Please explain IVF/ male factor to me

[bobbypinseverywhere]

would really appreciate any help. DH has just had his first semen analysis back showing low morphology 3% and moderate agglutination, suggestive of antisperm antibodies, and at the bottom of the report states suggests a referral to specialist.

obviously we are devastated and a bit confused. done some reading today and it seems like if there are anti sperm ABs then very unlikely to conceive naturally. I'm aware he will have to repeat the sample in 3 months.

pls can anyone explain how long their IVF journey took from gp referral to when they started? We have only been TTc for 12 months - will i have to wait until 2 years until i qualify for IVF if they've identified the anti sperm antibodies? any help appreciated!

My friend’s DH had a similar report after 6 months ttc. They were referred to the IVF clinic and conceived their twins in the first cycle (entire ttc journey 1 year). Another friend who only took 2 years because they tried IUI first (it’s useless) but then conceived in their first ICSI cycle. If no issues are found in the woman than IVF / ICSI with male factor infertility can be very easy.

Hi @bobbypinseverywhere

I just wanted to comment on this thread because my husband also had antibodies - 97%. We were told there was no treatment and ICSI was the only option. We signed up for the ICSI and went ahead with the (ultimately unsuccessful) cycle but I also went away and did LOADS of research and found a study that had shown high doses of vitamin C had improved antibodies in test subjects. So I got him to take 1000mg a day of vitamin C. On our second cycle 3 months later his sperm was tested again on egg collection day and the antibodies were 12%. He's continued with the vitamin C ever since and the antibodies have stayed in normal range.

It might not work for everyone but it's worth trying.

Re the wait for IVF - you need to get hold of your CCG's assisted conception policy and see what it says. Each CCG has different rules. It may depend on your age - for example in my CCG you only have to have been trying for a year of you're over 35. You may also find you don't have to wait the required 2 years if you have a proven issue - my cousin had both her tubes removed due to ectopics and so auto qualified for IVF as soon as they wanted to start trying. All depends on your CCG though. The policy should be on their website somewhere. Google it.

We personally were referred by our GP for a consultation with a fertility doctor and testing in May 17. They did basic bloods and semen, saw no issues (they didn't actually test for ASA's on that test) and told us to keep trying. I went back to the GP a few months later and they referred me for a hycosy and more in depth bloods. I eventually then got referred for IVF in June 18. We went for our first appointment at the IVF clinic in October 18 after a lot of phone calls and pestering people. Everything moves so slowly and we've really had to push to get anything done. So frustrating!

Hi I'm sorry you are going through this, we went through it for 6 years and its so hard! We told over and over that it was just bad luck that his sperm count/morphology/motility was low and to keep trying or IVF. General SA's came back around 2 million and we tried to up it with every tablet and herbal remedy you could think of. One day he felt a lump and told the doctor who booked a scan. At the scan it was found that it was a varicosele and 2 months later he had an operation and then 3 months later I was pregnant. Biggest shock of my life as I was convinced it wouldn't work. The signs of a varicosele are a heavy achy feeling, large veins at the back of the legs and sometimes you can feel the veins. It is so common to have this and it does effect fertility! They don't like to treat the veins for fertility and only for pain on the NHS so you may have to encourage over exagerating! I always tell our story on the Male Factor infertility threads as this is often over looked by doctors and ICSI is what they offer first. The operation was 15 mins and then he walked out 2 hours later, a little bit sore but he was so pleased with how quick and easy it was.