If I'm not ovulating and Dh has a low sperm count what can be done?

[nymphadora]

This is what the first tests have found. GP is repeating the tests before referring us.

BUT I have no idea of options after that so can anyone help me?

(I'm not a medical expert, so beware)

For you;

• Clomid (or similar) to encourage your cycle.
• IVF (lots of drugs!)

For him;

it depends on how low is low and what the mobility of the sperm is.

If the are mobile but low count, then maybe a form of artificial insemination, such as IUI or ICI

If they are non-mobile, then direct implantation into an egg: IVF-ICSI

Also...

You also can consider donor sperm and donor egg (or even donor embryo if you can actually find one), or adoption/fostering.

Any options I missed?

The main thing is to talk about it, of course.

DH and I were in a similar situation. I had Clomid and they said if it didn't work after 3 cycles go down the ICSI route, ie. select suitable sperm and inject directly into the egg. Fortunately we managed to conceive just on Clomid.

Thanks
does IUI /ICI cost? Or does it still cone under nhs?and how invasive is it?

Already decided on no donors.

They said about dh sample that it was low count and very thick ( we assume this restricts swimmers?)

CAn your DH make any lifestyle changes which may improve his sperm count?

ICI/IUI can be pretty invasive - as can be all fertility treatment.

And the cost varies depending on which part of the country you are in, different NHS trusts have wildly different rules news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/8185753.stm.

www.hfea.gov.uk/ is a good place to start some research on clinics.

If you have to pay for it yourself, then yes it can get very expensive (read as £K's).

Any suggestions? I have already cut his drinking right down, he still has 1-2 beer/ glasses of wine etc a week. He us taking zinc which was suggested on one of the ttc threads but I don't know anything else

Hi,

First off you need a proper diagnosis of the underlying problem/s.

One poor semen analysis is not in itself conclusive of there being any male factor problem. These tests are often repeated as a matter of course.

Sperms are actually quite complicated things and there is much about them we do not understand. The morphology (form) of the sperms as well as the motility is also important.

For yourself you should have more blood tests and internal ultrasound scans done to see if there are indications of there being polycystic ovaries (a common cause of ovulation problems). This can be treated and sometimes clomid is prescribed. You should be monitored whilst on it as it is quite powerful stuff.

At the very least you should actually be referred now, all this is outside the GPs general remit. You will likely end up getting referred anyway, better to get this process rolling now rather than in say a couple of months time. It just causes you further delay and the tests are better off being done under the hospitals supervision anyway.

My GP insisted on 2 years of TTC before referral - apparently lha policy

I am assuming that ours isnt that or he would have warned us. And if it shows a problem they couldnt justify waiting. Dh can go private for his part as he has insurance. My endo will mean I will become infertile if I wait too long anyway.

Usually on here they talk about a year.

If it gets as far as IVF we would have to pay anyway as we arent eligible.

Hi,

I am 34 and starting IVF cycle because my hubby has low sperm count. In the process I had my routine Ovarian Reserve Test and am so shocked to find out that it is very, very low despite always having regular periods and no problems. The clinic said am borderline IVF candidate, I wondered if anyone out there has any advice/feedback/positive stories of success through IVF with low sperm and low Ovarian reserve? Am in bit of a state and so confused-we will go for IVF starting next week and give it our best go but need to get my mind in a positive place and reduce the stress. Any help or advice would be much appreciated.

Thanks, D x