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Original poster

Azoospermia support, stories and timelines

991 replies

Ljp2022 · 29/05/2022 19:40

Hi All,
Hoping to get a chat going with some advice. My husband and I started TTC 9 months ago but had an inkling something was wrong. We had a private fertility assessment which showed he had no sperm in his semen (azoospermia). We are incredibly overwhelmed and shocked but are keen to explore further testing.

We have gone to our GP however he has explained the wait will likely be several months until we are seen in infertility clinic. We have therefore decided to go privately. My husband has had blood tests for genetic testing and hormones this week (not sure how long it will be until we get results?) and he has a urology appointment in a month’s time for a physical exam.

Id be so grateful if people can share their experiences of azoospermia, outcomes, success stories, other options explored, tests but also timelines if private? How long does it take for tests to come back? How long until he has his sperm retrieval test? What’s next and how long?

sorry for all the questions - so overwhelmed and no one seems to have any answers…thank you in advance.

OP posts:
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IslaO · 18/04/2023 22:25

@lemons44 how are you finding down reg? How long does that go on for? It’s crazy isn’t it- this whole process is so nail biting. Just because you guys had your mtese and found sperm, your worry doesn’t end. I feel like the f
day itself is going to make us both sick with nerves- how did you get through it??

Sleeter0893 · 19/04/2023 13:11

@lemons44 @IslaO you're all so sweet. We are here for the procedure now and will have results in about an hour. They just took OH back. I'll definitely be updating.
@Magix86 I'm sorry you're dealing with all the wonder if Azoospermia, but I'm glad you will have answers! It's a difficult road but we're all here supporting you and your OH.

IslaO · 19/04/2023 13:15

@Sleeter0893 I’m thinking of you and here if you need to chat for distraction! Is it a microtese or Tese? The waiting part you’re doing right now is the bit I am dreading next week- a mental rollercoaster! Are you coping ok? How was OH?

lemons44 · 19/04/2023 13:18

About to go into a meeting but wanted to send a big hug @Sleeter0893 I'm keeping everything crossed for you. 🤞🏼🤞🏼🤞🏼🤞🏼

Will check in after my meeting later. Will reply properly to you then too @IslaO

💗💗💗💗💗

Sleeter0893 · 19/04/2023 13:21

@IslaO the waiting part isn't terrible. We're doing microTESE and I'm in the room after he went to surgery. I'm working since it's tax season (I'm an accountant) so that's a welcome distraction! I'll be here for support next week if you need! I've been more stressed out this past week than I am now. More excited than anything! We'll be able to finally start IVF in June if this goes well. 🙌

IslaO · 19/04/2023 13:42

@Sleeter0893 you are probably right- the lead up to the day itself is bloody awful but maybe when it gets to the day, that’s when you just have tunnel vision. I am so so hopeful for you both and the idea of being able to actually start IVF in June is so amazing as I know many of us didn’t think we would actually get there. If ours goes well next Tuesday, we could be June IVF buddies! Work is a great distraction- I’m sure it’s the first time you’ve welcomed tax season in your career!!

Keep us posted. I have a GREAT feeling and good news will give the whole azoo group something to celebrate!! Xx

Sleeter0893 · 19/04/2023 14:22

@IslaO they're about to come out... now I'm nervous. Btw, bring a stick of deodorant with you. You'll definitely be sweating at the end!

IslaO · 19/04/2023 14:50

@Sleeter0893 i even feel sick reading this! I hope you are feeling relieved now??? If not, please know there are options and we can all help you through it. But I have high hopes x

Sleeter0893 · 19/04/2023 15:34

@IslaO I've kept you on pins and needles too long... we just got home and his numbers were amazing! Enough for 6 vials to do 6 rounds of IVF and motile in each vial. Doc said that if IVF isn't successful, it's not from his sperm so amazing all around! On to planning a start date!

lemons44 · 19/04/2023 15:41

Omg @Sleeter0893 AMAZING news. So happy for you. Did they manage to work out the cause of the azoospermia whilst they was investigating? xx

Sleeter0893 · 19/04/2023 15:54

@IslaO thank you! We're more than pleased. He did confirm with this result it is 100% blockage related and he didn't have a sperm production issue. Normally during TESE they don't find motile sperm so the presence of that also confirmed its a blockage. His is from birth so there is no reversal of the blockage to correct which sucks for the immediate future, but he'll never need a vasectomy!

IslaO · 19/04/2023 17:31

@Sleeter0893 I can hardly believe what I’m reading!!! Before I went into my meeting, I checked and there was no word from you and I started to think it might be bad news but this is beyond great! So so so happy for you! To get that much and to be told the quality is so good is just beyond expectations. You can breathe a sigh of relief now and just know that a huge huge hurdle has just been jumped. Wooohooooooo!! Your OH must be smiling uncontrollably through the pain now too!

Sleeter0893 · 19/04/2023 17:36

You all are so sweet! We're beyond excited and this is the first time OH is actually talking about how we'll have a child soon enough because it's actually a possibility!
@lemons44 , my last message was actually meant for you
@IslaO thank you! I felt horrible waiting so long but they brought him right out and we left not too long after that so updated as soon as we got home! Prayers for you and your OH next week and hopefully we will be IVF buddies!!
To everyone who reads this and is struggling with Azoospermia, it is possible to have your miracle baby and never give up hope. We may not be on the "conventional" path of motherhood, but it's the one we were meant to go through.

lemons44 · 19/04/2023 19:20

Such brilliant news @Sleeter0893 . Did they even need to do micro tese in the end or just normal tese?

