHS because why not.

In terms of IVF. We have been to see the GP. Had tests. I've had a questionnaire through and that is it. No appointments etc xx

Hi everyone.

A little positive update:

We had the surgery in august 2023. DH sperm count increased from 3million to 57 million!!!

We were advised to wait 3 months before ttc. We got pregnant the first cycle ttc. November 2023

I had a chemical pregnancy and miscarried at 5 weeks and 5 days.

I then fell pregnant again, without a period in between.

I'm now 12 weeks and 2 days. I had my NHS scan today and everything is looking good.

My takeaways are

1 I would go for this varicocele surgery a million times over
2 look after your mental health, if you're on a ttc journey. Get some help. I waited and spiralled.

Having a miscarriage and then getting pregnant immediately afterwards has messed with my head. I've just started cbt therapy and I'm feeling a lot better.

If you feel yourself going and can't afford a private therapist. Get on your nhs wait list.

This is a very positive outcome and we feel so so lucky.

Any questions let me know

I’ve only just seen this thread. What a journey.

Massive congratulations to you both, op. I’m so happy for you!