Semen Analysis - Please help

[lucieloos]

We have been ttc for 8 months. I'm 35 and DH is 34. DH has had 2 semen analysis. On the first the sperm concentration was high - around 55m but the fast, progressive motility was a bit under at 27% whereas they look for 32%. He was retested 6 weeks later and collected the sample at home instead of at the lab. We got it to the lab within 30 mins but I know it remained on the receptionists desk and was not analysed until at least 90 mins after it was produced. I don't know if this affects it at all but the motility was far worse on this test and was only 7.7% fast, progressive motility which has put me under huge stress and I'm completely panicking that we may not be able to have children.

Has anyone else been in this situation with an above average sperm count but low motility? Will it be much harder to get pregnant? Does anyone have any success stories please?

I think you would need to do the sample at clinic. (As if you did need treatment it would need to be done there anyway)
We have a DD through icsi with < 1m sperm. And it sounds like you are a long way from that situation
8m is not that long with 20% chance per month.
Is he taking conception vitamins?
Sounds like a good change thesample willbe better again.

Typo - chance

I have a child naturally with less than 10m sperm and only 3% normal form and all sorts of reduced motility/morphology etc!

I would request a new analysis 3 months after 2nd one done but do it in a booked appointment slot at clinic for a fair analysis. If NHS will not agree private companies will do so.

Thanks naty and silver. The tests were at a private clinic. The first time sample was collected at clinic and second time at home. The consultant basically told us it wasn't impossible to get pregnant as only takes one but chances would probably be a lot less maybe 5-10% chance per month

I too have seen that the progressive motility drops dramatically when my husbands sample was produced at home instead of in the lab. My husbands issue is the morphology - the cap on the head of the sperm that contains enzymes to enable it to penetrate the egg is either small or missing. The first two semen samples were produced at the lab and the third was produced at home. The lab even warned me that the motility would give an inaccurate low result but for me I wasn't concerned as it was the morphology I was interested in. So to me it seems completely reasonable that the motility was only 7.7% after a home collection.

Even 27% of 55m - that's 14,850,000 - is a great number even if it's a bit below the 32% benchmark they set. If you were really in a panic, there are supplements he can take. A friends husband is in the same situation as me with 100% abnormal morphology and we both gave our hubbies supplements for 3 months which dramatically increased the count and motility but unfortunately for us, the morphology is hardest to fix with supplements and didn't budge. But supplements definitely increase the count and motility so if you are in a panic trying supplements might help reassure you. But it really doesn't sound like that is your issue.

What happened after you got that last result? What is the next step from here? They say at 35, it is normal to take up to a year to conceive so I hope that happens for you. For us, we are over 3 years TTC and about to embark on our 9th IVF! So now to me,, 8 months seems like a normal time to try - even though I do remember still being stressed at that point of it not happening. Ha, little did I know how much more I would endure. But your husband doesn't have the issues mine does and I hope it happens for you soon.

Semen quality can change drastically depending on health and a variety of other conditions. New sperm are made every 3 months so a re-test in 3 months time would give you a better picture.

FWIW - we conceived through ICSI will low sperm count and 0% motility (yes, zero). AS our consultant said, even with a 0% result they'll find a few in there who are doing what they're supposed to be and that's enough.

Fast forward 18m later I had a surprise natural conception only 2 months after my periods returned (after breast feeding). We'll never know what improved DH's sperm quality so drastically but we're always grateful for our BOGOF baby.

Thanks shellster and sorry to hear of all you have been through. I know 8 months is not that long in the grand scheme of things it's just the clinic told us that even the 27% motility could have a significant effect on fertility so when it then dropped to 7.7% it really stressed me out.

After dh's test I had amh done which showed low reserves (7.2) and a pelvic ultrasound. That showed all healthy and about 12 follicles.

The consultant said to keep trying until after Xmas and then start to think about ivf with icsi.

Thanks the joy that's brilliant to hear your story and definitely gives me hope

Best wishes for you luci. Didn't mean to discredit your 8 months of stress - I know I was stressed at 8 months even though its not as long as the 3 years it now has been. Can totally understand the stress if being told that 27% can reduce the chance and then seeing it at 7.7%. Definitely next time produce the sample at the lab.

Can I suggest, after DH's abnormal sperm result and I started shoving supplements down his throat, it kinda made him feel a bit de-masculated. It affected our sex life as he thought it was all about me wanting a baby. So perhaps if you take that path suggest to hubby 'Perhaps we should both take supplements for a few months to see if that helps before we embark on IVF' rather than making him feel like he has dud sperm and needs tablets to fix it. At least, that's what I'd do if I could go back in time.

I know how stressful this can all be so feel free to vent away and chat here if it helps. I always love a chat.

Best wishes to you luck.

Fwiw, we were TTCing for three years and finally admitted defeat.
DH had 0% motility,

Is he taking supplements. We saw a top private urologist who said a supplement that has scientific research behind it was l-carnitine which is found in proxeed amongst other supplements.

Hey silver, yes he is taking wellman conception, 1000mg vitamin c and about 30mg of zinc. That's what the consultant told us to get him on. Oh and he is also on maca tablets. I think the multivits may have some l-carnitine in.