Low morphology. Please help.

[Londonpansy]

Dh semen analysis just back.

Sperm count and motility normal. Morphology is below average at 5%. Putting aside that you need more than one test for proper results, what does this mean for our chances of conception?

I mean 5% of a gazillion sperm per ejaculation is still a lot of sperm isn't it? Might one of them meet the egg? Or are out chances doomed? Anyone here had success story at that morpholgy level?

Please reply. Already feel like spending the day sobbing.

I'm really sorry you are going through this. My DH has a very low count with compromised motility and morphology, which added up to a pretty poor prognosis for us to conceive naturally. We have had to use IVF/ICSI, but yours don't sound so bad with count and motility classed as normal. What was the count? Please don't dispair - it can happen for you.

I think you need to go back to your doctor and ask a few more questions as to how compromised your DH's fertility is. If this is the first test, they will certainly want to do a second one, as the results can vary widely from test to test. The sperm test results are read in the round - all the morphology, motility, white blood cells, pH, count etc are read together, so you need to make an appointment for them to sit down and explain everything to you.

Londonpansy........I would definitely not start sobbbing just yet!! May I ask how long you have been trying for?

In the space of 8 months my husband has managed to get me pregnant with 6% and 1% morphology readings -- probably because, like your husband, his motility and volume numbers are good. Sadly I miscarried both times but that is for entirely separate reasons (I have bloodclotting issues which I now know I have to take baby aspirin for).

The kruger method to analyse sperm is extremely stringent and my doctor said that although the guidelines say men should have at least 15% healthy morphology, many men are lucky to even get a 9% reading!

The problem with sperm production is that it is a very complex process which requires about 5000 genes to create one swimmer! So you can imagine that it is very easy for one or two mutations to happen along the way which hamper the process and produce less than stellar sperm.

That being said, there is much that can be done in terms of lifestyle to help the process along. When my husband was given the 1% reading, I immediately booked him in to see a nutritional therapist. He has a highly stressful job, which requires a lot of travel and social dinners. I just had a feeling that he might need to cut back on the drinking, eat more veggies and take supplements to get his body back on track.

It has been three months since then and he is going back to test in two weeks (sperm production takes approx 100 days). I will let you know how it goes. But I wouldn't hesitate to get your husband on a more healthy regime in the meantime. This would mean cuttng back drastically on alcohol and cigarettes if he smokes. The therapist we went to see said beer was highly toxic to sperm (my husband wasn't too happy to hear that!) and that if he was going to drink occasionally, that he should stick to red wine). She also prescribed several antioxidant supplements and vitamins that have been shown to help improve morphology.

I would read the following two articles, the first one being written by one of New York's leading infertility specialists. I think it will make you feel much better....

infertilityblog.blogspot.com/2006/05/sperm-morphology-mythology.html

bjtoday.ynet.com/attachment.db?53976616

Please hang in there!!

Thank you both so much. I will read those articles today babyboom. Dh had to go to work straight after results and I held it together and told him I love him. Only once he was gone did I have sob. Feel calmer now and really appreciate your answers. Am going to ask my doc about improving his sperm through nutrition etc. Neither of is smoke but we do drink socially, though within our units each week. Thank you again. I think I just need to know not to give up hope and also that there are options for us.

Results were:

Sperm count 26.1 million/ml
Sperm motility 41% rapid, 22% slow, 7% non progression, 30% immobile
Sperm morphology 5%

Any thoughts on that welcome.

Hi I just wanted to add that my dp had morphology counts of only 1% and 2% although like your dh his other counts were good. We were told we needed to go for IVF and that we would need ICIS as dp's sperm count was too low for normal IVF!

Anyway I researched low morphology on the internet (there's loads of info out there)and put dp on some multi- vitamins and something called pcynogenol which is meant to do wonders for poor morphology, in the hope it would increase his levels enough so we could have standard IVF which was cheaper.

Anyway just 3 months later I found out i was pregnant naturally and DS is now 12 weeks old. This was after 4 years of trying by the way, I was sceptical that vitamins could work but DS is the proof! HTH

This may be very hard for your husband to process so it is important to keep reminding him that MOST men with good sperm counts but less than stellar morphology numbers do get their partners pregnant naturally. It only takes one little swimmer to make it happen.

From my own experience I wouldn't rely on his sperm results as the sole reason why you may not be conceiving (unless you have also undergone the requisite fertility tests).
Sadly infertility can be due to a number of factors on both sides, so don't be afraid to ask your doctor for a full set of tests for yourself as well (These would include day 3 and 21 blood tests for ovulation as well as perhaps an HSG to ensure that your tubes are open).

Best of luck -- it is so hard but it will happen!!

babayboom is right - i think it is count which makes the real difference and you DH's count is fine. Please stay optimistic. Those results certainly don't look too bad to me, although the morphology is low, but do make an appointment to discuss the results with your GP.

Changing diet, losing weight and your DH avoiding certain things (cycling tight briefs, hot baths, hot tubs) may help. It certainly can't hurt! The doctor strongly suspected that alcohol had an effect on my DH's low count. He was over his 21 unit allowance for the week and so he gave up all alcohol (every last drop) for 4 months. Sadly, it didn't make an appreciable difference, but the doctor believed that giving up all alcohol and drug use was key (my DH didn't use recreational drugs)

thank you again. going to talk to dh about cutting down on alcohol and on taking vitamins. I;m also having lots of tests. Feeling much more optimistic this afternoon.

I'm a bit late to this thread but i can confirm that taking Wellman Conception tablets, Pycnogenol and L-Glutathione on a daily basis can improve things. I went from 1% morphology to 6% in 4 months (kruger method).

Good luck and never give up hope!

Jonathan

I would also add if this is the first analysis then it should not be taken as a given that there are male factor problems.
Such tests should always be repeated, preferably under the supervision of a gynae at a hospital's subfertility unit.