Sperm analysis results - morphology and abnormalities

[stopthepain]

My DP’s semen analysis results came back. Sperm count is 43 million/ml, total sperm count is 95 million, viability is 95% live sperm.

However, 4% normal forms for morphology and abnormalities is “mixed mainly heads.” Progressive motility is 38%. Agglutination is “non-specific aggregation.”

We are in our mid 20s and struggling to conceive. My hormones are out of whack too.

Any suggestions on how my DP can improve his morphology and progressive motility? Also how I can balance my hormones? What worked for you? Thank you.

Those semen results look ok to my (untrained) eye.

4% is the lower end for morphology and the progressive motility lower range is often cited as 32, so those two are at the lower end of normal but still in ‘normal’ parameters. Also the total sperm count is high so that means 4% of a higher number.

I would advise that he take proxeed vitamins (available on Amazon) which are supposed to help sperm count, but particularly fragmentation (damage) which isn’t tested in a normal sperm test but also plays a factor in sperm quality. Also studies shows that coq10 can help sperm quality.

when you say your hormones are unbalanced what do you mean? Have you checked that you’re ovulating every month?

Thank you @Blacksheep33 ! It did seem low. I’m temping but not sure I’m ovulating every month. I cannot predict when I will have a period until I’ve ovulated and I can count the days of the temp shift (usually 12-13 days). Saying that, I’m 12dpo and bfn.

I had negligible progesterone for my day 21 test (a couple of months ago) but my cycles are usually longer than 28 days. Gynae says the reason my periods are so painful and heavy is due to a hormonal imbalance (I scream in pain, vomit and pass out every period). She wasn’t much help and said I need to see a fertility doctor.

@stopthepain your partners results are fine. 4% is fine when speak count isn't low, which it isn't at 98 million. Motility is also fine. Proxeed as specified by the other person is good for general sperm health. My partner took it for 5 months and didn't see a sperm count change, but did see a jump in morphology. It is expensive, just to warn you. As his results are within normal parameters, maybe a mens general fertility supplement would be best. I would also add that when we saw a urologist, he was very specific about limiting caffeine to 1 cup a day and he said sharing a bottle of wine a week is fine, but not much more than that. No saunas, no tight boxers, no laptops on laps - all these little things can help, but his results are better than my OHs and we got pregnant, it just look some time.

It sounds to me like your side of things needs further investigating. It isn't normal or okay to be in such pain during your period. Don't let a GP make you feel otherwise. Keep hassling. If you have been trying for 12 months or more, you should also have a transvaginal ultrasound. I had one pre-fertility difficulties due to some pain during sex and was seen pretty quickly.

So sorry to hear your doctor wasn’t much help - In my experience so many doctors have very little knowledge of fertility related matters and don’t tend to be able to give very useful information!

it sounds like your 21 day progesterone test may not have been taken at the right time in your cycle - it only detects your peak if you have regular-ish cycles and assumes you ovulate on day 14 (which so many people don’t!)

on the fertility front, it is probably a good idea to start using ovulation sticks just to check whether you get a ‘peak’ which alongside your temp checking should help you work out whether you are actually ovulating every month (although it sounds like you are, perhaps just with irregular cycles).

im really sorry to hear you’re in such pain with your periods though - I would have hoped a gynaecologist could help you pinpoint better what might be causing it and/or causing any hormone imbalance. I think pcos is often caused by a ‘hormone imbalance’ but that wasn’t very helpful of them to have not explained a bit more! Also with very painful periods, might it be something like endometriosis?

Hopefully a fertility specialist can help check your progesterone levels, fsh, amh and general thyroid/testosterone levels etc to see if they can work out what the ‘imbalance’ is.

Thank you both! @FlyOnTheWall89 I think it’s me. Gynaecologist wasn’t any help. I had a trans vaginal ultrasound a few months ago and it looks fine.

@Blacksheep33 I had my LH and FSH done but not on the right day (GP told me it didn’t matter but I’ve since realised that it does). Something like day 14 rather than day 3. LH was really low (3.4) and FSH was top end of “normal” (8.9). TSH was normal. Progesterone negligible. Oestradiol normal. Prolactin normal. Androgen normal.