Anyone else awaiting fertility referral?

[MallonMary]

Hi all,

Been ttc (unsuccessfully!) for over a year and just found out there's a problem with DH sperm (low mobility and zero normal forms), so awaiting referral to fertility clinic to seek further help/advice.

Just wondered if there's anyone else in a similar situation about to embark on this journey too?

Also similar success stories welcome :) x

@positivity20 if only if could always be at weekends! Luckily he is working from home and I’m on furlough, but it’s been difficult. Iv defo ovulated now though as bbt this morning was high, and 36 hours after trigger was midnight so I hope we got enough in before. The little egg is probably floating around now, but he won’t be able today and I won’t pressure today. Let’s hope we have done enough!

What funding do they offer in your area? How many rounds do you get? Sorry to hear about the low sperm count, I imagine it’s hard to hear they don’t think you will conceive naturally. Is your husband on vitamins to help?
🤞🏽 For you, and I hope you get in ASAP to be seen! Xxx

@Morpho123 Well atleast you know you have done all that you can and have given it a bloody good go so hopefully that will be more than enough 🙇🏼‍♀️🙇🏼‍♀️ Got everything crossed for you for the 2ww!!

They offer 2 rounds in our area but we’ve saved up too just in case we need more. Even though I know it’s unlikely naturally I think we’ll still try each month as I know I’d keep thinking what if as it only takes 1 sperm and regret it haha!

The Dr recommended Impryl for him, it’s v expensive £45 for 30days and it says on the packet not to take anything else with it as it can counteract. I take Folic Acid + Vit D but think I’ll get a conception one maybe Proceive and CQ10.

We stopped drinking coffee and alcohol completely for 3 months while waiting for results then the Dr said a few drinks aren’t going to matter given the results so we’re relaxing and having a few drinks of a weekend now but both not missing caffeine so will keep that up.

Have they said IVF for you both not ICSI? I guess if he has lots of swimmers then IVF is totally viable if it came to it (hopefully it won’t be needed!) x

@positivity20 defo have a little drink at the weekend, it really helps!
My husband takes vitamins which did improve count by 20million too.... it’s a few pages back. It worked for us as he had 0% morphology so ICSI would have been needed, but we managed to improve to 4% so now it would be standard ivf. However now everything looks fine, they can’t see any reason it wouldn’t work naturally, so we have done ovulation induction to guarantee ovulation. I do ovulate on my own but I don’t think every cycle, I think it sometimes turns into a cyst instead!
So we are trying this for a few months but then will move to ivf. Unfortunately we get no funding in our area so have saved for about 3 rounds!

Sounds like you are really making good changes though so keep it up and enjoy the weekend! I always have a big glass of gin when AF shows up! X

Hi @Positivity20 can I ask what your low sperm counts were? My DH results were 2 million/ml total 17 million with only 12% progressive motility and 2% morphology. We haven't been told what the chances naturally are but I'm expecting to be told we need ICSI as well, they want a 2nd SA first though but hospital aren't doing them yet cos of covid. We also get 2 rounds on the NHS in our area (Kent). There is definitely still a chance naturally no matter how slim, I have heard of people with basically no sperm at all conceiving naturally (though I imagine it's rare). Hope is what keeps us going!

@Morpho123 Ah that’s an amazing improvement!! And brilliant news that it’s such an improvement to go to standard IVF and a good chance naturally 🙌🏻🙌🏻 I’ll defo have a look back thank you 😊 Funding is crazy it should just be the same for everyone! Hell yes to now being able to enjoy the weekend with a few gins in the sun!

@Narwhal88 I need to get a print of his results as it was over the phone but they said count was 0.3million but that there was enough for treatment. His SA was back in Feb and I wonder if cutting alcohol and caffeine out in the 12 weeks since may have improved although likely to still be very low but hopefully a focus on quality will put us in good stead come treatment time.

Aww that’s so nice to hear and I agree Hope is definitely so important - never ever give up!!

My clinic has just started back doing bloods and SA so hopefully yours will too.

I’m thinking about going to a private specialist and nutritionist to see if we can find out causes and best way to improve quality for when treatment time arrives as I don’t feel like we’ll get that level of info from our clinic x

No problem, I hope it helps! Stay positive though because miracles do have them, we’re just all waiting for them 🤷🏽‍♀️Xx

@Chochaw how are you getting on today? Any positive on opk yet? Xxx

@morpho123
I'm ok. Had such a busy day with work. I am feeling under pressure with lockdown being moved to phase 1 here. Too many rumours about when I will be back at work in the classroom. I am dreading it and it terrifies me. My childcare is Granny who is shielding so I don't know what I'll do. Some schools are open from Monday but we have had no information yet.

No positive OPK yet and I don't feel anything yet.

I haven't heard from my GP yet to tell me is they can prescribe me clomid or if they can do another SA for husband to save me having to pay privately. No sign of my NHS records that I requested either.

Hope everyone is well. X

@Chochaw I can’t believe they haven’t contacted you to let you know what’s going on, I’d be worried too! I hope you can get something sorted, everything going back to normal worries me, I’m scared of another peak!

Sounds frustrating you haven’t heard back yet or got any paperwork, you are having a rubbish day. 😔

Hopefully you hear back ASAP, you have a couple of weeks til AF, so time to get prescribed clomid, if you don’t hear back soon give them A call and follow it up?

You will probably get A positive tomorrow on OPK right? It must be close! Xxx

@morpho123 I have just got positive opk about 10mins ago. We DTD this morning and will try again tomorrow.

I will call doctor on Monday and ask of she has had any response yet. If not I will just order another round of clomid online. I said I would try 3 cycles so best to have it ready if AF arrives.

