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.

Well after 4 days of brown spotting (sorry) AF showed up. gutted. Never had it before so got my hopes up it was something anything different. At least it's helpful timing to have my day 3 blood test on Tuesday on the same day I'm seeing the consultant re the lap and dye. So effing depressing though. Sitting here on a Sunday afternoon with my OH and the papers chilling which I should be enjoying but secretly all I'm thinking is this is nice but can I do this for the rest of my life if I can't have a baby. We've agreed we'll try and focus on all the good things that are a side effect of not getting pregnant yet but I'm just so READY ALREADY. Sigh.

So sorry geeup. It's devastating isn't it when you get your hopes up. How did your appointment go yesterday? Are you feeling a bit better now you have some treatment to look forward to? Please look after yourself.

As for me, I'm just bored now really. Af due in Sunday then I start Clomid on CD2. So just waiting really and nothing at all to report. My partner had a retest of his sperm last week and think we'll get the results next week - really hoping there's been a big improvement after 4 months religiously taking proxeed.

Hi ladies, sorry it's been a few days, I decided to run off on holiday. I think it must be the change in hormones for that one day I'm a complete nightmare ;-) and then back to normal the day after.
My appointment is on the 2nd of June so i will let you know.I'm soo nervous, I really don't know what to do for the best ( If there's a choice) . That book seems to think that I might be offered IVF because in the long run, it might be the best option especially if we get the "unexplained label " My heads a mess.

Star, are you just having clomid or clomid with iui? Good luck with it, my fingers are crossed it works for you.

Geeup, I'm so sorry I know it's rubbish. We will get our babies I'm sure, it's hard but we have to stay positive. Wishing you all the best for your lap and dye..

Thanks star and friends. My pre-surgery assessment went fine - just a few qus re other times I've had anaesthetic really. But disappointed as I assumed you'd get an appointment shortly after that (you'd think!) but the nurse warned me my consultant won't invite me before August earliest. Feels like such a long time to wait knowing nothing will happen between now and then. I wondered about calling up and asking if they'd prescribe me clomid or anything at all really to try in the interim. Just feel like we're wasting time.
Star - sorry if I forgot but have you been through lap and dye before they'd prescribe you clomid? Hope AF comes and goes quickly so you can get on with trying that. And look forward to hearing what the SA shows post Proxeed - I'm thinking of buying the OH some but the fertilaid was so expensive I kind of think he should finish it first. Is that bad?!
Friends - good luck for the 2nd. Bet it can't come soon enough. I know what you mean re IVF - you desperately want to try to fix something but IVF feels so final.
My colleague is going off on Mat leave today - her second in 2 years and she's only 24. Makes me wish I'd tried to do all this sooner although wasn't really an option as hadn't met my OH at her age! So jealous of her though and her big bump

It's so rubbish all the waiting around isn't it. Do they have a cancellation list? I don't think they will allow me to have clomid because they know I ovulate.
I think I'm just so scared it won't work, then it's game over, what if I go through all those injections etc and in the end OH's sperm don't even fancy my eggs and that's the reason all along.

Try not be so tough on yourself geeup, I've been with OH since I was 19 and we wasn't ready to start trying until I was 27 which really isn't that old, sometimes things are just out of our control.

Doesn't it feels like the whole world is pregnant right now, now that my younger sister is pregnant (after being with her partner a year) every one is constantly asking are you not gonna start a family, Do you not want any children? I swear one of these days I'm just gonna turn around and say no I'm barren . Nosey parkers ;-).

Have you tried/ fancy trying acupuncture? it seems to be very highly recommended so i was thinking I might ask my consultant if they would recommend something like that. Did you have your cycle day 3 bloods done yet?

Yes I had the cd3 bloods taken when I was at the hospital on Tuesday. I thought I'd call up on Tuesday next week to see if they can tell me what they found (and if there's anything I can try while I wait for an appointment or a cancellation as you suggest). I have considered acupuncture - one friend of mine swore it helped her and her husband (who had his vasectomy reversed) but it is quite expensive and I don't know if I really believe in it. If I did it I'd want the hubbie to try too and he's not interested at all!
I understand what you say about not needing clomid as you already ovulate but from what other people are saying on other threads sometimes they prescribe it to give you an extra boost (maybe release an extra egg or a more mature egg?). I think I ovulate too but I'd happily risk twins to try and get an extra chance each month of it does work like that!

