Male fertility issues

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Hi everyone, we have just found out that DH has severe male fertility issues - very low count, motility and morphology, including a high % of white blood cells.
We have been recommended a consultation with Mr Jonathan Ramsay who I understand is brilliant when it comes to male fertility issues. We are trying to remain positive that he will get us to the point of being able to consider IVF/ICSI in the near future.
I’m keen to hear anyone else’s experience of Mr Ramsay, and without sounding incredibly impatient, I’m concerned he is just going to suggest we try medication for months before we can consider additional treatment.
Appreciate everyone’s situations are different but I’d love to hear any advice on questions to ask or any experience you can share from your journeys.
Thank you in advance.

Hi op. No experience of Ramsey but DP has had similar. Has there been any suggested cause of your DP's problems? Mine had a bad sperm test like yours then investigation (scan) showed he had a varicocele on a testicle (basically varicose vein). That can impact quality and morphology. He's recently had that treated (privately cost around £1500) and it could improve things hugely but we won't know for a couple more months.

And of course food, drink, drugs (legal or not) can all play a part.

Proxeed is the supplement everyone suggests for men, he could start taking that right away.

I'm not sure what other treatment is available to men!

DP's urologist said we should try and improve the sperm before ICSI as poor morphology etc could mean the IVF/any pregnancy fails.

Good luck.

ps we were advised to have a DNA fragmentation test which told us nothing new at all and cost £450 and then another £250 to be read the results that DPs sperm was a bit crap. Yeah we knew that already.

@Cocksinsocks thanks for your reply, I’m sorry to hear you find yourselves in a tough situation too, pleased to hear the surgery gives you a better chance.
We’re still waiting for the appointment that will help us to understand why and what next, all we know so far is that lifestyle changes won’t change things enough to give us a good chance (but we’ll try them anyway so thanks for your thoughts on supplements etc). Generally he is fit and well, doesn’t smoke, doesn’t take drugs and barely drinks so it’s come as a shock. But the results are so low that it indicates and issue or a stroke of very bad luck..

Do you mind me asking how long your journey has been so far from finding out your other half’s results? Everyone keeps saying what a long road it will be, we are 18months in so far (he had results on month 17 of trying) and I don’t quite know how to manage the ongoing rollercoaster..

DP are a fair way in but it hasn't felt too long for us. We decided we wanted children at the beginning of last year with a view to trying at the end of it (2020)/this year. However given our ancient ages and the fact we've had unprotected sex around my fertile period before without any accidents we decided to do some tests. I just had a feeling there would be an issue.

We had independent private tests last June. My results were fine. DP's wasn't. He got referred to a urologist. His small operation was scheduled for early January then delayed due to Covid to the beginning of April.

Meanwhile we enquired with the NHS explaining our circumstances - DPs infertility, the fact we'd been having unprotected sex for three years. First appt November. I had a blood test, they took DP's results I gave them. They completely forgot to tell us I needed a hycosy until our follow up at end April (again delayed because of Covid from March) I was bloody furious. Wasted Six months. I actually had that done today and all fine.

We're now waiting to hear back from NHS about whether they'll approve funding. We're right at the age cut off. Well, I am. If we're unsuccessful with the NHS we'll consider our options.

Male fertility tests are so easy and cheap and I'll recommend them to everyone older as soon as they're trying now we've been through this.

I'm so sorry you are where you are and will cross my fingers for you.
It sounds like you've had much more urgency than us and it's been stressful enough for us! If I've learned anything though it's that sperm does matter and if you can get it better then do before you jump into ICSI.

I promise I put paragraphs in that!

@Cocksinsocks sounds like you’ve got a good handle on it all, and pleased your hycosy was fine.

We were so grateful the NHS were able to support us when we first went to them in Jan - they instantly referred me for blood tests (which showed I had under active thyroid) and I had an ultrasound but haven’t had a hycosy yet and we’re just about to reach the 6month marks so I think that means you have to start again if you want to be referred to a fertility clinic as results have to be fairly recent.

My other half had less support from NHS and really had to push for SA, they finally agreed in April but it wasn’t until he had the call where he thought he would get the results and they said they had given him the wrong pot and that he had to do it again.. but couldn’t get an appt until June! At this point we went private and thankfully we did as having an embryologist give us the results, which were extremely poor, was far better and focused on bespoke solution than I think we would have had from the GP. That said, now we’ve had the results we will circle back to the GP and see what they suggest.

I guess now we’re just trying to learn as much as we can before the appt with the consultant - knowledge is power and all that. And trying to understand what the future could have in store, you’re 100% right about sperm.. we need to get that in to the best place it can be before we (hopefully) have the chance to move towards ICSI.

I’ll be keeping my fingers crossed that the NHS approve funding for you.

Hello! I know this is an old thread but just wondered if the varicocele surgery had any impact and where you had done please?

My partner got told on Thursday he has one and just waiting for our next appointment in 5 weeks to get an ultrasound to get it measured!

Been looking at private places (given our current waits with NHS) and they all seem to be £3k+ so would be great to hear where you when please! Thank you in advance x

Hey hope you are well. Did you go ahead with the surgery? How did it go? Have y or conceived now?

Would also be interested in an update. Partner also has a varicele