Ta for asking btw, I can't remember what my last update was but today is our second attempt at freezing DHs sample. The first sample was only 0.38million, and showed such a low rate of survival in defrost (then add on the poor morphology/motility) that for this round they will probably have to use it all, leaving us nothing for attempts 2 and 3 (We paid for 3 rounds). So back he goes.
We've had the referral through to Cambridge so they can start organising all the tests for him. Again, sorry if I've already said this but here's what they said they'll test for:
1.ultrasound for blockages/lumps. Least likely, but in a way easiest to fix. Hopefully nothing malignant, but if it's a vericoce she wasn't totally on board with doing a surgery, said there's mixed opinions on it (not what I've bloody read, but we'll cross that bridge if needed 🤔)
- Genetic testing. They can do a full range, but definitely cystic fibrosis as carrying that gene is known to lower sperm count. If he has it, I'll need testing as if we both carry the odds are high that our child would have it. Again, unlikely to be genetic as it his count has suddenly got lower. This was hard because she said it will be months before results of this test, and then will just be information about the odds of our child having disorders. She said if we wanted we could stop medication and wait for these results. After a lot of talking and thinking, we have carried on. She didn't think it was likely, and when we get the results it will all be percentages, no real answers anyway. Odds can be 2% and still happen, and we would never have known in the first place. This has been the hardest bit.
3.most likely, hormone change. Apparently when you don't regulate testosterone properly your brain sends a big chuck of hormone to try to kick start it, but this often has the opposite affect and causes sperm production to shut down. There is no cure to it, although much later she recommends having meds for the side affects, but her main concern is to act quickly in this case hence freezing as much as poss.
I'm still concerned about the genetic factor, but I believe we've made the right choice not to stop this round. She said in all cases she recommends speed and getting me pregnant as quick as possible so they can deal with whatever is going on with DH without that complication. It's bizarre, we've both said we find ourselves hoping for a blockage as it can likely be fixed, even though a blockage could be something sinister and the hormones would be no threat to him!! This infertility thing makes you nuts...
I'm so sorry for this massive post guys, but there's really no one I can tell about this - my parents were always pragmatic but they have obviously passed away so we can't tell them DHs parents are the opposite and panic about everything so we haven't given them detail, and my best friend has a 2 month old and is understandably off the grid at the no, and it's driving me crazy not to tell people!! So sorry, won't write a novel every time lol promise xx