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.

Can I have a quick rant? Why on earth does mumsnet think it's appropriate to serve Fairy ads showing a sleeping baby to threads in "infertility". Every single thread all day every day. Grrrrr.
I'm 10dpo and BFNs constantly.
On another note, my OH and I were discussing what next if when the lap hasn't worked and he kept saying how the fertility doctors said his levels were normal. I kept correcting him saying his counts were not normal - they are sub optimal at 2% morphology etc - but the doctors said it was increasingly common in patients they see. That doesn't mean we'll get pregnant naturally!! Argh!
He also "remembered" that the NHS doctor said he could drink 12-15 units a week which I definitely don't think he said. I think the doctor said a couple of glasses are fine but don't go crazy. I say this as we just had a wedding and my DH got totally annihilated much to my displeasure.
Isn't it amazing how we all only hear what we want to? So annoying that we both think we're right.
Rant over. How are you guys getting along?

Hey Geeup, rant away!! It's amazing how much baby stuff hits you in the face when your trying isn't it. Nothing to report over here, I'm not pregnant but then i'm not surprised. I can't wait to get this clomid cycle over with so I can hopefully get back to normal next month.

I'm currenty checking the post every half hour to hopefully get going at the fertility clinic. I just want to get started now. When are you back for the what's next talk?
I understand what you mean with your OH, we've had plenty of arguments about it over the years, I was very strict with myself for ages. Nothing changed. They told me numerous times that morphology is hard to change yet it went from 0.8 - 2% without any lifestyle changes. So at the min i'm in the camp of sod it (within reason)This is stressful enough without not being able to have a drink or stop drinking tea ( I was told that) or whatever. I would get annoyed with getting complete annihilated mind.
My DH Still says his count is okay (10.500) because the doctor said it only takes one. I'm really starting to think that even the experts don't know enough to say. I think they just like to pinpoint it on something but who knows.
I'm thinking of trying the mooncup idea this month if still not heard out. Gosh the things we do hey. I hope your doing better today.

Ah thanks Friends. My next appointment is end Sept (days before my best friend is due) so time can't pass fast enough. Im currently googling IUI which I thought we could try while we wait ideally with progesterone to lengthen my luteal phase is it worth it with poor morphology? That said, I'm convinced the problem lies with me and that my womb is killing off the sperm...

Ps I was considering mooncup too! Maybe you try it and report back?!

Hello ladies, that is annoying about your husband geeup. Mine keeps drinking and it feels like everyday he says "oh I really feel like a beer, is that bad?" And it annoys me cos it's like it's my responsibility to stop him every time he wants a drink. He knows he should be cutting down and that seems to translate as checking with m before drinking the same as he did before. But then again, I'm with you friends - alcoholics get pregnant and none of our friends who fell at the drop of a hat stopped drinking, so I just shrug it off. Also he's totally cut out caffeine and is doing so much better on that front than I am, and he doesn't smoke and has stopped cycling which he loves. so really he's sacrificed quite enough already I think he deserves the odd beer!

Geeup, maybe you should show him the official figures for normal sperm. And even that is based on what the lowest 5% of fertile men present. So when we say 15 or 20 million is normal, the vast vast majority of fertile men have counts much higher than that. Maybe those shock tactics will convince him you're right!

Argh, ladies I'm so bored by all this and fed up. I'm 9dpo and (tmi) had loads of thick creamy discharge the last few days, like an infection, it was gross. Suddenly cleared up today and of course I'm wondering if that's a good sign! I'm bloody mad.

My first appointment at the fertility clinic is on the 20th September . They have said the CCG have funded my IVF but no mention of IUI. I'm wondering if I'm going to get my 3 rounds or maybe I should try a private round while I'm waiting. Geeup, the first thing I'm going to ask about when I get there is the possibility of that. They've written to me about a test they do, but saying that it's a private clinic so who knows. My DH is panicking because he's got to do a SA in the special room. Clearly okay when it's me getting the poking but not the other way round. Ha.
Star, I always get the white creamy CM, loads of the stuff after ovulation and especially so when implantation should be taking place. It's a sign of high progesterone. :)So I don't think it's anything to worry about. What cycle day you both on now? I'm currently on day 27, all the norm af signs are showing, horrible witch.

That's great you get funding friends. They might not fund iui as well but it's worth checking. For me they will fund IVF/icsi but not the ovulation induction so I've spent £1200 on that which has turned out to be a big waste of money. I wonder if it's because the chance of it working is very low with male factor unless it's very very mild. Our latest SA showed a count of 11mil, motility 39%, morphology 4% which to me sounded quite mild but still no success. I think it's IVF or nothing for us now. Christ those ladies on the other thread with sperm counts of hundreds of millions. They're sooo lucky!

Friends I'm on cd 23 so a few days behind you. Period due next week and I feel just the same as usual except the thick cm which would make sense if I ovulated a few eggs my progesterone would be higher so more symptoms.