@IslaO I have more time to answer your post now.
In terms of how we got through the wait, the main thing was keeping busy. Not going to lie it was awful, especially for us as we had that horrible saga. I didn't even post the full extent of it here but u might remember snippets. We travelled to London, waiting 9 hours in the hospital to be told it wasn't going ahead that day so had to go home. Came back to London the next day, and as we got to the station we were rang and told they couldn't do it as they didn't have an anaesthetist. We got back on the tube to go home feeling distraught. They then rang us whilst we were on the tube to say turns out they could do it as they had not found someone, and to turnaround and go back. At this point I was about to go crazy! I really couldn't have taken much more. By this point I just wanted to be put out our misery. Whether it was good or bad news, I just couldn't take the not knowing any more.

My advice is make plans for the weekend so it's one of those weekends that goes by super fast and just occupy your mind as best you can. Before you know it, it will be Tuesday and then done and dusted. The wait is awful but you're so close now.

lemons44 · 19/04/2023 19:21

Now found someone*

Sleeter0893 · 19/04/2023 19:25

@lemons44 omg.. that's so much stress and time off work to go back and forth... we did have microTESE which is what they told us is considered the 'gold standard' for sperm retrieval now. Refresh my memory, where are you and your OH at in your process again?

Magix86 · 19/04/2023 19:29

Sleeter0893 · 19/04/2023 13:11

@lemons44 @IslaO you're all so sweet. We are here for the procedure now and will have results in about an hour. They just took OH back. I'll definitely be updating.
@Magix86 I'm sorry you're dealing with all the wonder if Azoospermia, but I'm glad you will have answers! It's a difficult road but we're all here supporting you and your OH.

@Sleeter0893 so kind of you to mention me still, thank you. So so happy for your news today, that's amazing!! Must be such a huge relief 😌 6 vials is awesome.

It's so nice to see some progress being made on this group and really enjoying all the positive news ☺
Good luck for Tuesday @IslaO , will be thinking of you!

lemons44 · 20/04/2023 09:06

@Sleeter0893 wishing your OH a speedy recovery! Did they do the procedure in one testicle or two? Hope he heals quickly. My husband had micro tese in one testicle so happy to answer any questions on the healing process if this helps.

We are in the IVF process now but just staying level headed and trying not to get any hopes up yet xx

Sleeter0893 · 20/04/2023 13:31

@lemons44 that's so great! They also only did one testicle on my OH. His other is not fully developed and didn't think they'd have a usable sample. How long was your OH in discomfort, and were there any days worse than the others?
They didn't prescribe a pain medication and he's not too thrilled about that.. lol

lemons44 · 21/04/2023 08:42

@Sleeter0893 he was really quite sore for about a week. After a week he went back to work but was still a little bit tender for about a month. Nothing too bad but he wouldn't have wanted to get on a bike for example!

After a month he felt 100% normal 😊 only thing was his testicle felt a little strange, almost with a ridge. The doctor said that it was because there was internal stitches and that they would take quite a while to dissolve so it was normal to feel a ridge at that point.

We bought a big pack of gauze pads and DH would kind of stuff them in his underwear for a few days as the wound was still bleeding a tiny bit on and off. Tight underwear also really helped him as it gave him so support.

Only thing I would warn you about and sorry if this is TMI! But I think they advise no sex for about 3 weeks after a micro tese? We did it after about a week and a half and afterwards DH was in a bit of pain 🫤 so be careful in that aspect xx

lemons44 · 21/04/2023 08:49

@Ljp2022 how are you doing? Xx

IslaO · 22/04/2023 13:26

@Sleeter0893 how is your OH doing? Are you getting excited at the prospect of IVF now? @lemons44 youre creeping closer now too. Are you excited or just anxious? It’s so hard not to worry with what we have all been through. I’ve had three close friends have babies this week. Three. Hard to know that those babies were conceived the month we got our first zero sperm result! @Ljp2022 also thinking of you and hoping everything is great.

everyone else- any updates on your journeys?

Sleeter0893 · 22/04/2023 15:44

@lemons44 that's super helpful! DH is a little sore but seems to be recovering really well. We've been told no sexual activity for 5 days after the procedure so definitely excited for that! And no, not TMI. I'm excited to hear about your journey :)
@IslaO he is recovering well and they did undersell how uncomfortable he'd be after leaving. He hasn't taken anything stronger than Tylenol and ice is great. How are you holding up? I know I was super stressed the days leading up to it but just take time to breath and think about anything else :)
Just checking in with everyone else to see how we're all doing!

lemons44 · 22/04/2023 21:55

@IslaO mainly anxious to be honest. It's about 11 days until egg collection so we will see how that goes and how the sperm thaws and then I may actually feel excited if all goes well. I think I've built a bit of a shield around me where I'm just too scared to get any hopes up. Instead I am binge watching Married at First Sight Australia haha. I hope you're managing to keep your mind busy this weekend. Have you had any plans?

Hope everyone is having a nice weekend xx