My first consultation was dead set on giving me clomid next, now I have a new one she said (by letter) if my blood test confirms ovulation she will refer us . I think mainly it's a matter of opinion but it's got to be worth a shot.
I would rather try clomid with possibly iui right now then IVF so i will put that to her.
I'm the same with acupuncture, i would like to try it but OH isn't interested what so ever and to be fair I thought it was all nonsense until I started to wonder if high stress was a factor.

Hope all is okay with your bloods, i will update you next week with our next plan of action.

Hi guys. Geeup, did you get your day 3 results? Hope they all look good. I think the lap&dye is a really good idea. I've heard that if they find anything, they can clear it up there and then and you're usually more fertile in the months after you have it done.

Friends, I think you should give Clomid and iui a go if you get the option. When's your next appointment? Have you got your referral yet? I tried acupuncture for a bit, but it was eye wateringly expensive and my OH wasn't prepared to do it at all and given that we have male factor, it didn't seem right me going on my on!

So we got the results of our sperm analysis after 4 months of proxeed. The motility and morphology have gone up, although they are now just at the border of what's normal. However the count has gone down! Motility was 18% and it's now 39%; morphology was 2% and now 4%; and the count was 18mil/ml and now it's 11mil. I'm glad the other parameters have gone up though so I'm going to be positive going into the Clomid cycle. Currently on cd5 and taken 3 Clomid pills, no side effects so far which is good.

Let us know how you get on friends. Sounds like a positive plan of action!
Star - well done on your improvements in most of your measures. Count is the easiest one to boost so keep doing what you're doing. Have you considered the count boost fertilaid do in addition? No idea if it's a complement or just doubling up what you're doing but OH currently takes Fertilaid plus count boost and motility boost (when we can buy it) and Pycnogenol (which Is flipping expensive!). Worth considering but understand if your OH has had enough!

Hi ladies,
Well the doctor was really nice. My progesterone level was 60 on cycle day 21, 30 confirms ovulation so that was good. We discussed the option of having a lap and dye and to have a referral for assisted treatment. IUI is included within the referral so we went with it.

I asked her about clomid and she was excellent . She went through all the different opinions and said she would allow me to try it while we're waiting for the referral . So I've got a low dose.
She also finally looked at OH's sample and our diagnosis is due to low morphology even though the other parameters are good. Poor OH I think this was a bit of a shock to him.
Good news about OH's results star, my OH's count changed a lot between test. Both was before we started vitamins but the worse one was when we was just back from holiday and then almost doubled 3 months after. Glad the Clomid is symptom free for you, fingers crossed it works.
Is there any news your end Geeup?

Wow friends that's so great. Sounds like a really great consultant. I'm kicking myself that I didn't ask for clomid and the IUI referral while I wait for the lap and dye - had no idea it'd take so long. So annoyed at myself. Good for you for being prepared.
No news on my front. Am just starting fertile week so going to try and Dtd just eod this time as every day didn't work last month. (Maybe every day for three days when we get the positive but not sure what I should do). Been taking evening primrose oil to try and make some ewcm and had a tiny bit today (sorry tmi) but it's gone away again. Still neg on the OPK so hoping I'll make a bit more. God I remember as a teenager and at uni having loads and thinking it was a bit gross and embarrassing. How I wish I had that now! I had no idea about fertility and cycles back then.
I did call my consultants office today to get my day 3 results. They couldn't tell me over the phone but said the consultant would call if anything other than normal so hopefully all ok. So that's all with me. Excited for you ladies. One of us has to get preggo soon right?!!!

Hey friends, that sounds like a great appointment. If you can improve your OH's morphology just a little bit, you have a really good chance. Those progesterone levels are great so you are definitely ovulating, it's just a case of getting some good sperm in the right place. Did your consultant talk about ivf? I really don't want to do it, but if Clomid/iui doesn't work I think with male factor we have a v good chance of IVF working, so don't be dismayed if it comes to that. One thing about Clomid that's making me feel a little positive is that we are having a trigger shot. That means you can pinpoint ovulation down to the hour and have sex/iui at exactly the right time. So this is all really positive for you. Good luck over the next few months.