Yeah that's true our first count was poor but the second was average. The morphology has remained low so maybe IUI wouldn't really help. I wouldn't want to go through another three rounds and then have to do the IVF anyway. I'm sure when I get through that first consultation I will just want to get going.
I had to read that post twice haha. Sperm count envy .I'm wondering if to start with the acupuncture, it was mentioned in the forms I filled in. I've just been putting it off because I really don't like the sound of it.
Good luck for the rest of the cycle you two. It's not over till it's over.

Hi am on train so hard to read back - sorry - but wanted to say that I do acupuncture and have done for 2 months so far. I do it roughly once a week, twice during luteal phase. Hasn't done anything yet but now I can't give it up as everyone says it takes time to build up
I'm 12dpo and been spotting since yesterday - standard for me and my crap luteal phase. Spent the entire day going round and round my head about my options. NHS appt in end sept so is that enough time to try and squeeze in something private like getting progesterone or clomid or even an IUI round (guessing probably not). Really want to try something but don't know what. Called to book an appointment at a private clinic but panicked that it'll affect my NHS appt. on holiday at the end of month so resigning myself to do nothing for 6 weeks more. Feel like I'm going to combust!

Hi Geeup,
Have a good holiday, try to take the time to not think about it, then when you back you will have something to look forward to. ( I know this isn't something to look forward to but you know what I mean.) The consultant said he would prescribe you Clomid didn't he? I sometimes had spotting before, but I've had none with the clomid.

Af showed herself today for me!
Hope you have a good weekend.

Hi Friends and star. I thought after my little outburst on the IUI/IVF thread Id say hi here. My god Friends Im excited for you. Were you still on Clomid or was this just a normal cycle with you plus these mysterious moon cups?! (Did you just put one up after DTD to hold the spermies up there?).
I've had a rough couple of weeks. On one hand, a lovely two week holiday with the hubbie. But three days before the end of the holiday, AF came and I fell apart the worst I have in 6 months. It was my last cycle trying to get pregnant before my best friend gives birth. It shouldn't matter but it was one of those milestones I had set myself which is always a terrible mistake. I basically said I'm ready to start IVF and my husband has said he's not and wants to keep going naturally for a bit longer. Cue lots of crying and deep and meaningfuls and arguing about male pride and comparing yourself to other people etc. It's been horrendously hard. He's still religiously doing the Proxeed as Dr Ramsay suggested and said he's up for doing another SA when it's been 3 mths on them.
I have my next NHS appt at the end of this month so am just focusing on that. Have stopped acupuncture, temping and most of my vitamins - just seem like just a waste of money.
Star - how are you doing? I have been seeing you from time to time on other threads and hope you're ok.
Well done again Friends - do please give us some more details/pics of your FRER test (is that weird?!).
Xx

Hey geeup,
Thank you so much. I still can't believe it. I feel totally numb.This is the first time I've ever had a positive in 3years.

I didn't take my 3rd clomid cycle.I just used the mooncup straight after dtd,left it in for about 3 hours each time. I also (sorry far TMI) but I used a little something to get me going before dtd. Not sure if it made any difference.

I'm really sorry your having such a rough time, it's so rubbish. I honestly thought at one point that the only friends I will have is virtual ones because I could no longer speak to rl ones. Don't give up hope Geeup, I never thought I'd get a natural bfp.

Well it might be weird but I'm glad you've asked to see it, My DH has been saying that he can see the line but there not close together like in the picture. It's positive right? X

Never seen a positive in real life but from all the ones I've seen online that certainly looks like a classic positive. So cool. Will try both your ahem techniques! Whatever works!

Just been looking at mooncup and just want to check in looking at the right thing - the one for menstrual flow right? Looks like quite a big "cup" - is the idea that it holds the sperm against your cervix? Not sure my hubbie could fill the cup with one ejaculation inside me! Sorry - v embarrassing writing that! Maybe I have it all wrong!

Hi geeup, it was the same again this morning, i only slept for 4 hours mind, I'm gonna go and get a clear blue to see if that tells me so too.
Yeah it's one of those, I was a bit scared when it arrived, but you fold it in half before using it and it actually went in really easy . It took a bit of an effort to get it out mind .
You just dtd as normal and then when your finished just pop it in. I wasn't even going to tell DH I was using it but he found it. it was surprisingly comfy too, I just got straight up and walked round.

Hi ladies, I came to post here too to say hi to geeup!
Friends, I can't tell you how happy I am for you. You've been so supportive of us over the months and it's been such a long road. That is definitely a positive. Like geeup, I've never seen one in real life but I know that's definitely positive - as they say on the threads of fertile people: a line is a line! Congrats again lovely.

Geeup, so sorry you've been feeling down. I've been the same. Got my period in the middle of my holiday in July and spent two days crying. Then it was onto my last Clomid round where as you know I had 4 follicles and when that failed I think I hit rock bottom. I started seeing a therapist this week which I hope will help as it's just been so difficult - I'm just crying inexplicably all the time and avoiding seeing any of my pregnant friends. I've avoided posting on mumsnet too as that just keeps me obsessing about infertility. I'm also ready for IVF.

