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

Is hectic few days so I need to catch up properly on everyone's posts and message back later on. In the meantime, I'm feeling so rubbish! Got myself super hopeful that it might be a lucky month and I when AF came last night I was so disappointed.

Dh could see I was in a total funk about it and I know he feels terrible because so far it's his SA that is showing the issue. I don't want to be miserable and make him feel like it's his fault, but I can't help feeling this way. It's so rubbish. I just so want to fall pregnant naturally and not have to go through stupid fertility treatment!!!!!

Sorry to vent. You guys seem to be the only people that get it XX

@Morpho123 hope today is a better day for you.

These dr’s underestimate our research skills. I can imagine you are like me I have spent hours and hours researching morphology. For my own learning but also so I can’t be fobbed off by gp’s ect.

@whatsthecraic91 I’m sure you’ll be fine then it really wasn’t that bad and good to get feedback from the lady doing the scan. She told me all looks good for where I was in my cycle and no sign of PCOS.

@Sshsecretenclosed from what I have read online its bad but there still a chance of normal pregnancy as it only takes one good spermie. I looked at our local clinics Just to get an idea of prices and its eye watering! I did find one that does a money back scheme for example you pay a set price and have unlimited try's for 2 years and if not pregnant at the end they will refund you the percent that was agreed when started. Not sure if thats something they would offer near you or if you would be interested.

@MOGMOGMOG85 So sorry to hear about your miscarriage. Welcome to our not so great club. Do you have your appointment with the gyno yet? Its always good to have something to get to/look forward to on this journey. Is that 6% your OH’s morphology?

I feel like we research so much and they do try and fob us off don’t they!?
The spotting has stopped I’m 5dpo today. I do reflexology and had a session last night. The woman told me last time I went my tubes felt blocked, however this time they were really clear. So let’s wait and see what the hsg says! I know the woman who does reflexology isn’t a doctor but they say they can tell a lot from my feet. I’ll wait and see.

Anyway I hope you girls are all okay this is a horrible club to be in! Morphology sucks right? Everything online is conflicting too! Yes it only takes one sperm but the chances of that one little sperm being the right one is pretty low. I mean Iv got 0 chance here anyway 😂 on our way to an ivf open day as we speak.
We aren’t funded so yes this will rinse our life savings when we decide to proceed.
Clomid for a few months first then ivf end of the year if we need it. Fingers crossed for all of us we get our natural conception!!! X

@MallonMary thank you. I'm so sorry you had a bad month. It definitely happens to all of us, and for me at the moment is almost every month :( because my body has changed since the miscarriage i'm not in tune with it any more and have kept thinking i'm pg. i'm getting better each time at trying not to get my hopes up though. Mb you should speak to your oh about how he feels (if he'll let you talk to him about it, i know mine is not a big fan of talking!). I did talk about it with mine, because it seems to be my "fault" not his that we're going through this. I told him how disappointed i felt and that I was letting him down/he should be with someone else if he wanted children - all the silly thoughts that were going through my head. He said he had been so worried it would be him and that he'd have to deal with these feelings and it was as much a surprise to him that it was me as it was to me. He also said all the right things about how he only wants to be with me, without or (preferably) with children, which was so sweet of him. Your oh getting his confidence knocked about his fertility is the last thing you need really as they kinda need to stay confident to keep trying! Poor thing, I do feel for him.

@Nobunintheovenyet thanks - its nice to be in the club actually as i feel like the only one in my friendship group. not got app yet - have been referred and told to wait for a letter. i do feel a bit anxious about whether the referral has gone through though as i had huge trouble being referred to fertility in the past where the clinic told me i needed to self refer, that i needed a special code, then the code didn't work, twice, and they never put me on their list until i called the GP weeping and forced them to do it for me - then the appointment cancelled itself on the week of and i had to go through the whole thing again... i've had a lot of appointments on the NHS just cancel themselves with no explanation (just a template letter through the door) recently, and i just wouldn't be able to take it if it happened again..

Yes that was OHs morphology - it said normal and my GP friend said 6% is good?

Morphology sucks. Everything is conflicting about it but I honestly think it is an issue. We've been unprotected for five years and had tests done, partner is at 1% morphology and only thing which can be an answer

I also read that even though there is the 1% fine, the 99% that are not can make it difficult to let the 1% through. I watched a video of a sperms journey on YouTube and oh my it's a fair journey they have to go on to be able to get to an egg

@morpho123 I'm one of them people who needs to know everything too, why we are doing every test and whats the expected outcome. At least thats stopped, I have thought about having reflexology/acupuncture but going to wait until first appointment then go from there. Would you recommend reflexology?

How did the open day go? I want to go but don't think oh would be so keen.

@MOGMOGMOG85 me too. I only know of one other couple that have even had ivf and they are not exactly close to us. I'm also waiting for my letter. Oh hun that really isn't stress that you need, lets hope this time is different for you!