Geeup, how you doing? Did you manage to keep up the every other day effort? Fingers crossed it works for you. I know it's frustrating with the lap and dye, but if it works in September and you get pregnant straight away that really isn't too far off. In the meantime, you can keep improving your partner's sperm as much as possible. I don't think I'll add in any other supplements. Our consultant said to take proxeed and stop everything else and since there's been an improvement I think we'll just keep going. It would be really great if he would exercise though as I really think that will help!

As for me, I have my day 10 scan tomorrow to see whether the Clomid has produced any big follicles. Hope they see something!

Ah good luck star with the scan. I have kept up the eod ok so far (although haven't orgasmed any of the times - tmi I know, and don't know whether I believe it's important or not to help the swimmers up the cervix - just another layer of pressure!). For the first month ever I haven't managed to pinpoint ovulation - usually I get a really clear positive but trying not to over think. I probably just missed it. Will keep banging away with the eod and not stress. As you say we have the lap and dye to look forward to (!). Sunday blues setting in a bit, as well as hay fever. Oh well at least my boss is off this week! Hope you all had a lovely weekend x

Hello,

Just wanted to offer a voice of support as we are in a similar boat. Count normal but very low progressive motility. Been TTC for a year. Partner started taking fertilaid (with a huge degree of scepticism!) and been referred to fertility clinic for an appt this July. I understand how hopeless it can feel. Sorry am not able to offer a positive story but hope others will be along to offer some optimism. Best of luck.

Hi ladies

Just thought I'd jump back in to say that my DH had his blood test to see whether the tamoxifen was doing anything. His testosterone levels have gone from 10 (lowest of the normal range and not really 'normal' for a 31 year old) to 30 (highest of the normal range!)!! He has a Semen analysis booked for the 14th to see if it has had an effect on his swimmers. Fingers crossed.

I'm also fairly sure I had a chemical pregnancy last month so this also suggests things may be starting to work a bit better.

Leedspirit - icsi is an add on to ivf where they inject the best sperm into the egg rather than putting them in a dish and letting them/hoping they fertilise.

Justmyluck - welcome. Thanks for sharing your story. Even if there isn't a happy ending yet.
Closephine - so sorry to hear about your mmc but as you say it could be a sign that something is starting to change and the drugs are working. Good luck with the SA.
We think fertilaid worked for us so would definitely recommend it for others.
After my sorry state last night we DTD before we went to sleep and I woke up to a positive OPK so that was reassuring. Still going to keep going eod though just incase.
Keep going ladies. Thinking of you all.

Welcome to the thread justmyluck, we've seen some positive improvement with supplements on this thread so I'd say keep going. My partner has low motility and morphology and has improved both with proxeed plus. The thing is, it takes a minimum of 3 months for any supplements or lifestyle changes to have any effect on sperm so you need to be consistent and keep with it for at least 6 months I'd say, but have a follow-up sperm analysis after 3 or 4 months.

Geeup, glad you dtd last night. Oh the Sunday blues are rotten aren't they. Hope you're feeling better today after your positive opk. I think eod is the right thing so you don't wear yourselves out. I don't think it makes any difference whether you orgasm or not, just stay lying down for 20 minutes after (I've read somewhere )

Oh closephine, that's great news his testosterone has increased. Really hope it improves his sperm too and you see a bfp really soon. Sorry to hear about the mc, but you're right it could ironically be quite a positive sign. I've never had even a sniff of a positive in 19 months.

So I'm on CD10 and got scanned this morning. I have two decent follicles (15mm and 19mm) and think I will trigger either tonight or tomorrow morning. It feels a bit early as it means I'll ovulate on day 12, but the Dr said to just trigger whenever it's convenient as one of my follicles is ready to go. Feeling very positive, but have to remind myself that the success rate is 30% over three cycles, so very far from a sure thing.

Hope everyone's doing well today

Thanks so much for the welcome and kind words, geeup and Star. Fingers crossed for us all! x

Good luck star. Get those fancy undies out and ready to go! Have fun - this could be your time! Will have everything crossed for you.