Hope you both have nice things planned for the weekend

I'm so sorry you've been feeling so awful too Star. I certainly know how you feel - sounds like we've been similarly low. I met up with a friend today who had a baby on her third IVF round and has been a good ear to me and she actually suggested I look into counselling. She had it and said although it certainly didn't solve everything, it did help. We talked about how hard it is to really open up to your partner as you don't want to be a constant downer and men just don't think about it every single day like we do. Anyway, I do hope it helps. I'd be interested to her what they ask you about as I'm considering it. How does your OH feel about IVF?
Friends - looking forward to seeing your CB digi. I'm not happy for many pregnant people but I am for you!

Hi, thank you so much, I still can't believe it. I went to the doctors yesterday with four pregnancy test. She was so lovely. I've got really bad anxiety at the minute, you think all you need to see is a positive test but it seems to just replace the hopelessness for fear and worry.

Star, Geeup. I hope that getting some professional help will benefit you both. I think star is right, you and your oh often just bring each other down. I felt like I was coming to terms with things and would be okay apart from the two days when af arrived. My DH could not understand, how I could be okay one minute and having a complete meltdown the next. I was often envious of how he could switch off and enjoy life when mine was stuck at a standstill.

I just wanted to say thank you both for all the support over the last few months. I don't know where I would have been without you. You gave me the courage to tell family and friends about our troubles and calmed me down on many occasions, when I was having many wobbles.
I hope you don't mind me sticking around, I'm so pleased with my news but the icing on the cake would be to be here when you also get your BFP's whatever that may take. X

How are you doing friends? I know you must be anxious but how amazing to see that bfp right there in black and white!

I have a moon cup question. Of course as soon as you got your bfp, I was right on it researching mooncups! I ordered softcups as apparently they sit closer to the cervix. Even though I was only cd6, I decided to use one last night after sex. Popped it in afterwards and took it out this morning and it was pretty much empty. Did you find there was semen in the moon cup when you took it out?

Oh and geeup, my oh is ready for IVF too. The problem is we're getting married in December and that would mess up an October cycle so we're having to wait til Jan which is annoying. How are things with you?

I'm good thanks Star, still very apprehensive, still peeing on sticks and still taking temp! It's not ideal, but I feel more relaxed for doing it.

It's got to be worth a shot hasn't it, yeah I did notice semen in the cup I remember thinking at the time that it was a fair bit.

Hi star. How is the wedding planning going?! Have you decided on a clinic for January? We met with our NHS consultant this week and he's going to put us forward for IVF when we next see him in November. He's given me clomid to try while we wait. I already ovulate so not sure if it'll help but you never know-maybe an extra egg will be enough?!
Wondering if we should do a new SA in the meantime to get an update on DHs swimmers but not sure what difference it would make so maybe not worth the £200.
Hope alls ok with you.
Friends - if you see this, hope your pregnancy is going really well. Keep us posted! If you have a scan pic, I'd be pleased to see it (but noone else's if you know what I mean).

Hi Geeup,
I'm still here. Really glad you're getting started on the Clomid and also that you can get started on the IVF if not successful. Are you doing the Clomid on its own or IUI too? Hope your feeling a bit more positive with the situation?

I'm stuck in limbo at the min, I had a early scan at 6 weeks because I had a slight bleed. They could see baby, and a strong heartbeat, but they could also see an area of separation below the sac. I'm not sure what it truly means because they didn't tell me at the time but clearly doesn't sound good. I've booked a private scan on Saturday when I will be 8 weeks to see what's going on, but I've lost all my pregnancy symptoms too, so I feel a bit hopeless at the minute.

Star, I hope that you're well and that the wedding planning is going good too.

Good to hear from you friends. I'm sorry you're in limbo. It must be so hard not to go Google crazy but try as hard as you can to remember that you are pregnant today and there's a heartbeat and those two alone are everything you need today. I wish you loads of luck for your next scan.
Super irritatingly I can't do clomid this cycle as my NHS clinic can't give me an appointment for the follicle scanning when I called today. How ridiculous. Why did they give me the clomid if they can't fit me in to scan. So depressing. Someone on another thread said I should just take it anyway but as I've never tried it before I think the risk of ohss would be too high. So another month is a write off.
It'll upset my OH because he'll feel like the NHS have given up on us and now it'll just be straight into IVF.
Good luck - keep us posted on how you get on. I really hope all is well.

Thanks geeup. I can't believe I'm praying for even a little bit of sickness or anything. I will let you know how I get on Saturday.

That's a bit rubbish! I don't want to encourage you, but I would be tempted to take it too. I wasn't scanned at all and the risk of ohss is apparently pretty low with Clomid.
I suppose you need to think even if you get scanned and you have more than one follicle what are you going to do ? Are you still going to end up dtd? If so, scanning is not going change anything really. Especially if your still going to ovulate on your own without a trigger. That's me clearly not doing the sensible thing. Good luck with whatever you decide.