@nobunintheovenyet the open day was really good, it was our second one as we are trying to find a clinic so when the time comes we already have the info and can choose the clinic we felt the most comfortable at! They are really informative- it was actually my husband that booked it for us to go!
He keeps going on about iui but Iv had to explain his motility is really good but poor morphology so that isn’t an option for us!!

I would actually recommend reflexology to help you relax, but I’m not sure it really does much but it made me feel more positive about my tubes being clear, she said my left was a little gritty but clear! I guess it reassures me? I don’t know if it works to help fertility though, more just gives me an hour to fully relax! Acupuncture is really expensive whereas reflexology is £40 for an hour near me so I went with the cheaper option lol xx

Hi all, just wanted to let you all know how my first clinic appointment went, for anyone else with pcos awaiting an appointment it may just give you an idea of whats to come. So i know this is dependant on the clinic and the doctors etc but i was made to feel sooooo comfortable and important, she really couldnt have been any nicer. So there was alot of questions about lifestyle etc and then about periods and sex life etc. I have got to go on metformin for the pcos and i need to book in for a HSG scan. Then hopefully they will start clomid! Not sure what i have to do after the scan to get the clomid, i dont know if I'll need another appointment or not?
Anyway, in a nutshell thats what happened, it was a really positive helpful experience.
X

hi @Beddie11 so glad your appointment went really well.
they ask you to have a HSG bfore clomid to ensure your tubes are clear, I think it can be bad to have clomid if you have a blocked tube! so it will be to check that. so assume after that they will prescribe to take the following cycle.
I have my HSG 6th feb, which is CD9 for me, and then ill hopefully start clomid the next cycle if my tubes are okay. they had already given me the prescripton, so its sitting at home waiting for them to confirm I can take!

im feeling really down about this today. 3DPO I have a few spots of pink blood followed by light brown to 5DPO, 6DPO nothing and now im 7dpo, dark brown blood this morning when wiping and now just really lightly tinged when going to the toilet. I wish I knew why I spot so much, this is much more than normal too! it normally starts 8dpo onwards!

anyway I was feeling really sick last night and am this morning, my skin has broken out badly too. but I just know im out this month, iv spent all morning googling 0% morpholohy and I just feel so down about it all. there are positive stories out there I know but really what are the chances?x

@Morpho123 I'm exactly the same! Constantly googling- 0% morphology sucks!! I'm so fed up too. Read so many contradicting things.

Had your oh had 1 SA or 2? I really want mine to have a second and just pray there's been an improvement since he started taking vitamins.

I have low days too, I find it worst during the ttw. Hope your hsg goes well and they can find out what causes the spotting xx

His only had 1 SA, they aren’t even interested in doing another, they just want to put me on clomid. Is there even any point if his morphology is 0? I’m having such a down day, I’m fed up with spotting and always wondering if it’s implantation - I don’t even let myself get that hope anymore! X

@Morpho123 that's so strange

My GP referred us based off my partners results alone and said that was enough for IVF referral. Obviously we will know more tomorrow. His results were all fine/above average except he had 1% morphology. TTC four+ years but only recently went for help as it was more a 'if it happens it happens' type thing.

Thing is morphology can affect the rest of it too, motility etc. Can also stop the good ones from getting anywhere. I seen a video on YouTube of a sperms journey and it's not so easy for them to get anywhere even with 'good' sperm.
With 1% you can still naturally conceive it's just very very unlikely from what I have read. How long have you been trying? Perhaps they are trying you on that until the time period has passed?

I'll keep you updated with what we are told at our appointment tomorrow regarding the morphology. Aware that GPs are not experts and may get different info tomorrow

@willithappen have been trying for 18 months, unfortunately in our area we get no ivf on nhs so it’s self funded. All I think I can do is try a few rounds of clomid then pay for ICSI. Please keep me up to date on what they say tomorrow- it seems there isn’t enough research into morphology! His count and motility are really high, but agree it’s just so difficult for any sperm to make it when they are deformed! X

Hey ladies I got my blood results and all is normal except my prolactin, it is too high. Does anyone know what this means? All I am finding on google is the word infertility and also that is is found in breastfeeding women!? I am so confused

@Morpho123 I spoke to my doctor tonight. She was reluctant but I quizzed her on oh sa results and she said she wasn't optimistic at all about us being able to conceive naturally. So upsetting to hear. Feel so shitty tonight.

We are 0 morphology but also low on motility so I imagine your outlook would be better as morphology is your only low result. Where are you in the referral etc at the moment?

@MallonMary that’s shitty, I’m sorry to hear that Hun 😔 is your husband on vitamins, good diet etc?
Awaiting hsg in couple of weeks then starting clomid for 3 months, and then off our own back private ivf with ICSI.
So I guess we have to give it every chance considering it’s going to cost us a fortune....! I may ask my husband to do another SA, I want to see if the vitamins are doing anything xx

@Morpho123 yes he's on vitamins, he's super healthy non smoker etc.

