Very Low Sperm Count - can anyone interpret results or share their stories/advice?

[GryffinGirl]

DH and I have been TTC for about 15 months, after some nagging he went to the doctor and has had a sperm test. He had a follow up appointment today and got a copy of his results which don't look good at all . Has anyone had experience of this and would you share your stories (positive or negative) and any words of advice or comment?

DH's results look something like this:

Volume = 2ml (I think it should be 4-6ml for "normal"?)
Number of sperm per ml = 2 million/ml (I think it should be at least 20 million/ml to be "normal"?)
Motility = 40% (which I apparently not bad for what's there?)
Viscosity = normal
Acidity (pH?) = 8.2
Morphology = "unsuitable for morphology due to low count"
Comment = "severely low sperm count. suggest repeat"

DH has retreated into his cave again and doesn't want to talk , but has an appointment for another test. How likely is it that the results will differ from now?

thanks in advance.

HI GG, hope you find the book useful, at any rate it is a good starting point.

It's great that you can afford to go private, and although you are still young, it pays to be proactive and not waste time in at least finding out where you're at.

If you're going private then dont forget that for most clinics you can self refer, you dont need a doctor's letter or notes or anythign. They will do all the necessary initial investigations and you will then have a good picture of your position. You can go on the HFEA website and check out the clinics and their success rates there. Most hold open evenings every month where they explain their various approaches and you can ask questions so you can get a feel for where might suit you.

WE went to University College Hospital in London - great success rates (tho not wiht me alas but be prepared for a lack of pastoral care - these clinics are so busy these days that you sometimes get the feelign you are just being processed so it will be up to you to make sure they explain everythign to your satisfaction.

Also, they obviously take a wholly medicalised stance and might not necessarily encourage you to pursue other less invasive options even if these were feasible.

Hopefully, though, your DH's 2nd test will be much more encouraging and you wont need ot go down that route at all!

One other option is (as we did) to go and speak ot a fertility expert like Zita West's clinic. They also cna arrange sperm testing and go through all the options with you from an unbiased neutral standpoint. Very expensive though! But an initial consultation might be worth it.

Sorry, I do go on a bit sometimes

No time to post in full now, but just wanted to tell you to keep hoping!

Dh has a disastrously low sperm count with poor motility, count and morphology (triple whammy!)

We made huge lifestyle changes - gave up alcohol, cow dairy, caffiene (sp), red meat etc.

We were one month away from starting ICSI when I found out I was pregnant naturally! It only takes one of the little buggers to get through!

Dd is now 3.

WM - I haven't spoken to DH about the private option, self referral, yet. He is taking a very methodical approach for now. He wants "facts" and won't speculate, plan or discuss the future until he gets his head round his test results and gets the second test back too. He can be stubbord, so I am biding my time . As you say, maybe the second test will be better but we have been TTC for 15 months so I am also realistic.

We live in London too, so on the upside we have every option on our doorstep.

littlefish - thank you so much for telling me that . I haven't given up hope and it does only take one little swimmer to get through and motility is the one thing that does seem to be good in the test result.

p.s. WM - you don't go on too much! You are full of knowledge and thank you so much for taking the time to post your thoughts and experiences

Haven't had the chance to read the whole thread, but I thought I'd let you know our story. My dh was diagnosed with very low sperm count with poor motility etc in 2001. We were told that our only option was ICSI. We had one round of ICSI which failed but in my next natural cycle, I got pregnant naturally without even checking when I was ovulating as we were essentially just waiting for our next round of ICSI. I did wonder whether I was still hyper fertile following all the treatment for ICSI but the doctors have all dismissed this idea and said that it was more likely to have been luck. We haven't managed to conceive again since but at least it happened once and it could happen to you too. I know that this is just a single story, but there is hope that it can happen. I know how difficult it is to get this news so good luck with it all.

thanks GG

It's so great to hear stories like littlefish and jennykb - it just goes to show that natural IS possible.

HAve any of you girls heard about a product called pre-seed??

apparently it is a type of lubricant that is sperm friendly (hte other brands can kill sperm) - the idea is that it provides a great medium to help the sperm to travel up the cervix - ours need all the help they can get so we are goign to be tryign that one for sure. - you can google it and get it on mail order from preseed.uk. Check it out .. it would be good to have your thoughts on it.

