PCOS & Male Infertility (Low Morphology & Count)

[ponlm]

Just coming here to hopefully find some other people in a similar boat! I'm late 20s and partner late 30s, DP has DC from a previous relationship. We've been trying for around 3 years with no luck. I maybe have PCOS, I meet some of the diagnostic criteria (ovaries polycystic on scan and cycles are sometimes longer) and my partner has abnormal semen analysis.

Count: Low - 5 Million
Motility: (fine I think?) 52% progressive, 6% non-progressive, 42% immotile
Morphology: Low - 2%.

We are ineligible for treatment on NHS due to DP already having DC.

I'm taking metformin x3 per day but still no success. My BMI is 34 at the moment.

We are looking to spend our (what was going to be house deposit) savings on fertility treatment. I'm assuming with these sort of results we'll be told ICSI is the only option? Anyone know much about this and whether IVF or IUI can be used in circumstances like these?

I've read that there is an increased risk of disability with ICSI, whilst of course we would love any child we conceive we obviously do want to give them the best chance to be healthy.

We have a first appointment coming up at the end of this month so I'll ask all these questions there but I'm feeling impatient at the moment and I'm interested to hear other peoples experiences/ideas/perspectives!

@ponlm what is your partner doing to improve his sperm?

I'm sure you already know this, but your BMI will need to come down for most clinics to carry out IVF, mostly because of the higher risk during sedation.

IUI is very very unlikely to work (5% or less), IVF with ICSI will 100% be the advise. I've not really seen anything about increased risk of disability, I wouldn't be worrying about that tbh. Your embryos will be checked and graded, your potential baby will be checked numerous times at scans and via a blood test.

BMI even for private unfortunately is around 30, BUT with PCOS it is harder to manage weight (I have PCOS mine used to be 35, now 25). I can suggest looking at Kim Campbell for food suggestions and really cutting down on sugar (both added and naturally occurring) and bringing in a more mediterranean, good fats and protein based diet a little bit at a time and even just a little walking (dont have to go mad on exercise). It has helped my symptoms hugely, fertility clinic suggested inofolic alpha too (not cheap) alongside my metformin.

In terms of your hubby, mine had low everything. He has now lost weight, cut right down on drinking, got his stress under control and started wearing bamboo and loose fitting undies to cool his giblets; also takes fenugreek, Bud and Impryl (this one suggested by fertility clinic- same people who do inofolic alpha) and uses a vasectomy cooling pad each day for a while. His motility and morphology are now very good although count/volume still low, lowest we had was 1 million per ml, highest 12. Hope this helps a little as you could maybe try some of these bits while deciding what to do, saving, before starting treatment etc. Good luck