desperately seeking male infertility success stories

[geeup]

Can anyone please post any success stories about conceiving despite issues with their DPs sperm? Mine has poor morphology (less than 2% normal) and we're trying Fertilaid. I'd love to hear that other people got their BFPs despite these issues to help keep my optimism alive! Otherwise I'm happy to support others on the same journey. Thank you in advance.

Hi,
AF arrived this morning, . This is gonna be along post so I will warn you in advance.
Yesterday I picked up my results from the DRs, I really have been tested for a lot of things, I've had STI checks, Vitamin deficiency test, full blood counts etc. My progesterone level was so high this month it was off the scale. In fact without Clomid it's apparently at the higher range.
Two things were flagged up on the reports, which is news to me because I was told everything was normal at the time.
Firstly, I have a very high androgen level. The report says in no uncertain terms that the diagnosis is that I have Pcos. I've had an ultrasound and also a tranvaginal scan. Apparently no Pcos.
The second thing that was flagged up was the fact that although my whitebloodcells are all in normal range, I have a certain type of wbc that is double the count ( can't remember the name but when googling, it's normally high if you suffer from hayfever, asthma ( which I don't ) the only other thing that is suggested is that i could have a autoimmune disorder.
Seriously my head is mashed, I googled the symptoms and gosh I probably have 3/4 of them. ( which could also explain my hormone inbalance)
My Dr never asked for me to do the test again even though it was so high. I just got all is fine. I'm seriously wondering if I should of had a lap and dye to rule out endo and also wondering if I should have immunological testing before IVF.
I never actually seen the consultant last time,I'm not sure who she was but she wasn't as highly qualified. (not saying that makes any difference.) However it seems that people get told to have Lap and dyes in between IVF sometimes.

I really don't know if I'm just looking for things, but the evidence seems to be right in front of my face but not the Drs. Sorry for the rant i just feel like I'm so confused and I really don't want to go through IVF as a trial and error basis.

Hi friends, sorry for af. Lord, that sounds like a real headf**k. I've never heard of the white blood cells thing but I can see how that must feel worrying. I wonder if you should make a post on the infertility or conception thread to see if anyone has any experience with autoimmune conditions. From what I've read on other mn threads the nhs is not convinced but you can still get treated for immune conditions privately alongside doing nhs ivf.
One thing I would say is that Dr Google can be our worst friend ever and we can convince ourselves there is everything wrong with us. I remind myself of when I'd convinced myself I'd need a hysterectomy because of my fibroid and that I'd never have kids. OK, I'm not pregnant yet, but the fibroids are not the problem. So I know you can't stop yourself worrying, but the signs so far suggest that the issue is sperm morphology and you have every chance of ivf working if Clomid doesn't. Really try not to worry and try to make a plan for what next. I need to take my own advice by the way!

Ps, so are you pcos or not?!

Hi Star,
Totally hear what your saying and your totally right. (Head been given a huge talking to) what really annoys me is the fact that I had these test over 18 months ago, but I was only checked for pcos is March this year. I also originally went to the DRs because of the pain I was having and the heavy periods etc. Yet they didn't think to scan me. I think with that and the other thing and google putting two and two together with a dose of too much research of course, I just went on one.
There so bloody usless at my drs though , I've asked them to check 5 times if I've had my MMR Jab, still none the wiser. Haha .
I also said I wouldn't take the Clomid this time around as I've been horrendous on it, Maybe because I clearly have too much estrogen in my system without it, I bled for just one day, did you find that? I couldn't help myself though.
Hope you have a wonderful time away. Hopefully AF stayed away for you ?
Geeup , hope you are staying sane ( unlike me ) not sure when your op is but good luck with it. Hope all goes well.

Ps, apparently I don't have pcos.

Good news no pcos friends.
So I had the lap and dye and hysteroscopy. The consultant didn't find anything - all clear tubes - but he wouldn't prescribe me anything to try. Just said to come back and see him in 8-10 weeks. So frustrating.
I have a short luteal phase (10-12 days) but he says luteal phase defects are controversial and not everyone believes it's a problem so he wouldn't prescribe progesterone. If anything he'll give me something to boost ovulation maybe when he next sees me. Arghhhhh I'm so over this. Has anyone else been prescribed progesterone for a short luteal phase (especially after a lap and dye)? Feel like I'm forever in limbo. DH just going to focus on improving his spermies meantime.

Hi Geeup,
wonderful news on the lap! At least you know there's nothing going on. I know it's frustrating, but he probably wants to see how you get on because apparently you're extremely fertile after a lap. Fingers crossed you won't need any extra help. Clomid has lengthened my luteal phrase by an extra 3 days, sent me completely crackers but still. Take it easy x

My ex DH was azoo and we had ICSI with sperm retrieval.

My 9 year old is currently lounging on my bed watching kids YouTube!

Thanks for the story Welsh.
How is everyone doing? I think I'll ovulate tomorrow so on the shagathon but feeling fairly hopeless despite having had the lap and dye. Trying to imagine I'm one of those success stories but always feels pretty unlikely doesn't it.
Star - saw your conundrum on another thread that I lurk on but as I'm not IUI/IVFing yet, I don't say much on, and just wanted to say I would totally trigger and dtd! The odds of 4 must be microscopic. Totally up to you and your partners attitude to risk but good luck!
Friends - how you doing?
Xx

Hey Geeup,
I'm good thanks,I just ovulated yesterday I think. I had to dig the pre-seed out because Clomid has got rid of all my CM. I've been so rubbish on it, I can't hack the side effects so not gonna take the 3rd cycle. I'm thinking that i'm gonna have to do it all again when I start IUI, so just gonna have a break.
I've been looking at reviews for IVF clinics, it all seems so real now. There's no waiting list because it's at a private clinic but still under the NHS. Scared but excited at the same time.

