Fertility Clinic Referral and confusing semen analysis results

[dogmam]

Hoping someone can help or offer advice.

Me and my other half have been trying to conceive for just over a year, last month I went to the GP who ordered a 21 day blood test for me and SA for him (So far very happy that we weren't fobbed off and were actually sent for tests). My blood test come back fine so no issues with ovulation (as expected as I use opks, have regular cycle etc etc) anyway, all go appointments are done over the phone and so yesterday my other half got a call from the GP, a one who is new to the drs surgery, to say oh hi, your results from the SA have come back and they're normal (the phone was on speaker so I could hear everything), we asked for the exact numbers and she read them out so we scribbled them down, not really knowing what they related to. She then said so what do you want me to do, we replied and said we weren't sure what the next steps usually were. She said neither was she and could she call us back, so 5 minutes later she called back to say she was going to refer us to the fertility clinic (which feels like a big deal/big step on one hand but please we are getting the ball rolling on the other hand). I asked if in the mean time I could get any further bloods, such as day 3 bloods and she said the fertility clinic would so all further investigations now and to wait yo hear from them. It was very clear she didn't know how to deal with fertility questions/investigations but ultimately were pleased for the referral and the the SA was normal.

Then today.. thought we would ask the surgery for a copy of the SA results, so got them emailed over and obviously I am no expert but they are deffinetly not normal (according the Google of course) infact, it's says at the top of the results letter 'seman analysis - INFERTILITY'. We are absolutely fuming that we were told that the results were ok by the GP yesterday only to discover they aren't, and only by chance that we asked for a copy of the results just out of interest!!

Does anyone know much about results that can help? Some things look fine such as volume, PH, concentration and total number which are all over the minimum. The immotility is 85%, 10% progressive motility and 5% non-progressive motility. Also the Normal Forms is at 3%.

I am waiting for the doctors to reopen to get another appointment to speak to someone different. It's just a lot to take in and so confused.

No I’m not expert as I am only a little further ahead in the process then you but don’t be alarmed by the word INFERTILITY on the tests. All tests my partner and I went for had the word slammed in capitals on our paperwork too, I think it just indicates what they are checking for not what the result is.

Also we were sent for test by our GP but got our results for all of those once we had been contacted by the fertility clinic. So before you start to panic I think you need to wait until you get contacted by the fertility clinic for them to interpret your partners results and for them to send you for any other investigations they think you need.

I totally understand how you feel as at the beginning I felt really in the dark about everything but as soon as we had our first appointment with the clinic you can ask loads of questions and they will guide you through it so much better than the GP can!!

I'd echo what PP says - all paperwork relating to my case had sub-fertility written in it (some places call it that, some say infertility) even before they'd really done any checks. It just means you've been TTC for a year without success. They'll likely do more blood tests for you and arrange a HyCosy (scan to check womb and ovaries and also whether your tubes are clear).

We also have 'infertility' on most of our paperwork, despite being 'unexplained'

For SA you need to look at count, motility and morphology (although a lot of places don't put much emphasis on morphology).

Referral to fertility clinic is usually the next step after that also. It doesn't mean you are being referred for IVF, just you are going to the best place to get further tests or treatment which may help. Those first tests are about all your GP can do at that stage and are required for them to be able to refer you to fertility.

I would wait and see what doctor says at that appointment. Be careful of what you read online also and what you compare things to.

I'm sorry you're being fobbed off but that you've also got the referral. Getting referred was like a breath of fresh air after begging GPs to do tests

In terms of count, they'd like to see 15million sperm per ml and above to call it normal. Motility I'm not too sure but your partner's sounds low. Morphology (normal forms) ours wanted it to be 4% or above to be classed as 'adequate' so you're a little low on that too. They don't care as much about morphology as you can still have a successful pregnancy with a misshapen sperm.

I am in early pregnancy after 3 losses and we have low morphology and I have lean PCOS (flares up due to diet and weight). It can happen. I recommend reading "It Starts With The Egg". We followed the Sperm Meets Egg Plan this month as well. Don't think I'd be pregnant without those two.

Hi, thank you all so much for taking the time to reply. I rang the drs yesterday (when I was still furious with the mis-information we were given) and spoke to the receptionist to ask for an appointment and explained that I wanted to speak to a different gp, apparently there were no appointments left even though I literally rang them as soon as they opened. Anyway, I'm giving up and just going to wait for the fertility clinic appointment, I just don't feel confident in what the GPs tell you regarding fertility, although probably through no fault of their own.

@gsr14 @TTCIVF thank you, I think I jumped to conclusions and just immediately thought the worst when I read INFERTILITY on the results. God it needs to come with a warning!!

@willithappen yeah, there's so much info on line and I feel more confused than ever so I know you're right about waiting to speak to the clinic. It's just hard isn't it to be patient. Sorry that you are in the 'unexplained' category, hope you are getting support towards answers.

@irawra thank you, yeah I do feel lucky that I've been referred so quickly. The motility and morphology do seem to be the issue, also the concentration although at 24 is over the 15 minimum is good, I've read it should be 15 per ml of total volume which was 4.7ml so is possible a problem too although not sure if I'm interpreting that correctly. Huge congrats on your pregnancy, especially after awful time I'm sure you have had so far. Did you concieve naturally? Thank you, I will look at the book and also plan to follow SMEP next cycle, we had planned it for this one but my other half had his SA right in the middle so we couldn't do it properly.

The other thing I'm not sure about is that my other half has a varicocele which was found about 2 year ago, before we were ttc. He also had surgery when he was a child because of testicular torsion. I didn't mention this to the GP when she ordered my bloods and his SA. Not sure if again I should just wait to discuss this with the fertility clinic or ask the GP now to refer him to a urologist?

Thanks again, I'm aware I sound like an absolute impatient stress head, I know loads of people on here have been through/going through so much worse.