This must be the worst 2ww for you. What is your next steps at the clinic?x

@Positivity20 good that there's enough for treatment. DH had his in Feb too and also cut out caffeine and alcohol completely so I'm hoping there's an improvement. Like you said I don't think it will be enough but at least it may make treatment more likely to work. Our hospital said they are hoping to start again from 22nd June, still feels so far away!
I've heard good things about Jonathan Ramsey who is a male fertility specialist. No idea about nutritionist. We have been trying to eat more veg, berries and seeds/nuts. Cooked tomatoes, Brazil nuts, walnuts, bright coloured fruits and veg are all good for sperm.

@Morpho123 hope your tww goes quickly 🤞🏼

@Chochaw I am worried about going back to 'normal' as well. I don't want to meet my family as I'm worried about putting them at risk. I work in the NHS though so I've still been at work the whole time and a bit more exposed than others. Lots of people at my work have tested positive. My friend is a teacher and they go back Monday. It's still all a bit scary.

@Chochaw I knew it 😂 I feel like I know your cycle now ... so weird right. Defo try tomorrow evening again, that’s a good shout.

Yea this tww is hard not gonna lie! I start pessaries tonight too.
Iv been trying to keep myself busy, I know I can’t even test early then when af is due because of the trigger, I expect the trigger and pessaries will give me all the pregnancy symptoms too! So it’s a waiting game! Keeping myself busy at home as I’m still furloughed too. Such a drag lol!

Defo order the clomid if they don’t come back to you ASAP, you need it at the ready!

@Narwhal88 thank you for all your well wishes! It must be so hard right now working in the nhs, so much respect for you! Such a scary time! Keep safe as much as you can xxx

@morpho123 Could you get some cheap tests and test out the trigger test everyday till you test negative and then if you get a positive you know it is is real. TBH I don't recommend doing it as it is stressful.

Good luck with the pessaries. X

@Chochaw I thought of doing this but if I’m honest I really don’t want the stress of it. Seeing the line fade will upset me and I’d rather wait for my period. I just think that easier and mentally better. I’ll probably test like day 11/12 and then see, because if there was a line it would get darker.

I did the pessarie, it was actually fine, not nice this morning when I went to the toilet though!! I’m thankful I don’t have to do a morning one too.... yet! Lol!

Good luck this weekend! 🤞🏽Xx

@Morpho123 I'm so excited to see if you get your BFP.

I have some really sad news ladies. I am suffering from an ectopic pregnancy which seems to be self terminating which is good. I really don't want to lose a tube. Fertility clinic are aware and are saying that I can now choose between a HyCoSy and a laporoscopy. So sad but it is what it is. Hope you're all well xxx

@irawra oh I am so so sorry to hear this 😔 how did you find out it was ectopic? Bless you I am so sorry xxxx sending lots of love your way xxx

@Morpho123 thanks! It's a scary time. Basixallt, on Sunday night I was in loads of pain on one side and started bleeding. Husband took me to the hospital at 11pm when it was unbearable and I was admitted at around 2:30am with a temperature, high heart rate and obviously the bleeding and pain. Had a scan which couldn't see anything anywhere. Blood tests are all showing HCG is dropping but not the level of a uterine pregnancy, which coupled with the pain points to ectopic. Apparently 50% of ectopics resolve by themselves. So now back to waiting for the tube check at the clinic :(

@iRawra I'm sorry to hear this. Sending you lots of love.x

@iRawra oh Hun this sounds so awful, bless you. Praying it sorts itself out and you don’t loose a tube, keep us updated. Sending you so much love 💕 xxx

@iRawra I'm very sorry to hear your news. Sending you lots of love.xx

Thanks @Chochaw @Limeflower2 and @Morpho123. It's such a strange feeling. Because I'm worried about rupturing (still a chance even though my HCG is going down by itself) I feel like I can't mourn yet. We've decided to stop trying until I've had either HyCoSy or laporoscopy. One, because I'm terrified of it happening again and two because we are both so sad and angry. Going to the hospital alone was heartbreaking too :(

So so sorry to hear this @iRawra I think it's completely understandable to take a break till then and reassess. After trying for so long and then this happening life is just so unfair :( xxx

@Narwhal88 it is :( we all deserve a happy ending. I think we will all get one. Just going to have to be patient :(

[quote Morpho123]@positivity20 defo have a little drink at the weekend, it really helps!
My husband takes vitamins which did improve count by 20million too.... it’s a few pages back. It worked for us as he had 0% morphology so ICSI would have been needed, but we managed to improve to 4% so now it would be standard ivf. However now everything looks fine, they can’t see any reason it wouldn’t work naturally, so we have done ovulation induction to guarantee ovulation. I do ovulate on my own but I don’t think every cycle, I think it sometimes turns into a cyst instead!
So we are trying this for a few months but then will move to ivf. Unfortunately we get no funding in our area so have saved for about 3 rounds!

Sounds like you are really making good changes though so keep it up and enjoy the weekend! I always have a big glass of gin when AF shows up! X[/quote]
Morpho, what supplements/vitamins did your husband take to increase his parameters??

Hi @delectable

1000mg vitamin c
300mg coq10
400 I.u vitamin e
Tesco vitamin c & zinc (100mg vit c and 15mg zinc) - I know it’s more vitamin c but I couldn’t find zinc on its own lol
1000mg L-carnitine
Wellman conception

Does your partner have male factor issues too? Xx

Hi girls how are we all?
@Chochaw did you manage to dtd enough the weekend to catch ovulation?

@iRawra how are you Hun? I hope you are okay? Or as best as can be!

It’s so warm today! I’m 5dpo and seriously this is the longest wait. I don’t feel confident, Iv no side effects at all. The ovidrel and progesterone is meant to have side effects of pregnancy, but Iv had absolutely nothing lol! X