3% morphology, where to go from here...

[GandTisgoodforme]

Just that really, all the other results were spot on. 41 million count (low SA volume but that’s because half the sample didn’t reach the pot!) - 56% progressive motility, with 45% rapidly motile.

With 3% morphology, are we looking at assisted conception maybe? We tried for 3.5 years, TFMR last October and nothing since.

I am meeting with my fertility doctor this week, but want to get my head straight before then. OH is chuffed that he has swimmers, at least!
Any other experiences would be great! x

3% isn't actually that bad - the NHS look for 4% as the "norm"

My DH has 2% and we went down the Ivf route - your clinic will just recommend doing ICSI rather than standard IVF

Agree with pp, 3% really isn't bad at all. My understanding is if everything else is ok, which it is in your case, then the morphology isn't really much of an issue

Thanks both for your responses, feel a little more reassured now 🙂

Yes I would agree although not perfect 3% is not as bad as you think. If you go down the ivf route it will probably be ICSI. My DH was 1% morphology alongside other rubbish numbers and I am currently pregnant with first ICSI embryo

@Whatelsecouldibecalled your message is exactly what I needed to see this morning. My husband has poor morphology and sperm count and we're waiting to find out about IVF, and from what I've read on these boards it sounds like we'll need ICSI so to know that it worked for you is a real boost when I've been feeling really down about it. Congratulations on your pregnancy, I hope it's happy and healthy!

Thanks @Whatelsecouldibecalled - I’m pleased ICSI was successful and hope your pregnancy is going well! 🙂

I went to see my consultant today, 4th laparoscopy (with tubal flush) booked in for me, and he said my OH’s count was adequate but would look to repeat in 3 months time. See what the next set of results are and go from there.

You need a male fertility expert, try Mr Ramsey, if he finds a fix you may not need IVF!

@Viletta thank you for the advice re. Mr Ramsay. I’ll have a look into that!
Fortunately I have a brilliant fertility and gynae consultant (Mr Pickles) and been under his care for about 5 years, so hoping to get in touch with a decent male factor specialist if the next set of results are similar.

Morphology can be improved, I've seen it with my DH. He did the following -

Shit loads of supplements
Green smoothies
No laptop on lap
One coffee a day
Stick to weekly alcohol units or give up even better (we had DS when he gave up drinking)
No smoking or vaping
Exercise

It went from 1 to 4%.

Also recommend Johnathan Ramsey!

@GandTisgoodforme we also saw a nutritionist Mel Brown and it did improve some parameters for us. Good luck, it's all fixable!

Thank you @twinkledag and @Viletta !
That’s made me feel a little better.

My other half fortunately rarely drinks, has never smoked, doesn’t use a laptop or drink coffee - or any hot drinks thinking about it. I didn’t even realise some of those things could contribute though so thanks for highlighting them.
He is overweight... I’m guessing that is a factor. Without being too in-depth, he often makes remarks about his undercarriage being a bit warm , so I’m assuming the laptop link is with heat? Which would have similar consequences 🤷🏻‍♀️ I guess.

I’ve put him on a concoction of Wellman Conception vitamins and Pycnogenol in hope that it may improve things slightly for the January test 🤞

Is Mr Ramsay NHS or private?

Thanks so much again everyone.

Ps. Pleased to hear your other half’s results improved quite a bit @twinkledag!

@GandTisgoodforme I heard Mr Ramsey will stop working with NHS in a couple of months. We used Condensyl vitamins that were very expensive and lots of other supplements but this was prescribed by our nutritionist. I heard there are special underwear for men to deal with overheating

Same as my friend. Ttc for 3yrs. Had tests. Hubby showed 3%

They had on nhs icsi ivf. Preg first attempt - he’s now 3

Good news he’s has swimmers - icsi will get them to egg - which is the problem in your case. That they don’t

So a good chance ivf will be successful

Thank you. The % improved but for some reason we still haven't managed to conceive number 2. Have had 4 failed attempts so think it's an egg issue now too 😞

Our consultant wasn’t too bothered about morphology as it can change from month to month and often depends on circumstances. My DH had 1 percent morphology one month and then 3 percent at the next sample. My DH is a keen cyclist and changing his saddle seemed to help but who knows! I was told there were no issues with me so we had to look into IVF. I asked to try clomid first just in case and it worked! I’ve been pregnant five times but miscarried three and I now have a DS and DD. Maybe it was a fluke but do continue to explore options for you too.