How much do you think it'll cost for Isci ?

X

@MallonMary we visited two clinics near us and they both came out at around £8-10k including drugs. We estimate 10k if I’m honest. That obviously includes egg collection, and then after that cycle whatever frozen embryos are left you can transfer back for around 4K. So it’s going to work out expensive! I have thankfully saved for years for when I finally get maternity leave, but looks like I’ll be spending all that money on trying to get a baby in the first place lol!
So depressing but I try and smile through it xx

@Morpho123 thank god for your savings! Is that cost just for one 'go'?

After your 3 months Clomid, how long does the entire process take? Xx

@MallonMary morning, so the £10k is for egg retrieval, ICSI, a fresh transfer and freezing of other embryos- and also any tests that we need beforehand- they advise getting them all through NhS for free but they may need to be redone - so Iv included that cost in the 10k with all the drugs as well.

After 3 months of clomid it can start as soon as we want too, because it will be privately paid for. So we will probably be moving to ICSI as of August/September. And the process of actual IVF/ICSI is only 3-4 weeks! As long as I don’t get OHSS!
But altogether with tests I estimate 8 weeks! It’s so quick really isn’t it! X

@morpho123

Just back from our first appointment now. Took an hour total from us arriving (20 minutes earlier than appointment time).
Went in, got forms checked by reception. Sat down and waited until our time
Nurse them called us through to a room and they did weight, height and smoking test. Asked questions about if we smoke, how much drink we had a week.
Back to waiting room

Doctor then called us through to room with him. He asked us a few more questions about our history (previous pregnancies, STI's etc) and went over our test results.

I had day 21 bloods taken, results were 29.7 (around that) doctor said that he's perfectly happy i ovulated and having periods every month he thinks no issues there

Asked about partners. His motility and sperm count both above average. Morphology 1%. Doctor didn't seemed phased by this at all and said my partner had a normal sperm analysis and no male factor issue there. I questions the morphology part and he said it can come back at that percentage for all types of reasons. Sperm is meant to be a tear drop shape and it could be just it was a bit rounder than they like to see. Also said they take a small sample so like 200-300 sperm so seeing that doesn't mean there is an issue at all because there's millions of other sperm. He said that what would happen is the day of transfer they would see what the spent was that day but likely we were just IVF and not ICSI

I then had a scan (internal vagina scan) where they checked my womb. I asked about fibroids because I googled and got worried I had them. All okay there. My internal scan totally fine. They have booked me for a test of my tubes though because I had had a previous pregnancy and an STI before so there is a small chance of tubes being blocked (scan showed no block by fluids though). I had an option of doing this or not because either way after that scan we will be put on waiting list for IVF. I said yes to scan as I want to know if there is that issue with me.

So yeah. I have that test 25th Feb (I got an appointment that day because it was last one for Feb left - if no appointments I'd have had to go on waiting list).

So they don't see an issue with morphology at all if everything else is okay. I'm sceptical, especially if everything with me turns out fine too. Seems weird to ignore the morphology thing and put us down as unexplained. My partner admitted smoking, drinking loads, works as a welder too and doctor just wasn't interested and said he was totally fine.

Worried about the tube test, but anxious to get it done as I want to know.

@MallonMary my doctor said exactly the same about morphology but then why aren’t we pregnant yet? Iv got my tube test (hsg) 6th feb - I’ll let you know how it is. Defo best to get that done to rule anything out!
I know they only test a small sample of sperm so you could be right, I mean to other however many million could be formed perfect! It’s so frustrating! Glad to hear your appointment went well though it seems really positive! Xx

Yeah it seems all too much of a coincidence that this is highlighted but not an issue and no pregnancy. Good luck with your test. Please do let me know how it goes. The doctor put me at ease about it but can't help but feel worried!

Are you being referred for IVF after the test?

Hi All,
Hope you don't mind me jumping in. Hubby and I are both 40. TTC for over 2 yrs. Last
November we went to our GP, I had blood test and hubby had semen analysis, both seems fine. GP referred us to see a gynaecologist for this week. But the nhs has messed up our appointment. I've now been given an appointment at the middle of March which is 2 months away. Because of our age, I'd really want to speed things up.
Can someone shed some light? We would like to go for a private consultation but aware of the prices on tests etc. Is it possible to get first consultation privately then jump back to the nhs queue for further tests?
Or would you recommend going privately completely instead?
Thanks in advance.

Hi Lawrence, I am in a similar case also trying hard but now after a 3 month wait finally having a referral visit and trying to be hopeful. I got my tests privately and have two via GP that I am bringing in tomorrow I am a bit worried as I had regular periods until autumn and something happened that two were spot on one was 2 weeks after them all back to normal but I was 2 weeks late and then got it and not 2 weeks later more bleeding. Has anyone experienced anything like this? I am not on any medication except for supplements. I have the appointment tomorrow but sort of period. I am hope they will not rebook me to wait more.