Morphology

[TiredofTrying2022]

Dear all,
Writing on here as I'm tired of trying.
I'm 34, partner is 36.
Came off the pill in April 2020
Started trying properly in Aug 2020
Absolutely nothing in that time so went to the GP in Aug 2021
My bloods and ultrasound are normal.
Partner's morphology was low at 3% when first checked......lifestyle changes (less alcohol, less hot baths, less cycling) repeated last month and actually worse now down to 2%.
Specialist nurse is wanting to refer us for IVF. I'm keen to avoid for a number of reasons but I'd be keen to hear your views and experiences!x

Honestly if he has a high sperm count morphology doesn't mean an awful lot. My DH was generally around the 2% but over 5 cycles of IVF ranged from 1% to a whopping 6% (which ironically was after weeks of boozing and eating crap over Xmas and new year). Something simple as a cold in the weeks before the sample was given is enough to affect the morphology level.
Given you are under 36 Id be inclined to continue trying for another 12 months - it's the recommendation of many NHS areas that it's 2 years not 1 year anyway you are obviously in the latter area. IVF is tough - id say you have at least another year before you need to seriously consider IVF

Are you using ovulation kits etc?

@TiredofTrying2022 we have been referred for IVF with low count and 0%. My OH is taking Proxeed to try to improve things and making lifestyle changes. If count if high, low morphology isn't really a problem. Remember only around 200 ish sperm are looked at during a SA. They then make calculations based on that teeny sample hence you need more than 1 sample and hence it can change a lot between samples. They are not to be taken as absolute.

I am sure IVF is v tough, but TTC is also mentally and emotionally exhausting. I'd be ready to give it a go after the length of time you've been trying. X

@twinsetandpearl thanks for your response ☺️
Hope you don't mind me asking but what was the outcome lf your efforts.
I agree with you but realistically the referral will take about 6 months anyway so we've decided to 'give it all we can' for the next 6/12.
I did try OPKs for a few months during the 1st year, Specialist Nurse tells me that they're not that accurate to I haven't bothered with further.

@FlyOnTheWall89 thanks for your message.
Hope you don't mind me asking but how long have you been trying? And how do you feel about IVF?
I am totally drained but still if there's any hope of conceiving naturally I'd prefer that 😬

@TiredofTrying2022 how high is the count / concentration?

We tried for a year. Referral to first appointment with the dr who will lead on the IVF took was 6 weeks. We could start next month but we want to give it a bit longer to try to improve things - we won't know this we have seen the urologist and he's done another SA.

Also depends if this is your first baby and you want more than 1 and what your AMH / AFC is given your age. We want a bit family and my AMH is a bit low for my age so I'm keen to get going this year some time of not naturally pregnant! X

@TiredofTrying2022 sounds very similar to our situation but my partners tests were ok. We started trying in July 2020, I was 33 at the time, my partner 38. We did all the tests 8 months later, came back normal. So we have unexplained infertility. Then we did 3 rounds of clomid, all unsuccessful. It just mentally drained me and my partner - trying every month and then it not working. We are now doing our first round of IVF, honestly it's been a massive relief starting this treatment. Best decision we made! It's just nice to have the pressure taken off a bit and let science do it's thing. I built up in my head that IVF would be a horrible process - don't get me wrong it isn't a walk in the park. But it's really not as bad as I had imagined. If I was you I would just crack on with IVF and give yourself a bit of relief from trying naturally. Best decision we've made this year. Good luck xox

@TiredofTrying2022

I'm surprised you were told that about ovulation tests.....I used them for all my IVF transfers as that's what the clinic use to monitor ovulation and prior to that because I lost a tube to an ectopic I used to pay for private follicle tracking ultrasounds and I can honestly say that the cheap ovulation strips you get from Amazon were very very accurate in predicting ovulation.

I'd do 6-12 months of OPKs - tracking symptoms of ovulation alone is really inaccurate - I can ovulate anywhere between cycle day 12 and 17 and I have very predictable 28 day cycles. Unless you are having sex every other day from cycle day 10 to say 19 it's very very easy to miss your fertile window especially if you have sperm morphology issues in play.

I got pregnant 5 times in 2 years using OPKs which is very very good success rate (sadly I lost those pregnancies so there was obviously months inbetween we could TTC whilst recovering)

I ended up losing both tubes to ectopics so IVF was our only option - took 5 rounds at age 36 and eventually I had twins x

@FlyOnTheWall89
I can't remember exactly but they were good/well within the remits of normal.
Difficult isnt it why can't we just have what we want!

@hopefulivf good luck to you hope it all works out xx

@twinsetandpearl thanks for mentioning that. I may start again....nothing to lose after all!

Hi there,

Due to your age and his numbers I recommend you to start going with a Fertility specialist. I started trying at 36.5 yrs, DH morphology was bad but count really high so FS started with other treatments such as ovulation induction, IUI. It didn't work, then when we started IVF took another test and his morphology and count were much worse. Still TTC after 3.5 years, only choice IVF with ICSI.

Unfortunately, TTC may be a long journey for some of us and given your age I wouldn't delay getting help any longer.

@Cherry35 thanks for your message.
Yes you're totally right, specialist nurse has referred us for IVF.
I'm just finding its a bitter pill to swallow 🤦🏻‍♀️ good luck to you x

Hi @TiredofTrying2022
My partner had morphology issues and all other parameters were borderline normal. We luckily had two miracle babies with ICSI IVF ... we are now trying for a third so both of us are taking supplements (we are 42) ... his swimmers are now completely normal and exceeding all parameters after taking the following; Proceive for men, omega 3, alpha lipoic acid, L-Carnitine, Coq10 and NAC. The improvement was clear in only 2 months of supplements ... 7 months later at retest, they are still perfect. I hope this helps x

Update from us.

Second SA and morphology has gone from 0% to 9%. This is with lifestyle improvements and Proxeed, Vital DHA, Ubiquinol 200, Vit D and pycnogenol. We can only presume this has all helped.

Count remained the same and therefore still low, motility average (a little less than last time). 🤞🏻 - this is in 6/7weeks timeframe FYI.

@FlyOnTheWall89 that's an amazing increase in 7 weeks!

@TiredofTrying2022 I’d start as soon as you can. We did all the tests in late 2020 which identified pretty severe male factor while all my tests came back ok. 11 months later we started IVF ICSI and I responded poorly. Retested my AMH and it had fallen dramatically and now our chances look fairly dire. If I had my time again, I wouldn’t wait 2 years for a GP referral. Good luck to you.

@4F99S1 sorry to hear about that