Morphology results - help!

[loopylou1984]

Hi everyone

Back in October my dh had his first SA. The results were all really high except for morphology which was only 3%. He had a repeat test done a few weeks later and when we called for the results they told us everything was normal. We were relieved and so have been focusing on me (awaiting ultrasound etc). However yesterday he got a copy of the breakdown of his results and the morphology is still only 5%. I know the guidelines say 4% is normal, but I was hoping for better than 5.
This test also has a note saying repeat test advised, but no one told us that. My questions are I guess:
A) should I get him to have another test before we see the specialist again
B) should we still be worried by the 5%

Ttc#1, cycle 16, me 29 and him 30.

If it says 4% is normal then I wouldn't be worried about 5%. If I remember correctly I don't think morphology ever gets much higher than that. Remember if the count is normal then 5% is still going to de a massive number. You really need to wait 3 months between tests so I'd be tempted to wait and ask the consultant what they think.

Thanks Maid. The last one was done in October so it has been three months. I think he's going to have a repeat done so that we're fully prepared when seeing the specialist.
Yes, you're right, there are still a lot of good ones - I guess my concern is that the dud ones will get in the way of the good ones as there's so many more of them!

After 16 months and if you've been referred to a fertility clinic then I think it's likely that you might be offered ivf. In which case it won't really matter so long as there is enough for normal ivf or even just one for ICSI.

Hi Sammy, I spoke to you on one of the buses about ivf abroad. I know you are worried as you have been told by some that 5% morphology is very low however if you look up the WHO guidelines for 2010 then you will see that anything above 4% is considered normal so you don't have anything to worry about there.

It is definitely worth looking into further treatment though as 16 months is quite a long time. If you did decide to do ivf or icsi you would have a really good success rate at your age.

I think I'm right in saying the way morphology is assessed changed fairly recently and so the reference levels for what is normal had also changed. Therefore some people will tell you it's low but that's because they're thinking of the old system. If 4 is normal and you have above that then the result is normal.

Thank you both, it's all so confusing and everyone seems to have been told/read different things.
Yes, I think I know deep down that we're looking at some kind of assisted conception, it's just knowing what!

Thank you again, X

There aren't really that many options sadly. If you're ovulating ok then something like clomid won't help. Options are probably iui, ivf of ivf with icsi. If there are any questions over the sperm then it will be icsi. But, many people get pregnant before then and it is a mystery why it has taken so long. Good luck.