Azoospermia support, stories and timelines

[Ljp2022]

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.

Also this comment @donnie12 about funding

Hi all. Just a quick update. DP had his repeat SA today, 3 months post embolisation, and he had 2 immotile sperm! The doctor said this is good and still very early days after embolisation. DP is going to do 3 more samples over the next 6 weeks and then whatever they find in these samples they will try and freeze for ICSI and hopefully won't need surgical sperm retrieval. This is the first bit of positive news we have had in this last 18 months, so fingers crossed this continues! If he does need surgical sperm retrieval, at least we know he's producing something as DP was worried we would need a donor, but looking more likely this won't be the case.

@WhiskeyInTheJar33 that is such good news!! I am really happy for you. And yes as you say at least you know he is producing something! 3 months does seem very early post embolisation especially as it takes sperm so long to generate, so hopefully in future tests there is even more sperm.

Thanks @lemons44 we feel a little overwhelmed at the mo but the doctor seemed positive and said it takes 3 months for 1 cycle, so the fact there was a couple means he hope things are starting up again.

@WhiskeyInTheJar33 fantastic news so happy for you guys!!!! X

@WhiskeyInTheJar33 thats fantastic news, what a great step!

@WhiskeyInTheJar33 I have been thinking about you and hoping you would come on with positive news. Oh my goodness this is great!!!! So delighted for you both. Am I right in thinking that if you do have to resort to a SRR, this is an amazing indicator that you would find some? Can’t believe you are looking at ICSI on the horizon- this is just great!

Small update from me. Mr Ramsay is unfortunately unwell at the minute. However luckily he works with another consultant who is going to do our SSR on Thursday so at least it doesn't need to be cancelled. Just need to work out the logistics as we have already booked our hotel, paid the Lister etc and this is at a different hospital now.

Fingers crossed @lemons44 !

@lemons44 got my fingers and toes crossed for you! Keep us updated x

@lemons44 nothing is ever easy is it? But maybe this last minute change and having to focus on organising new logistics is good for keeping your mind occupied and stopping you overthinking. I’m sure Dr Ramsay’s guy is just as great as him- he wouldn’t risk is rep on anything less!

ladies I’m crossing everything for you all- I want this thread full of good news updates- I feel like 2023 will be our year!!!

@lemons44 Many thanks for that information. Very helpful

@rosycumbria Was that microtese or just tese you had with Stephen Bromage? Googled him and doesn't mention he does microtese. Only seems about 6 people in the UK do Microtese

Has anyone got experiences of Bournhall in Cambridgeshire?? Seem to be the cheapest Microtese surgeons at £3800 I could find. The surgeon is Dr Wiseman who's name I've not seen mentioned before.

Another one is Marc Lucky in Liverpool. Price I was quoted was just over £3k also. Any experiences as again can't find much information.

Jonathan Ramsey and Suki Minhas are around the same price at £6k I believe. There is a guy at an NHS hospital in Newcastle who does it for £2500 private but refuses to freeze the sperm so as I'm 200 miles from Newcastle it wouldn't work if I have to time the IVF with the micro-tese.

Would be useful to have a list of micro-tese surgeons and there costs. I'm struggling to find more then a handful. Pippa Sangster, Tet Yep are the other 2 but London based. A massive city like Birmingham and not a single surgeon I can find that offer micro-tese...there was 1 guy but apparently is on long term sick.

My partner has non obstructive azoospermia but for various reasons, the TESE was decided to be best. From what I remember, he does do both but you need to go to a different hospital for the mtese. He explained everything very clearly to us at our first appointment so might be worth calling to check.

@WhiskeyInTheJar33 i feel like im living vicariously through you this week and hoping our varicocele surgery (if that’s what they even recommend) ends up with good results too. Did the doc say they were likely to see more sperm in the next test? How long are you going to wait before doing another? How is your OH feeling? Has he noticed a difference in anything since the surgery- eg increased volume or anything? So many questions! 😂

@IslaO DP is soo pleased. He thought he was going to cry! So yes this hopefully means if we need micro-TESE they will find sperm. DP has been soo worried about needing a donor, so hoping this rules that out! The doctor kept asking DP if he noticed any difference but he hasn't. The doctor examined the varicocele and said it is clinically better and now almost gone.

The doctor was pleased and said we are still early days and has only had one cycle of spermatogenesis since the embolisation, so is positive that this is the start and numbers continue to grow.

DP is going back tomorrow to do another sample and see if they can freeze any. He's not feeling optimistic as it will only be 2 days since the last. But we have another freeze in December and then in the new year.

@WhiskeyInTheJar33 i am so so happy for you both! Reading about your OH’s reaction has me emotional- I can only imagine what he’s been through emotionally so to get that good news is just priceless. You must feel so optimistic about next steps- I’m sure this is the first bit of good news in so long with this awful journey. Did he have an embolism or are there other treatment options for varicoceles. My (sorry our 😂) appointment is next week and I am dying to ask all my questions!!!

@IslaO 18 months ago we started investigations, so this is the first bit of positive news we have had, especially as we weren't expecting it! I think it's still sinking in.

He had embolism. There was a second option where they take out the testicle and veins, unravel them and then put it back in. Had exactly the same success rates as the embolism but DP was horrified by this option 😂 so was a no-brainer as the embolisation is a very straightforward procedure.

Wishing you the best of luck for your appointment!

@WhiskeyInTheJar33 UGH that other option sounds horrendous! Hope you and hubby are enjoying the high. Let us know how the repeat goes this week- I know you’re not expecting much but will be interesting to see. So happy for you xx

@IslaO will definitely keep you updated. Azoospermia is such a devastating diagnosis and we still have a long way to go but hoping this can bring a small glimmer of hope to someone.

Thanks all. I'm actually feeling very anxious and worried today as the procedure is supposed to be tomorrow and we haven't heard about the confirmed new plans yet ☹️ I am so worried it will be cancelled if the new consultant can't do it. Everything is booked like the hotel in London, trains... I even bought a first class train ticket home so DH has extra leg room as he will be sore. I'll be devastated if it is cancelled. I'll keep u posted.

Hi girls

Trigger warning for this video as it isn't for the faint hearted!

But this video shows a micro tese surgery with a doctor explaining as they go. I've found it so interesting to watch how it is done.

m.youtube.com/watch?v=yFp_wMnMlLE&feature=youtu.be

Just posting here in case it helps anyone else

@lemons44 thank you! I’ll psych myself up for this later!

thinking of you today- keep us posted on how it all goes! This is the first day of your next chapter xxx