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Infertility

Our Infertility Support forum is a space to connect with others in the same position, discuss causes, treatment and IVF, and share infertility stories of hope and success.

Secondary infertility- 39, low AMH and low sperm count - what next

4 replies

Lalawood · 18/01/2023 14:06

Hi all. I wanted to share my fertility story and wondered if anyone had advice on what to do next. I started TTC when I was 33, after a year we were both tested and the issue seemed to lie with my husband - his count was 3 million. I was told that IVF was the only option, but I was apprehensive, and then the next month I fell pregnant naturally, and had my beautiful DD in 2019. Thinking no. 2 wouldn’t be as difficult as we initially expected, we started TTC again when DD was 9 months. No success after 6 months so went to short protocol and ICSI where my AMH was 5.2 and my husband’s count was 2 million. I didn’t realise what this meant at the time and was shocked to only get 2 eggs - neither of which fertilised. I found this a real blow so didn’t jump into IVF again, then three months’ later found myself pregnant naturally. Cut to the 12 week scan and there was no heartbeat. So after a couple of months I dived back into ICSI with long protocol this time. My husband’s count was 0.2 million at this point. We managed 2 eggs and one embryo with a d2 transfer but it didn’t take. After digging on mumsnet, I thought we’d try an alternative route and found a urologist who might help. He prescribed drugs to boost my DH’s testosterone in September and in December he had a variocele treated. However, this week we did a repeat test and the count is still 0.2 million. It seems to me our only option is IVF, but with my AMH so low (and probably lower as that test was 18 months ago), I find it tough going through cycles with the possibility of not even getting an egg, and the added financial strain this would bring. I know I’m so incredibly lucky to have my amazing DD. But I promised myself I’d give her a sibling and that likelihood is looking pretty slim right now. So, just wondering if anyone had any insight as to which London clinics might be able to help me? Or any other things we could try. Or whether what I need to find, with a heavy heart, is acceptance. Thanks all.

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Kasc89 · 27/01/2023 14:41

Hi I didn’t want to read and run.
I am not in exactly same position I have been trying to conceive a sibling for my son born in 2019 but so far no joy and my other half has just been told he had a low sperm count and I have a slightly low AMH level.
I think the fact you are falling pregnant naturally is a good sign and it does only take one to stick! I think if it does not happen soon for us we may too have to to consider IVF as for me personally even know if it would be a massive financial strain I think I would like to know I have done everything I could have done as I would regret not trying otherwise.
In the end I think you just have to decide what is best for you and you family and how important it is for you to have another baby.
With regards to clinic I have heard good things about the evewell clinic but I have heard this is on the pricy side.

Lalawood · 01/02/2023 23:11

Hi @Kasc89, thanks so much for getting back to me and sharing your situation. I completely understand why you're considering IVF, and if you do go for it I'm sure you'll have a very different experience, we are all individuals after all. I tried it the first time, and was so shocked by the outcome, I thought I wouldn't do it again. But of course, once I lost my last pregnancy at 12 weeks, I was desperate to replace that. We couldn't do a third round at the time for financial reasons, but I also felt that I wasn't strong enough to deal with the grief of doing another round and it not working (although I have a level of grief each month anyway when AF arrives). But as I grew up as a lonely only child, I promised myself that I would have at least two children. And I know my DD isn't me, but I still feel like I've let her down for not giving her a sibling. So I'm now thinking that I should give it one more shot, because if I can't get my husband's situation to improve then falling naturally is extremely unlikely. So thanks for recommending the Evewell Clinic, I'll take a look at that.

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smashedbanana · 30/12/2023 19:51

Hello @Lalawood - just come across this post and our stories are almost indentical. I'm not sure if you're still on Mumsnet but I wondered how your fertility journey was going? Did you manage to decide on a London clinic and also anything you did to improve your husband's testosterone levels (the nhs seem reluctant to help him). Hopefully you have had successful ivf since your last post. Would love to hear from you. Thanks x

Lalawood · 31/12/2023 11:54

Hi @smashedbanana, nice to hear from you. We actually chose not to pursue ivf in the end. The most encouraging clinic was Create, but they suggested 3 months of mild ivf to collect 1 egg each month, the anticipated success rate was 10% and the cost was £15k. Between us we didn’t feel we had the strength or finances to go through this with such a small success rate, so we focused on improving my husband’s count - which we have done quite successfully. We saw Mr. Jonathan Ramsey who prescribed tamoxifen, tadalifel and anastrozole (in different doses over 9 months) and that, combined with quitting alcohol and taking supplements suggested by the fertility nutritionist Melanie Brown has got my husband’s count up to 13 million. So I’m really proud of the work he’s put in. I’m 40 next week and my daughter has just turned 4 so I’m of course sad not to have a sibling closer in age for her, but I’m hoping 2024 might naturally bring us the long sought after pregnancy!

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