Have a silly newbie thing to ask which I should really have got a grip of by now but here goes. Last month I still hadn't ovulated when I went for my scan on the second positive OPK day so thinking maybe I actually release the egg end of second day or even on the third day (officially 1dpo).
I've been trying to dtd eod this month as I've said but ended up doing it sat, sun and yesterday just because we wanted to. Today is my second positive OPK day so guessing I should ovulate today or more likely tomorrow. Should I skip a day Dtd today to build up swimmer and risking missing the egg or do it today and tomorrow as well considering the slightly sub-optimal swimmers?

Hey, I'm waiting for the appointment for the referral to IVF I'm not sure how long it will take as I forgot to ask. Hopefully I will still be able to try iui before the IVF, I think I should be able to now as they have put male factor infertility instead of unexplained.
I've got 3 months supply of clomid 50mg, glad I was a bit cheeky in asking if I could try it while I was waiting for the referral appointment however the criteria near me was a full two years before they even considered it. I'm slightly nervous about starting the clomid, ive got no scans to keep an eye on me especially with my progesterone being so high they wont know if to stop,if there's too many. I 've just got to go for a blood test on cycle day 21.
Star, so chuffed that everything is going well on the clomid, the trigger shot sounds fab! do you just do the deed an hour ish afterwards then? I bet you are very excited especially as you can see the positives at every stage, hopefully this will be the boost you need.

I'm currently on cycle day 18 with brown spotting , which is really strange. I didn't have much hope this month as OH had man flu and certainly wasn't willing, so I haven't bothered with temping, but I thought id try taking it this morning and it's like I've not ovulated.
Geeup, the primrose oil had the same effect on me! I had a bit of eggwhite, but on day 6 or something and then not again, it's got to be a step in the right direction though! Just keep doing what your doing and try to stay positive, I know it's hard especially when it's the waiting game. Good luck ladies.

Geeup, do you take your temperature for confirmation? What ovulation sticks do you use? I could only use the clearblue ones as i couldn't read the cheapies . I think if it was me I would leave today and try as early as possible tomorrow. If like you say it's because you want to do it then just do it. I've spent the past year having baby sex and it's took a long time for me to get back in to doing it for fun.

Hi ladies, how are you all doing?

Friends, I hope your appointment comes around soon. I got my letter from the hospital within a month of being referred, but it took a few months to get all the tests and scans re done at the hospital before seeing the consultant. I had to have two scans though as they found fibroids and the nurse didn't know what to do about them! Hopefully you'll be seen nice and quick.

Geeup, I think they really don't know whether abstaining or doing it every day is better with poor sperm. I've decided to do it every day in my fertile week and eod/every 3 days for the rest of the cycle.

As for me, I'm 2dpo. I triggered on Tuesday morning and dtd Tuesday night and Wed night. That was 12 hrs and 36 hrs post trigger so should have hit ovulation pretty much spot on. Problem is you don't know how good the sperm is so im just trying to stay chilled about it all over the next two weeks. Work is v busy, we're doing up our house and have a couple of weddings so plenty of distractions

Right - first time logging on via laptop rather than phone so I can actually scroll properly - so much better!
Star - I'm 3dpo going by OPKs but I am convinced I actually ovulate 2 days after the first surge so I'm probably 2dpo like you - we're cycle buddies slaps herself for sounding like she's in her first cycle ttc Well done on the well-timed dtd-ing. Despite my plan to do eod and not overthink this month, I panicked and did consecutive days from 2 days before first surge until 2dpo. Going to have a night off tonight though. Don't think there was many swimmers in last nights attempt! Will then go onto eod/every third day like you.
Friends - hope you get your appt soon. I am in the same limbo but waiting for my lap and dye appt which seems to never come. Think Aug seems unlikely but hoping it comes through (or I get preggo obviously!). Are you doing anything in the meantime to help with your egg quality - apparently co q-10 and lots of protein is a good move.
Justmyluck, Closephine - How are you doing ladies? Hope you're having good weeks.
After I read on the ttc #1 thread 15 about trying to extend my luteal phase I'm eating walnuts and kale and b-vit supplements in an attempt to get past a 10 day LP. I just wish I knew what bit is going wrong in this whole process. Are the sperms even getting to my fallopian tubes? Have we ever fertilised an egg? Are my eggs any good? Has one ever implanted? If not, is it my lining? My LP? My hormones? So frustrating. When I see pregnant people I just think how the f* did you manage it you effing miracle worker.