@Blondeshavemorefun ahh great news for your friend, pleased she had a successful ICSI and pregnancy. I didn’t know that morphology would impede sperm getting to the egg.

@Viletta - thanks for the advice regarding Mr Ramsey, if he’s London based then I may be excluded for a referral as I’m East Midlands - or doesn’t that matter? Shall look into the underwear !

@twinkledag sorry to hear you’re having some issues with #2 - would the clinic know if it was down to egg quality? (Forgive my lack of knowledge)

@Toolchest13 - Promising to hear that morphology can change and pleased to hear that you have had two children despite having miscarriages, that must’ve been really difficult for you. I have been on 6 rounds of clomid and 8 rounds of letrozole previously, but my natural ovulation/progesterone is very good - around 68 nmol/L. I think it had to be over 30 to show ovulation and my result was similar over 3 cycles.
I think my endometriosis has a factor to play in some of this, as 6 weeks after my last surgery I did fall pregnant for the first time, but as I say, no luck since.

Just for context.. We are both 28 - so I hope we have a bit of time on our side to continue naturally, but concerned that we have been trying for a total of nearly 5 years with no live baby, and as far as I’m aware I haven’t had any miscarriages either. I stupidly gave myself a target to be a mum before I’m 30, so we could give ourselves some time to try again for a second child before my eggs got a bit worn out, and increasing the risk of chromosomal problems. I feel absolutely ridiculous now - 1. For planning ahead, and 2. as my little boy did have a major chromosome abnormality and I was 27 at the time.

Anyway I’m rambling. We shall look into IVF if we don’t succeed 6-12 months after my surgery. I think that’s the time frame my consultant will give us anyway, as we have sort of exhausted everything else apart from IUI, which I’ve seen has limited success rates.

Thank you all again for posting their experiences!

I have endometriosis and my DH had 3% morphology, or maybe even 2%, can't remember now. They absolutely felt our issue was female factor infertility only. His sample was deemed good enough for IVF rather than ICSI. The morphology should not be a problem as long as the count and motility are good.

All the best for your endo op and best wishes! x

Pretty much same as Ryvita. My DH has 1% (!) but he has really good motility and overall numbers. Only comment was that it would take longer than if he had higher morphology.

We will do ICSI though next year - waiting a few cycles following a laparoscopy to treat endo.

I might be wrong here but I think Mr Ramsey mentioned that morphology on its own does not mean IVF.. I think this parameter is not quite accurate and DNA fragmentation test is needed to check whether 'bad' morphology actually affect DNA.. worth double checking before booking yourself to IVF? IVF clinics do not normally have urologist who can fix MFI and just send everyone straight to IVF which is expensive and very stressful and long procedure!

@RyvitaBrevis Thank you sharing your experience, very helpful 🙂.. sorry to hear you’ve had/got the dreaded endometriosis too and thanks for the well wishes! I’m sure all will be well. Did you pursue IVF, if you don’t mind me asking?

@jcurve - wishing you all the best for your treatment next year!

@Viletta - ahh yes, I too read something about morphology alone isn’t always an accurate factor within MFI. Shall try and research things a bit more!

@GandTisgoodforme Yes, I did pursue IVF, although we waited some months after my last lap in a final effort to try naturally. In some ways I wish we had done it sooner, because it was successful on the first round. I appreciate that's not the norm and it's best not to go into it expecting instant results.

I would say as well, for me, IVF made my endo symptoms better rather than worse. Or at least it was a much better experience than ovulating naturally in terms of pain and bloating.

@RyvitaBrevis
Ahh that’s lovely to hear that IVF was successful first round!
If we do go down a similar path, I will try and have low expectations as I totally understand it doesn’t work for everyone unfortunately..!
Ahh interesting about your endo symptoms being less severe - did you down reg with Prostap at all?

@GandTisgoodforme Not, I didn't down reg with Prostap for IVF, although I've used it before for endo. I did the short (antagonist) protocol, and I found the drug used to prevent early ovulation, Cetrotide, made a noticeable difference to me. Apparently it has been tried as an off-label treatment for endo pain, but not in the UK. No doubt there are reasons it's not used here in that context, but it helped me!