What do you think of these results?

[Sian868]

Hello :)

Hope I'm posting in right place...

We've been trying to conceive for nearly 20 months now. I did fall pregnant in that time but sadly had to terminate for medical reasons at 14 weeks and no luck since. Just got OH's sperm analysis back, detailed below, which is apparently 'normal' but I'm worried about the morphology factor... i know this is technically normal by Kruger standards but it still seems low to me to think nearly 96% are useless! Is this really ok? Do we still have a chance of conceiving naturally?!

Volume: 2ml
Concentration: 57ml
Motility: 41%
Normal forms: 4.5%

Thanks in advance for any responses!

It's not terrible but not great either. However, I'd reasonably expect to conceive within a year.
How's everything else? Do you both take supplements and live a healthy lifestyle? Do you smoke or drink alcohol? Caffeine? Are you healthy weight? How old are you? Etc. There are a lot of things that could make it a little more difficult.

Hi JoJo thanks for your response. We're relatively healthy. He probably. drinks a bit more than he should but don't smoke. Both healthy bmi. I'm 31 he's 37. I have irregular periods which doesn't help but apparently do ovulate. Just feeling a bit disheartened but guess just got to keep trying!

I'd suggest to him to cut back on drinking as that can make a lot if difference. Another thing to try would be Profertil or Proxeed. They have a version for men and women and are scientifically proven to improve sperm quality. Actually, time to pregnancy is most correlated with semen quality ( especially that you're young and ovulate).

Ar you considering IVF as well?

These results are normal! Over 4% morphology is fine. I don't think there's anything wrong with the sperm analysis.

Over 4% morphology is considered in normal range OP.

Is the 41% motility for overall or progressive? Progressive motility should be 32% or more. They live to put overall on the results as well thought just to confuse you! If it is 41% then well done🙂

There's no harm in trying to improve even more though, and cutting down on drink always helps. Although perhaps don't pour your DH cider bottles down the sink like I definitely once didn't do to mine

My DH was recommended to take 400 iui vit e and 1000mg vit c by our overseas clinic. They also put him on an antibiotic spent improvement protocol which nearly killed him, but saw his overall motility rise from 16 to 32% He also takes Wellman Conception, folic acid (800mg daily) zinc (30mg daily) and I-arginine.

I'm very sorry to hear of your miscarriage. Have you tested for DNA fragmentation? This can be a cause of miscarriage and we tested for it after I had one in June. We are going privately abroad however. NHS are not usually so helpful (and by that I mean utterly rubbish)

Sperm improvement protocol sorry. You can telll I've just woken up!

Apologies op. I see you had a termination not miscarriage. So sorry

Of course you have a chance of conceiving naturally though. You already did which is a very positive sign. Irregular periods make it so stressful though. Have you had any investigations into why they are irregular?

Hi isthismummy, thanks so much for your advice, I will definitely encourage cutting down on drink and try him on those vitamins as have only tried the wellman one so far! I did wonder about DNA fragmentation as our termination was due to chromosome problems after nearly a year of trying but I think I will struggle to get OH back for another sperm analysis as he hated and moaned about doing this one! I'm not sure about the motility number actually, it was over the phone but should get them in post so will check then!

I have had a scan and blood tests for my periods. Scan was fine and blood tests showed I ovulated...albeit on about CD 50 in that cycle! There doesnt seem to be any reason for irregularity other than hormone imbalance... I have always been like this!

Not considering IVF yet JoJo as I am very lucky as I do already have one child and we couldn't afford to go private. I guess next steps might be clomid but I'm not sure if my GP will refer me given that I do ovulate...

Thanks again for all your advice. I feel bit more optimistic today :)

"I have had a scan and blood tests for my periods. Scan was fine and blood tests showed I ovulated...albeit on about CD 50 in that cycle! There doesnt seem to be any reason for irregularity other than hormone imbalance... I have always been like this!"

Have they ever mentioned polycystic ovaries to you as a possible cause for your long term irregularity of periods?. GPs do not always pick this up and its a problem outside their remit.

Spontaneous ovulation can occur with PCO but more often than not ovulation is problematic. It is also quite possible to have periods without ovulating. I would think that a series of blood tests done on a monthly basis (and these tests can be done according to calendar days as well if the cycle is irregular) would show a pattern of not ovulating.

Oh.... That's massively irregular. Not a case of 5 or 10 days off. It might be an idea to insist on having some test done. A lot of PCOS ladies get much improved cycles with Metformin or they even go on Clomid to develop predictable cycles that make it much easier to get pregnant.

Yes it was mentioned as possibility but I think the blood test was to
check that as well as ovulation but now I'm not so sure as coincidently it was that cycle that i had the blood test that I fell pregnant so i guess it may have just got overlooked! I best get myself back to see the doctor! Thanks ladies 😊

@Sian868
Hi there
DH had his sperm analysis the other month and his morphology shocked me as it was 1%!

One GP at our practice said it was fine as all his other parameters were normal. I went in and saw another GP who then agreed to refer us to secondary care.

I think 4% morphology is the cut off for 'normal' so this ok at 4.5%

Totally understand that feeling of thinking most of the sperm are useless! In my DH's case that's 99%!!

We've been TTC number 2 for 14 months now...ever since I had MMC at 12+6 (discovered at dating scan) last summer

Also have a 3 year old- got pregnant first try after coming off pill aged 34.
Easter last year was my last BFP- aged 37 and same again, first try off the pill.

I turned 39 the other month
Pretty convinced we've now run out of luck!
And pretty baffled that I ever got pregnant so easily (twice!) before.

DH is 2 years younger than me.
I bought him Wellman conception and vitamin c + zinc
Still trying to get him to stop smoking but alas he doesn't seem to want to.
Even seeing his results in black & white don't seem to have got him motivated (sigh)

Good luck with it all, I think those results look pretty ok (from my non expert POV!)

I have my first appointment with Guy's hospital in a few weeks so it's nice to get the ball rolling for more investigations.

Although I do wonder if my DH's sperm results account for why it's taken so long so far...

Hi Turqoise,
It's so frustrating isn't it! I like you fell pregnant almost instantly with my first so had naively assumed it would happen again quickly!

I find it odd how medical opinion can differ so much between different practitioners! That's why I find myself questioning it!

I understand how you feel about your DHs smoking. Men can be so selfish sometimes! I have the same problem with getting my OH to stop drinking - you would think they could just bloody stop, it's a small thing to do in comparison to what we have to go through! Could he use one of those vape things instead? Not sure if they are better?

Glad you are getting the ball rolling with investigations. I hope you won't need to but could you go private for IVF if needs be?

@Sian868
Hi yes it's so very frustrating not really knowing where we stand/what if all means.

If 1% morphology meant that conception was highly unlikely etc then we'd know to go straight to the specialists.

But I'm starting to realise that the TTC game is not quite like that.

Plus having had 2 fairly instant conceptions, I'm reluctant to believe that it'll have to be an assisted 3rd conception.

Moreover, we cannot afford private treatment (obviously won't be eligible for anything much on the NHS).

We could go down the private route but would have to take out a big bank loan to do this.

But we're trying to get a mortgage at the moment so we're kind of screwed and can't really take on a big loan.

On the other hand, I'm 39 so last chance saloon and all that (in my head anyway). I will punch the next person who makes a comment about "not leaving it too late!"
They need to fuck off!

I was last pregnant aged 37 and half, we've been trying ever since my MMC, well 3 weeks after.

I have been humbled by the whole experience of the last 14 months and truly understand why some other couples & families have the age gaps that they do.

You never know what somebody else is going through. That's my huge learning point through all of this!

....and breathe!
Sorry for the rant