I still think it is always worth trying everythign possible to try and conceive naturally. The other book I mentioned is fantastic because it teaches you to really get to know your whole body and what it is trying to tell you - it goes beyond temperature charts. That and acupuncture would be the two things I would really recommend.

jennykb - loved your story, and really wish that it would happen to me. My ICSI failed in January and I was devastated. I think the IVF process ( and trying to conceive generally) puts such a lot of mental strain on you that it somehow must create some kind of block. The key is obvioulsy to switch off and relax. But hte whole process is geared towards fixating on it. My neighbour had been TTC naturally for nearly 10 years, then had IVF and was successful. But she must have then subconciously become so relieved and destressed - all the pressure removed - that she fell pregnant naturally when DS1 was just a few months old!!

Well, night night, and speak soon

WM x

hello WM - I am so sorry to hear that your ICSI was unsuccessful . January is very recent, so I hope you are ok. Will you try again?

I have heard of Pre-Seed! On the TTC threads last year there was a group of people who were quite evangelical about it. At that stage, we'd only been TTC for a month or two, so I assumed it was only a matter of time for us and didn't buy it, but you have reminded me

Hello jenny - thank you for posting . It felt like the end of the world when we heard the test results, but I haven't given up hope of it happening whether naturally or with IVF assistance and you and littlefish have made me . Oh, and DH and I won't be giving up the natural route if we do have to get medicalised .

DH has also agreed to give up alcohol with me for a few months (which, if you knew us and my fondness for French fermented grape juice, you'd be at). The one thing he is really not happy about, oddly, is wearing loose boxer shorts. He says he hates the swinging free feeling and is resisting changing, but that seems to me to be the simplest thing he could do.

GG

p.s. WM - did your DH use accupuncture or did you? Friends who have had problems TTC were convinced it helped them and rave about it, but they had PCOS and endometriosis (so female related conception issues). Is it used to help low sperm counts too - DH will take some convincing on "alternative" therapies.

GG - My dh and I both had acupuncture and my dh is completely and totally skeptical about it and all alternative therapies. We were still having acupuncture treatment when I conceived, though my dh is utterly convinced it had nothing to do with it. We also went down the no alcohol, no caffeine route, but, in all honesty, it was when we went back to these things (we had only just gone back to these things and in moderation of course)that I got pregnant. I really have no idea which things made a difference. All I would recommend, from someone who was not at all successful at this, is not to get too rigid about any of these things. If the odd, little bit of wine is going to make you and dh more relaxed about the whole process and feel a bit more normal, then it may do more good than harm. I'm not talking about frequent drinking, but the occasional drink to help you feel not too deprived can go a long way to keeping a more positive frame of mind. But I do know how hard it is to think that way. Sadly for your dh, I think the loose boxer shorts really are essential!

jenny your DH sounds very much like mine in his scepticism .

As for the lifestyle changes, I think you are right about not been too rigid. Some changes probably are needed, but I'm not a very fanatical person (no will power normally ). DH's results is the kick up the a*se we needed anyway to make changes and DH does drink too much and work long hours.

Both DH and I had acupuncture too.

hi there everyone - I agree with you as well about not being too rigid - my DH can be a bit too disciplined at times eg he decided not to drink anymore and so hasn't touched a drop since new year. i on the other hand agree that a little of what you fancy can do you good. Relaxation and not being stressed in any way is key. . . not fair that he is being so rigid, as it makes me feel guilty for even wanting a sip of red wine.

On the other hand, during the IVF cycle I didnt touh a drop and because of that I have now quite lost the taste for it. WEnt to lunch the other day and tried really hard ot get through a small glass of rioja, but had to abandon it!! CAn you imagine? I felt guilty about that as well!

To answer your qn, GG, we are both doing the acupuncture. . . it is supposed to really help with improving sperm count. WE have been told to give it a couple of months and then re-test to see if it has made any difference. For me, hte plan is to try to increase my progesterone levels (sharts indicate they may be a bit low) and also extend the luteal phase.

I dont think we are ready to give up just yet, but failing the ICSI hit us much much harder than we expected. The whole process is very intensive and you get so wrapped up in it, it becomes your whole world. I dont know how it waas for anyone else, but it became impossible to plan beyond the cycle, and then the fialure to conceive was like losing a member of the family that was never really there in the first place, except in our minds, iyswim?

Anyway, we need a bit of time to recover physically, and we want ot get into good shape and try the alternative therapies as I really do believe in them, even if they are placebo they will still have an effect whihc is what counts.

hello everyone - acupuncture it is then !

