zero sperm count - anyone with experience/knowledge of sperm retrival & ICSI/IVF

[startingnow]

Recently found out that partner has a zero pserm count! I can't begin to express my emotions about our sitiuation but you can guess that both of us a pretty shocked. We are fortunate to have managed to get to see an excellent urologist specialising in fertility and he is going to try sperm retrieval. apparently it has a 50% success rate. Then it is ISCI/IVF - which has it its own probablilities. trying to keep positive but have this nagging feeling of "aare we mad even trying?" even though my heart says go for it. Has anyone got any experince or knowledge of any of the procedures? happy to hear babout the low times as well as the good news.

We have experience of this. Has your DP had his hormone levels checked? They should measure the levels of testosterone and free testosterone - there are usually very obvious symptoms of low testosterone, so your DP's are probably fine. They should also test for FSH - this will give an indication of whether your DP is producing sperm, but there is a blockage, or if there are no sperm produced. It's also useful to have an ultrasound to check for blockages.
For what it's worth, we were encouraged to have ICSI, but decided against it. DH has Sertoli cell only (the most severe kind of male infertility) and we just didn't think that the odds and the grief that we would have to go through were worth it. Of the other options (DI/adoption/childfree) we decided on DI. It was not a lightly-made decision and we had counselling with a fertility specialist. Your clinic may insist on this, and even if they don't, we found it very very useful.
We now have one DD and I'm PG with another baby, and we have not regretted our decision at all. It is your decision (and your DPs) and I wouldn't encourage anyone to go through DI if they weren't completely sure. It is an option though, and one that worked well for us.

PS I forgot to tell you how sorry I am. We found the diagnosis very difficult at first, and went through 7 kinds of hell with the tests, the decision and the treatment. I suppose that I wanted to let you know that there are people who have come out the other side, and we're fine.

Friend has this and he and wife went on to have a little boy 7 years ago witht he help of isci/ivf. Good luck. x

gosh - feel a bit tearful hving found someone has the slightest clue what I am talking about. we paid for all the blood and ultrsounds for DP (to speed things up) and they have come back OK. so the workign theoory from the consultant is that its a blockage. I think that if we dont go down this route we willhave more discussion about adoption. Thats not because either of us have any immediate issues with having donor sperm (although i have heard that there is not much around these days). DP has a hang up about being and old dad as he is in his late forties so the main point for him is about that having to wait another 9+ months just makes him an even older dad. I hope that bit makes sense.

Thanks MG. did they tell many people?

If your DP's hormone levels are fine then that is good news that ICSI is a viable option. It will be difficult though, as eggs fertilised with retrieved sperm don't tend to do as well as those from ejaculated sperm. It is not impossible though, and there is nothing to say that you won't be in the lucky percentage (especially as I'm guessing that you're quite a bit younger than your DP).
I would personally go with your heart. I think that you always know deep down what you are and aren't willing to go through. For what it's worth, I would also consider now when/how you're going to stop. Speaking from experience, once you're on the fertility treatment roundabout, it can be very hard to get off, as you never know if the next month could be "the one". The cycles of hope and disappointment can be exhausting, so please take care of yourself, and get as much MN support as you need.

Thanks HI. I think I'll be coming here more often. x

Hi starting now.

Bit of a long story but some hope for you. Different circumstances. My Dh had a vasectomy in first marriage (after 1st wife lied to him and told him that DC biologically his and then persuaded him to have vas ).

Anyway - after we got together he had two reversals which both failed but we then went onto to have sperm retreival and ICSI. Second attempt I got pregnant and went on to have beautiful twin boys.

So - it can work.

Whatever you decide - good luck!

x

My friends had this issue as the husband had hormanal issues - they tried upping his hormone levels and then had ICSI on top of that, but unfortunately she lost the pregnancy. They then tried straight IVF with donor sperm and had twin girls 9 months later...and she was late 30s at the time.

Good luck, whatever you decide to do. I think once you have tried the sperm retrival once you will know if it is the option for you.

My friends DH had an accident as a chld and has zero count. After ICSI she had a daughter who's now 8. She got pregnant again through ICSI and unfortunately had a miscarriage but that wasn't anything to do with DH's sperm count.

This has been very helpful. Although the DP is a bit wobbly about it all - his age etc - we are now waiting to get a date for the opp and will take it from theri. consultant said it will be summer before they try and so will be living in a sort of void til then. Trying to keep open minded but I know my heart wants this.... tricky, and so frustratign havign no control whatsoever. Good to hear some of the posisitve stories