Male high LH levels?

[Blubelll]

Hello, I wonder if anyone has experience with this as Google isn't really helping.

We have been trying for just shy of 2 years and have now gone through most of the tests required. We got back all the results, no issues with me besides egg count on the lower side for my age (33) but still within a healthy range. However my partners (38) LH levels are way too high.

We are now being referred to see if he can have sperm retrieval, but no one has really said whether that's likely or not. We have only ever had telephone appointments with our doctor that always feel impersonal and rushed.

Most of the information I have found online is about LH levels in females rather than males, or are really complicated sounding research papers I can't get my head round. He does have a varicocele which we already knew about before we went to the drs about fertility. I read something saying varicoceles can make LH levels high and that after they are removed levels came down, however during our last appointment there was no mention of the varicocele at all, just about referring for sperm retrieval. Although, my partners GP said last year they are often best left alone.

Does anyone have any experience with this, was ICSI successful/a viable option for you after having a high LH level test result?

Hi Blubelll,

I’ve just seen your message and wondered if you’ve had any advances since May?
My husband and I have just received his tests back and he also has extremely high LH and also FSH. We are waiting to see the andrologist to see what he thinks about it all. At the first consultation the Dr said that depending on the results he could give us a more or less idea of whether it would be worth trying a testicular biopsy to see whether my husband has any sperm.
I’d love to hear how your journey is going…

Hey sorry it's taken so long to reply. So my OH had an appointment with the andrologist in September who told him there was a a 50-60% chance that they would be able to find sperm. Of course we know that doesn't mean ivf would 100% work even if any sperm is found, but to hear a reasonay high percentage was re-assuring.

I don't know how much further you've got and I'm sure it's different in different areas but, the wait list is 5 months for the procedure to try and extract sperm. The funding for that is applied for at the same time as the funding for IVF, but they put him on the wait list for that immediately as they said they know it takes so long. So we only send off the for for IVF funding 2 weeks ago, but it should only be a couple more months for the sperm procedure.

Happy to chat if you have any other questions x