WM - I suppose you have to be very disciplined when you are a pro-cyclist, so maybe your DH, now he is not racing, is pouring his usual focus and self discipline into not drinking instead? i think I'll have trouble swearing off wine 100%. It's our anniversary this month, and I'm damned if I'm not having a glass of fizz to celebrate that . DH is usually pretty in control

By asking you all these questions about ICSI, I hope I haven't been insensitive or prying. Everyone on this thread has been so kind in helping me understand the tests and the TTC possibilities and also keeping my spirits up. There is plenty hope.

I know what you mean about each month when AF turns up being hard WB, and I haven't gone through the physical strain of IVF, which must make it much harder. But I am much more upbeat now than I was on Tuesday .

Fingers crossed that when you go through ICSI again that it will be your turn.

Took dh's sample this morning and were told the results would be back in about 7 days so will try to make a gd appt probably a week monday.

wm - so sorry about your failed ICSI. I agree, it is unbelievably intense and emotionally draining and the grief when it feels is incredibly powerful. But I know that, in spite of the emotional impact, had we not been as lucky as we were, we would still have gone on to try ICSI again.

I meant to say 'when it fails'!

GG - of course you are not prying - it is great that we can all share and help eachother. I get a lot out of being able to talk about things, and feel very supported. Please feel that you can ask me anything.

Jenny - thank you for your kind words. We have not ruled out trying again, just need to take a bit of time to get back in shape (mentally as well as physically) nad also still want to dream that we can succeed naturally. So inspiring to read of successes like yours and littlefish.

I have additional obstacles, however, like being a bit older and potentially the low progesterone. I also tend to get stressed very easily, whihc is the worst possible barrier to conception. In fact to help wiht this have got myself a hypnosis CD for relaxation that is especially for those trying to conceive. It is really excellent and helps me to switch off completely. DH wants it on autoplay piped through all rooms of the house... cheeky so and so!

Tegan - hope your DH sample results are good!

have you looked at this zita west website?

Your Dh may be more responsive to the "better tests than the GP can offer" approach. Plus I'd put money on it that if you are paying you'll get the results a lot quicker!

I don't have any personal experience but her book is good and she seems to know her stuff.

wm - I was also older when I conceived - 37 - though I'm not sure about the progesterone issue. And I'm easily stressed and let myself get into a negative frame of mind. Sounds like you're doing all the right things. Also, my dh's sperm count had everything against it: low number, motility, and morphology (I think that's what they call it!) My thoughts are with you and gg and everyone else here -- I know how painful and difficult this is.

Hi Jenny,... just a quick question ... can I ask you, after your icsi cycle, was your (first natural cycle) AF later than expected?

Hi wm - I think I did have a longer than usual cycle - about 6 or 7 weeks. I can't be absolutely sure as it was a while ago now, but I think that's right. I hope that doesn't dash any hopes.

morning everyone. DH and I had a lovely relaxing weekend and swore off alcohol for this one. I think he is slowly coming to terms with his first test result - last week he wouldn't talk to me.

worrymerchant - hope you are ok today and had a nice weekend. I like the sound of the relaxation CD's . I am usually relatively chilled out, but I can see a lot of stess ahead

Can I ask, did you have ISCI on the NHS or privately? How long did it take for your to reach the top of the queue? I haven't yet raised the issue of going privately with DH - he hates being "rushed" into things. We could afford to go private if we need - we are lucky. I probably would want to do that for a number of reasons, not least because my DH works abroad quite a lot (at short notice) and we couldn't afford to miss NHS appointments and slide to the back of the queue. i think that our nearest NHS hospitals would be Hammersmith Hospital and/or UCH, actually.

tegan - I think your DP's results will be out about the same time as my DH's, so wishing you both lots of luck.

jenny - your experience of conceiving naturally, like littlefish, really gives me hope.

thank you fym - that link is fantastic!

Hi Gryffingirl - just browsing mumsnet and wanted to let you know that last year my DH had 2 appalling sperm results from our local hospital about 6 weeks apart. (Can't remember exactly what was wrong in terms of morphology, motility etc but were told it was hopeless).I had various issues as well around cycles, endometriosis etc.
We went to an IVF clinic ( a well regarded one in London)and discussed ICSI etc. They retested him and the reults came back as normal...Not sure if the first place's testing wasn't up to scratch or whether it was the vitamins that I stuffed down his throat but something changed.
Anyway, after 15 months TTC I got pregnant the month after the retest and DD is now 7 months!
Just wanted to let you know that one test does not necessarily mean anything and things can def be done to improve the quality.
Good luck

This is the link to a thread last year where there was lots of discussion on sperm results..www.mumsnet.com/Talk/1366/339151?fm=6885969#6885969