2% morphology

[LondonJem]

Hello, DH and I have been trying for 9 months, currently on cycle 10. He's just had a semen analysis done and got morphology reading of just 2%. Everything else normal / good.

Does anyone know anything about morphology? Jury seems to be out online - I have been googling lots. Some people it doesn't matter, others say you will need IUI or IVF.

Any thoughts or insights welcome.

We first went to my GP after about 8/9 months ttc and she told me it really wasn't that long - I nearly bit her head off! But I have since found out plenty people I know conceived their children after about a year of trying so don't give up hope. I think you're doing the right thing getting tests early though all the same. Fingers crossed for a BFP for you in the next few months!

If there's a GP with a special interest in fertility that is a bloody brilliant start - and I would definitely go together. GP understanding of fertility matters is really variable and seeing a primary care Dr who knows their stuff - and who will be familiar with the specifics of your local CCG and their funding criteria - is worth its weight in gold

It would still be important for you to have the necessary investigations in due course ( if you haven't conceived within the next few months!) to understand your side of the equation. Even if the morphology was deemed such that ICSI was recommended on that basis, I'd have thought that having an HSG or HyCoSy, and a pelvic ultrasound to check you out would still be very important. For example, it would be important to identify any uterine anomalies (eg polyps, fibroids) or blocked tubes (eg hydrosalpinx - fluid in the tube) that could impact on the success of IVF treatment. This is all entirely academic at this stage and none of this may be necessary! I very much hope you get a lovely surprise. But it sounds like you have an excellent GP which is a bloody marvellous starting point xx

Thanks so much both, best wishes to you both too. I will report back xx

I second what banana says, if you don't end up conceiving soon, it is definitely worth having the tests on yourself too. I have had a HSG and a laparscopy with hystereoscopy (not sure I've spelt that right!) just to make sure all was ok even though we already had the male factor diagnosis beforehand.

I'm hoping the GP will look at further tests for me once we hit 12 months close. I'd rather not pay for it if we don't have to. Will see what the NHS timescale is first!

I'm hoping the GP will look at further tests for me once we hit 12 months close. I'd rather not pay for it if we don't have to. Will see what the NHS timescale is first!

We had low morphology too and ended up having ICSI.

Bibs how did it go?

Regular GPs don't know all the ins and outs,they just refer to to fertility clinic. Having said that mine was fantastically supportive and when we finally had children after five years of icsi he sent us a letter saying how pleased he was which was really thoughtful. He also signed me off work for first three month so my pregnancy.

All ours was private as back then ivf was covered in NHS but not icsi. It has changed now. But waiting lists can be long e.g s couple of years.

First round of ICSI failed but our frozen cycle worked. Now have a lovely 2 yr old DS

Hi mouldycheese amazing it worked out well for you, your GP sounds lovely. Waiting list of a few years is daunting I think we would go privately if that turns out to be the case.

Great to know thanks bibs

I can't remember the numbers but DH had morphology issues - possibly due to long term medication issues

Anyway, it took over a year but we got there in the end naturally.

Good luck!

Thanks hippy we've been at it 9 months so I'm really really hoping we might be able to get there naturally! It's the not knowing that kills me. Good to know it can be done with low morphology though!

It took 4 cycles over five years, about £20k, at 2 different clinics
But all worth it.

Gosh that's a lot more than prices I'd seen quoted. Create Fertility does ICSI for £970

Wow well prices have Come down then!
Check live birth rates as a good measure of success (rather than pregnancies)
That may not include all the drugs.

I think that might be missing some costs you're right.

London - £970 is probably the cost for ICSI on top of their standard IVF costs.

My dh and I have done a lot of research and we have decided to go to Serum in Athens in January. They seem pretty clued up on the male side of things. The also include ICSI or IMSI in your cycle if needed at no extra cost.

Costs for an IVF cycle at create will include egg collection, scans and embryo transfer

They won't include blood tests or meds which can add on £1000s

ICSI is additional on top (that's the £970)

As is embryo freezing and in some labs extended culture to blastocyst

Meds and blood tests will vary wildly but just important to bear in mind that the extra costs mount up

It used to be £3-4K per cycle that was nine years ago.
Mine was more because I had immunological treatment as well.

I remember paying £2400 for 4 humira injections and the chemist thinking there was something wrong with the till!

My cycles have varied depending on what's been done

Second cycle

£4500 IVF
£2000 stims meds
£500 blast culture
£1000 embryo freezing
£500 sperm freeze (elective)

Third cycle
£4500 IVF (freeze all for PGS)
£1000 stims meds
£3300 PGS
£1600 FET cycle to put embryo back
£1700 immunes and FET meds

Plus several hundred quid on blood tests when I got pregnant on both cycles

Cycle 2 was BFP but MMC @ 10w
Cycle 3 has just gone and BFP but mc @ 5w

I do think £970 for an icsi cycle can't be correct

People wouldn't go abroad if it was £970 I don't think