Fingers crossed we get good news and avoid all the craziness .
Star, good luck, I hope it works and I would still DTD too. Not sure if you've been on fertility friends but there's a lady on there who was in a similar situation.She's pregnant!!!

Hey geeup, how was the lap.and dye? They say you're very fertile for 3 cycles afterwards so get on the shagathon!!

friends, I'm on the same trajectory as you. Ivf planning appointment on 1 September so reckon we'll get going in October as I'll be away for my sept cycle. When do you think you'll get going? I know what you mean about being scared but excited. It's like I'm gutted it's come to this but excited as it might mean finally getting pregnant after all this time.

Thanks for the good luck guys. I'm just going to go for it. I know there's a risk but of all the eggs and sperm that have been in there over the past 2 years, I haven't had a single pregnancy so I'm deciding it's a miniscule risk and hoping 4 eggs is enough to get me pregnant (it probably won't be)

Hey Star,
How are you feeling? I've just received the initial forms to fill it so hopeful we won't have to wait too long for the first appointment. (I was only re-referred on Tuesday and received the welcome pack on Friday )
I'm going push to try the IUI for 3 rounds first, (hopefully non-medicated, or something other then Clomid )
If they don't work, I'm hopeful to start by the end of the year. Gosh that would be a good Christmas present.
Now I've ovulated, I've had really bad cramp especially down one side, I also look like a pot bellied pig, totally different to my normal cycle.

Great you're on your way Friends! Hope you get the IUI - that's what I'll be pushing for at my appointment too.
Star - lap and dye went ok thanks. Managed to DTD four days afterwards to try and catch my egg in fertile week so am totally desperately hoping we could be one of those statistics who are more fertile straight afterwards.
Now I'm in the 2ww I swear time comes to a crashing halt. Work will be painfully slow this week...

Geeup I'm 4 days past ovulation, yet it seems like it should be a least a week, time really does stand still! I'm actually excited for my blood test on Thursday haha. What's that about!

I swear anything to break up the wait-blood tests, doc appts, anything!

Hi,

So my charts decided to say I've ovulated later then I think I have. What do you guys think? What are the dashed lines about?

I think it's because your "fertility signs are in conflict".

This is in the legend

I don't know why it's confused though as looks like a clear rise.

Hi Friends, I take it you think you ovulated on cd13 when you had a positive op-k? I think it's in conflict because you then had two days of fertile cervical mucus on cd14 and cd15 so going by that, FF thinks you possibly ov'd on cd16. I think it could be either, but it's difficult as you don't have any temps before cd 12. However, if cd13 is more like when you usually ovulate then I'd say you ov'd then. I find checking cervical mucus really hard, so if you weren't positive it was ewcm, then I'd ignore the conflict and go with cd13. You'll know at the end of the cycle anyway as your luteal phase should be roughly the same as usual. So you're 3 or 6 dpo - how's the tww going??

I thought it should of gone through day 13, at the very least day 14. The CM I recorded was creamy which happens straight after ovulation for me. I didn't have any good CM this month not even watery just bloody dry. I wonder if it's that or the very high temperatures that are confusing it. (I've never had them so high) . I've gone back and deleted the CM altogether but it still looks the same. My base temperature doesn't really change,I do take it but never chart it until I can see it shifting. I was having a panic attack wondering if I dtd at the wrong time. I suppose if my progesterone is low on Thursday I will soon know. I had a 3 day extended luteal phrase last month. ( It I charted right)

The tww is going well, it's hard not to symptom spot when the symptoms are so different to your normal ones. I've had a constant pain down one side since ovulation, feeling very tired and hungry and my temps are really high. Trying not to get too excited. How are you feeling?

Geeup, I'm not sure why it's confused it looks obvious to me too. Haha.

I just deleted today's temperature at 36. 96 and it's now decided I ovulated on day 14. It's a bit strange it doesn't like that . I still think I ovulated by the time I took my temp on day 14. Well I hope so, I hope I haven't gone through the crazy Clomid symptoms to miss the two prime days .

Star,
Apparently after your initial IVF appointment, they then write to your ccg and ask for funding which apparently can take months and months. :( . Not sure if you've seen the post where the woman has been waiting 8months so far .....

That's weird. I haven't seen that thread but I've had confirmation that my ccg will fund our ivf already. they wouldn't fund the ovulation induction so we're paying for that. We got referred last October but before you see a Dr they make you redo all the fertility blood tests and I had to have two scans (month wait for each one) so our appointment wasnt until January. At that appt it was confirmed our issue was male factor (low motility) and that ivf would be funded by Lambeth ccg. We didn't do anything but looks like the hospital just did it once we were referred. Or, maybe cos we have mf it's just in the rules that it is funded?

Where are you in the referral process? I really hope you don't get stuck in limbo waiting for a funding decision.

I've had no confirmation from the CCG, We received a letter last week from the fertility clinic, (Were under care fertility) with a welcome pack and a huge questionaire to fill in. So I'm now waiting for the first appointment with them.
It's taken a bit longer because we was transfered somewhere else originally. When we went to see the fertility specialist at the hospital they said they would refer us due to male factor. ( low morphology ) I thought that was us getting the green light but it appears that after the first appointment at the IVF clinic, they ask the CCG if they will fund us. Maybe I've got that wrong then. I thought they did things like a smoking test and infections test before they actually approved it.
I can understand they might do all my bloods again. ( I've got 4 months of progesterone mind) I hope I don't have to do the scans though, I only had a HSG, ultrasound and transvaginal less than 6 months ago.