sperm morphology only- what would cause isci to fail?

[Roo45]

I'm in the 2ww of my second fresh cycle- odt tomorrow but negative this morning and not holding out much hope. Our issue is MFI, DH sperm sample showed low motility and agglutination but other parameters were normal but I was told they were 'small' but 'that might not mean anything as he is short'?!
Initially I was going to have hycosy but we would have needed icsi either way so then it was decided not to do that.
I've been on long and short protocol and produced decent number of eggs (some have been abnormal or immature but more than half have been suitable for icsi) and decent fertilisation rates and early growth but after day 3 our embryos generally go downhill.
Out of 13 embryos in the 2 cycles we've only got 1 good quality embryo and never had any suitable to freeze.

We were told we were ideal candidates for icsi and I don't know why our results have been so poor. I just wondered- could there be another issue with DH sperm even if only the motility is normal? Are there further investigations me and DH should ask for? Supplements we should try? (We both took coezyme Q10 and ashwaghadha for 2 months in the run up to cycle 2, DH took wellman). I'm 31 AHM is just below average but AFC is fine so I was told I have good egg reserve.

I want to do another round but if we are going to keep getting these poor quality embryos I just don't see the point.

Have you tried looking into DNA fragmentation?

I am really curious about this too! Can you get the clinic to look into this before fertilising the eggs? Everyone always seems to find out afterward which seems like such a waste. The point of ICSI is sort of maximising the potential right. Please keep us posted, and good luck!

@willithappen I have considered it but not sure how it would change the outcome for us? DH doesn't smoke, drink and has normal testicular ultrasound. Even if it's abnormal I assume they'd just advise lifestyle changes?

@AnonymousXXIX I will do, I'm just concerned that we are young and otherwise 'healthy' and shouldn't be getting the results we have been- it can't be bad luck twice. I'm worried there's something seriously wrong with one or both of us that they won't be able to do anything about. I know many people need a few cycles for success but I haven't seen many people in our position with so many poor quality embryos.

@Roo45 there are various things which can affect fragmentation outside of those you listed and if all other aspects came back fine it's worth getting it looked into.
It's better to know if that's the issue rather than searching for something else when that's usually the first thing you would stress after if all other aspects of sperm are normal?

Thanks @willithappen, I will mention it when I speak to the consultant xx

I'd also do the dna fragmentation test - although the treatment is pretty much what's in Proceive Max for men - what supplements is he on? Pregnacare when he has MFI isn't going to be enough

@ivfbeenbusy he is taking Wellman conception which our consultant recommended but said brand wasn't too important. I also made him take co enzyme Q10 but it was only 30 mg tabs he used to take 1-3 of those but had only been on it about 2 months when I had EC so might not have been enough to make a difference.
However I worry if his sperm have got worse the embrologists wanted to use a sperm chamber to get the best ones but had to abandon that as none of them were able to swim through it